10 Months and Counting...

Alexandre turned 10 months on the 24th of August, and it seems as if he's always been in our lives. Each day, when I arrive home, he hears the door open and crawls quickly towards me, with his hands loudly pitter-pattering away across the living room floor. Then he stops at my feet, sits back on his knees and, with a beaming smile, he reaches his arms up to be swept up into my arms. At that very moment, everything else melts away and my heart surges with joy.

Lately, he's been doing laps around the apartment on his hands and knees, pulling himself on everything he can reach. He's fascinated by drawers, doors and cabinet doors of all kinds. But -- a true sign that we're living in the 21st century -- the mobile phone (or my Blackberry) wins hands down! With an intent look on his face, he will sit with a mobile phone (or any cordless phone at home) and explore every button and crevice of it as if he's trying to dissect it... Then, there's Kleenex!! He's passionate about shredding it to pieces, and trying to shove a little piece into his mouth (just before I grab it away from him). The strangest thing he does? He likes to lick the wall while standing on our bed or the sofa... yep... can someone explain that? I sure haven't read about it in any baby books.

His first two lower "milk teeth" came in about a month ago, and they're razor sharp! He's cutting his teeth and gums on the nearest shoulder, chin, arm, or whatever he can grab a hold of... Now, you can see the beginnings of the upper teeth pushing thru his pink gums, making him more restless than usual.

Over the past few months, my mom has taught him the Cantonese kiddie term for milk (nai nai) -- which he says mainly when he's hungry and tired and ready for a cuddle. Other than that, he's babbling away loudly all day with the sounds of "da da da da"... or just plain yelling "aaaaahhhhhh..." and the occasional "mum mum mum"... but not directed at anyone in particular. One of his favorite pasttimes is standing in front of the bathtub/shower in our master room, and babbling away to his reflection in the shower's glass door -- hand gestures and all. Each day brings new discoveries for all of us!


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