10 Months and a Tribute

Wow, how time does fly! Paige is now 10 months old. She is walking with full force {practically running}. People are amazed all the time that she walked at 9 months. I usually say it is because she wanted to keep up with her brother. She idolizes him and it's no doubt to me that he feels the same about her. I really couldn't be happier to have two children that adore one another so much. Now, if only it could stay that way into their teen years!

Paige's little personality is budding and it won't be long before she is speaking her mind. And I know she's got lots to say. I can just feel it. She thinks very highly of her daddy and brother, who can both make her laugh with ease. She is extremely playful. If Ben lays on the floor, she climbs right up on top of his stomach and bounces up and down or plops down on his head. She will roll around and wrestle with Jack, too. She loves mama too, but in a lovey, comforting kind of way. She follows me around and clings to my legs when she wants to be fed, picked up or is sleepy.

Paige is advanced with eating, too. I've mentioned before that she really never liked jarred baby foods. As soon as she was able to chew and swallow well, I switched her to our foods. I just make sure that it is soft enough for her to gum {she still only has four chompers} and chop it up real bite size. She never seems to have much trouble and I haven't found too many things that she doesn't like {peas maybe, but that's it}. In my effort to raise and adventurous eater, I give her everything from hummus and avocado to Mongolian stir-fry. If we are eating it, she's pretty much happy to eat it, too. Have I mentioned she likes eating? This child doesn't miss a meal. Really. She doesn't.

I wish her Papa could have seen her again. I can only imagine him getting a kick out of seeing her chubby little legs motor around the house. Or he'd boisterously laugh at her toothy grin and chuckles. My parents work a lot on teaching her to say "Nana" and "Poppy". She babbles, nanananana and papapapapa. My dad even joked that Roger was going to think she was saying, "Papa". Who knows maybe she was, maybe she wasn't. He would have gotten a kick out it...and no one would have told him otherwise. We sure do miss him! I can still remember his mannerism. I can imagine what he'd say or do in a given situation.

Last week was so nice to have time to relax and absorb what happened with the support and comfort of family around. I think I speak for everyone when I say that going home has been hard. Everyone wants to get back to normalcy/reality, but we can't. There is always a reminder of that terrible day or a good memory that leads to sadness that Roger isn't here. Last week, we celebrated Roger's life. After the funeral, we did things that he would have enjoyed. He would have truly loved having his family all together again. Here's a slideshow of some of the bittersweet moments.

Please continue your prayers for Vicki and the family as we cope with this unbelievable loss.

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