Hang 10

Alyssa just turned 10 months old! For fun, we weighed Alyssa with her clothes on, and she was 22 pounds! Alyssa now wears Pampers and Huggies size 3 diapers as well as size 3 shoes. Her hair is getting long enough that Mommy can put bows in it too. She is getting so big and developing an equally big personality.

Alyssa initially learned to clap by patting her hands. She recently figured out how to clap by hitting her left hand against her right hand. She also now gives big hugs and pretends to cough and laugh to get us to laugh and to imitate us. She also imitates most of the sounds we tell her, especially "mama," "dada," and "kaka," as well as sniffing sounds. We especially love that Alyssa makes smacking noises with her lips when we say "give kisses." Alyssa loves to look at any lights and has learned to point at the ceiling when we say the Arabic word for light, which sounds like "doe." With these new achievements, however, she has also started some bad habits--mainly, biting. With 4 teeth, her bites are definitely painful. Alyssa has developed some stranger anxiety too and prefers to be with Mommy. When strangers are around, she likes to hold onto Mommy's hair and makes whining sounds when she is upset, especially when I try to hide things behind my back. So, she fully understands object permanence, which makes it harder to distract her with other items when she wants something.

Old way of clapping

Alyssa moves around much more and scoots to move from one place to another. It is a challenge to get her to stay still during diaper changes, and she loves to stand while holding onto things for a short time and to jump in her exersaucer. She also likes to stiffen her legs when we try to have her sit down. Her feet almost touch the base of the high chair now, and Alyssa has started to put her fingers in Mommy and Daddy's ears, mouths, and noses. We wish she would put more food in her own mouth though. She still has not mastered feeding herself finger foods, but she loves eating "big people" food. In addition to cereal puffs, she has had samples of toast, pinwheel noodles, bananas, avocado, egg yolk, and ka'ak (a Middle Eastern cookie usually made at Easter time).

I love standing

Cereal puff teeth

Here is what we have been up to the past month:

In addition to running errands, we went to a consignment sale with friends. Whenever we go out, people often stop us to comment on how cute Alyssa is and to say that her eyes are so big and that she seems so content. We love to hear everyone's comments, but it definitely makes shopping trips last longer.

Pretty Princess

We spent more time with the Fergusons as the weather warmed up and we could enjoy more walks and cookouts outside. We started using the umbrella stroller from the Kost family for short walks and quick errands since it is easy to put in the car.

Ridin' in style

Alyssa and Mommy went to Baby Fun Time each week. The themes for each session included music, ducks, St. Patrick's Day, and Old McDonald. Alyssa loves the time we spend at the library, and I look forward to taking her to see all the other babies and to hear the music and stories.

Mommy got her hair cut a little shorter than usual thinking that Alyssa would not pull it so much if she could not reach it as easily. Alyssa, however, pulls on it even more now since she has to reach for Mommy's ponytails. I know this is a phase, and I will be happy once it is over.

We traveled to Cleveland on the day that Alyssa turned 10 months old. We actually started our trip at midnight with the hope that Alyssa would sleep the entire time we were on the road. The trip took us less time since we did not have to stop to feed or change Alyssa. She did great and slept all night until about an hour before we arrived at Teta and Jiddu's house. Alyssa was timid at first, but she quickly warmed up to everyone again once she spent a few minutes with Teta, Jiddu, Uncle Joe, and Uncle Patrick (who had to go to Indianapolis for work and spent a few days with us before he left).

While in Cleveland, we attended Mass on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Alyssa loved the music and seeing all the people. We were looking forward to having Alyssa participate in the children's procession outside on Palm Sunday, but the weather did not allow it. Since it was raining, the Church had a short procession inside at the end of Mass. It was so crowded and Mass had lasted over an hour that Alyssa started to get fussy. Daddy held her while Mommy held her beautiful (and big) candle. Alyssa looked adorable in her pink Easter dress and hat and her new shoes and headband.

Alyssa visited her great grandparents, the Karam family, and Shereif's aunts, uncle, and cousin; and great Uncle Chuck, great Aunt Rosy, and a few other relatives visited us. We loved seeing so many family members again, which kept us very busy. Everyone spoiled Alyssa for her first Easter, and she received many outfits and new stuffed animals that she loves to play with every day as well as a huge Easter basket from Jiddu and Teta. Last year was the first (and I hope, only) year that we were unable to go home for the holiday since I was 8 months pregnant. We love this time of year because it is a season of rebirth so this Easter was extra special for all of us since we had another person to share it with, and we will always remember it.

All of my new friends

1st Easter basket

It is a Lebanese tradition to try to crack your opponent's egg in this Easter game. The trick is to wrap your hand tightly around your own egg so that your opponent has less of a chance to hit your egg and break it. I apologize for the length of this video, but I love how my parents are arguing in Arabic, great Aunt Rosy's laugh, Uncle Joe's explanations to Alyssa, and Alyssa's reactions to her first time playing this game. We cannot wait for her to get bigger and play it on her own.

Easter egg game

Likes

Diluted apple juice: Alyssa has also tried grape juice, but she seems to prefer a "splash" of apple
juice in her sippy cup.
(Loves) Green beans
Bubbles: Alyssa loves it when we blow bubbles, and she always tries to catch them.
First Words and Elmo Sing-Along books
Baa-baa Black Sheep and Skinnamarink songs: These are the two songs that always make
Alyssa dance
Lights
Pretending to sneeze, cough, and laugh
Playing dress-up: Alyssa does not mind when Mommy dresses her up in different outfits

Dancing

Trying on my bathing suit and looking forward to going to the pool and beach this summer

Paging Dr. Alyssa

Dislikes
Putting on and taking off a bib
Wiping hands
Naptime

Being left alone with anyone besides Mommy for a long time