9 months

Every month I think it can't have gone by so fast and yet here it has come again. My baby girl is growing so fast!

We have been practicing kisses this month. You must have been watching  Daisy puppy to learn, because you like to go in with an open mouth and tongue out for your kisses. It makes us smile anyways it's so cute and kinda wet. We still can't say no and will gladly take kisses from you anytime.
Chattering and making new sounds is what you love to do lately. You are working so hard to put sounds together to make words. You have officially said your first one though.......drumroll........it was "Mama" and you said it on February 25th.  Daddy was the one to actually get you to say it and even recorded it so we could re listen to it. You are really close to saying "Dada" but you have been inconsistent and like to whisper that sound in particular. I am sure you will love telling us all sorts of stories as your get older.

As a family, we celebrated that you completed your swim class. Daddy took us to swim at the indoor Lava kiddie cove pool. The water was so warm and we introduced you to the little fountains first. You loved them! You were smiling and climbing all over those mini fountains. It was so cute to see. You splashed and kicked and had a great time. It didn't seem to even bother you when water would splash up onto your face. Daddy couldn't believe how well you did in the water.
You have been trying to push all your toys around, so we decided to give you one that was meant to push. This walker might be your new favorite toy! The biggest smile comes across your face because you are on the move and you love that mom and dad are watching and applauding your every move. It's hard to think you are big enough to do this yet.

Books are so much fun to read with you. This is actually one of the only times you will sit still on our laps. Your favorite books are mostly the touch-and-feel ones. The soft fluffy ones seem to be your favorite to touch. One book in particular you like to lift the flaps yourself to be able to see the hidden animal and feel the texture. It's crazy how smart you are to have figured that out already. I foresee many more books in our future and trips to the library.  We have been practicing our waving "hello" and "goodbye". Seems like you are starting to get the concept. Your waves are part like a "beauty queen" wave, as you like to twist your wrist while doing it. You go back and forth on what hand you use so you might be left hand. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

Meal time is becoming more messy now. You really would love it I just handed over the spoon so you can do it yourself, but I know it will end up everywhere if I do. We compromise and I give you a little bit of food that you can grab with your thumb and pointer finger to feed yourself. It's fun to watch you figure out all the new textures and new foods we are giving you now. You didn't seem to love the texture of the banana bit I handed you but you liked eating it. You are eating more now and your appetite is growing. Your tummy is starting to fill out nicely.

Nine month doctor check up this month was good. We didn't have to have any pricks this time so that was nice. I laughed a little when we placed you on the scale this time. You wanted to sit up and you watched as our nurse, Tiffany, moved the sliding weights to record your number. You must have thought it look like fun because you reached to grab at it too. I can't help but giggle as I thought you were attempting to change what number she was about to record and put in your file. Doctor was extremely happy with your numbers for height and weight and reports that our next appointment won't happen until after you are 1 year old. I avoid thinking that we are that close to 1 year. But we still have some time before that comes so we will continue to enjoy each month and milestones you continue to achieve. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of what you have done in 9 months. We are so lucky to have you in our lives.

Monthly Stats include:
17lbs and 12oz for weight (41%)
27 and 3/4 inches for height (50%)
17 and 1/4 inches  head circumference (47%).
Eating 3-4 meals of solid food and 3 helpings of milk in between meals.
Naps 1-2 times a day (one short power nap in the morning and a longer one in the afternoon)
Sleeping 7 hours at night. We are so close to sleeping through the whole night.
Wearing size 2 diapers
Wearing 9 month clothing