9 Months!

Our happy girl on her 9 month birthday. Seriously, she's always smiling.


This is her new favorite face...wrinkling up her nose...sometimes it comes with a snort.


The favorite face again.


Riding in her new wagon.

I just cannot believe it...our baby girl is 9 months old!! Here are a few things that we took note of this month:

• This morning she weighed 18 lbs 2.5 oz. She's gained some weight this month but has considerably slowed since she was 6 mos old.
• She's still sleeping 11-12 hours at night and takes 2 naps a day (usually 2+ hours)
• She is standing and walking with support. Also, last week she started standing without support for short spurts of time.
• She is eating more food. She's still a picky eater, but we've managed to add a few things. Some new foods are prunes, pears, crackers and toast.
• She can eat a whole banana and some yogurt for breakfast...that's more than I eat for breakfast!!
• At every meal she typically eats 6 to 7 oz of pureed food in addition to nursing.
• She LOVES animals. I've said this before but this month it has magnified!! Any time she sees a pet she YELLS with excitement, smiles, laughs and snorts.
• She loves the wind in her face.
• She has learned the sign for "all done".
• She waved at someone yesterday (which is similar to the sign for "all done").
• She loves bath time.
• She is a TALKER!! She is constantly talking. Sometimes it's syllables and sometimes it's just yelling or baby talk.
• She loves to rough house. She has gotten to the point now that she'll crawl over to you if you're sitting on the floor with her and she'll stand up and jump into your arms. We really have to pay attention because she'll jump if you're ready or not!
• She loves strangers. If we are in a restaurant or out shopping, she LOVES to people watch!!
• She adores other children!

What a blessing it has been these last 9 months. Isn't it amazing that you can so easily forget the sleepless nights, the blow out diapers, the constant need for washing clothes? The joy of raising a child has completely overtaken us. Thank you, Lord, for giving us this precious child.