nine/ten months

SO late! But I have a pretty good excuse: we moved to a new house! Glorious freedom of our own space and belongings. A perfect set-up for us. But these last two months have also been chock-full of MAJOR milestones for you, my little one!

swingin’

Month NINE (July):

• You figured out your sippy cup so that you’re drinking out of the spout instead of turning it over to suck on the bottom.
• You’re standing. On your own. In the middle of the room.
• You helped me teach my first cloth diapering class. And you talked over top of me the whole time. We all appreciated your unique perspective.
• You took Grams to see your first clown (her favorite!) at the library for her birthday. You were more interested in watching the other kids’ reactions than whatever the clown was doing.
• You took your first ride in a swing. Again, you were more thrilled about watching the older kids than you were about swinging.
• You learned to wave. But it usually follows a long, skeptical stare at your subject.
• With much pain and distress, you popped out your top two front teeth within a few days of each other. Your toothy grin has completely transformed your little face.
• You got to meet your auntie and cousins from Ohio! They absolutely adored you, of course.

little bookworm

Month TEN (August):

• I thought surely you would be walking around by the time you turned nine months old, but you decided to perfect your warp-speed super crawl before taking your first steps. The first one happened in the bathtub with little fanfare from you. But then you started adding a few steps here and there, and before we knew it, we had a toddler!
• You figured out how to climb up the stairs at work – just in time to move away from a three-story house to a ranch-style duplex.
• We searched for the perfect, used bike trailer so we could all hop on the green belt right by our house. You hate it. Back carry it is.
• You used your first word: As we were laying down for a nap, I moved, thinking we were all done with nursing, but you faceplanted my chest and then insisted “MAK!” I asked, “Milk?” To which your face lit up in satisfaction that I had, in fact, understood you correctly. You have used “mak” another time or two since, when you are in apparent dire need of the stuff.
• You met my favorite stuffed animal, “Rac,” and fell in love. Your Uncle Scott gave him to me for my third Christmas, and I’m thrilled to pass him on to you.
• You continue to LOVE books. I often find you “reading” your books by yourself, slowly studying each page – usually upside down – before turning to the next. And when we read to you, you sit very still until you turn the page for us.
• You eat up anything pickled and garlicky. And you’re willing to eat food more often, but you much prefer to share with Jackson and Kenya, who now know to stand dutifully by the high chair to wait for your hand-outs. You think it’s hilarious.

siblings

10 September 2012. baby, getting older, photos. 1 comment.

eight months

Oh my baby girl! This month has flown by so fast because you are changing so fast!

The first two days of June produced your first two teeth. You sprouted a third last week, and I can see number four on its way.

The second week of June, we were excited to visit Papa’s family while your great grandma was in town to show them that you could push yourself up to sitting. But then you blew us all away with your first crawl!

Crawling was old hat for you by Father’s Day, so you started pulling up to standing using whatever is nearby – including the dogs (poor, patient Dillon). You’ve even let go to stand unsupported for over fifteen seconds at a time!

Your new favorite outing is story time at the library. You pay close attention to the stories and groove with the songs. Last week, the librarian pulled out a bubble machine that made all the kids circle in close. And you were not about to be left behind! All of a sudden you were taking deliberate steps towards the bubbles! I had to hurry and scoot along with you to steady your toddling hips because you were on the move!

But wait, there’s more. Yesterday, Papa adjusted the white computer tray table to your height, thinking you might like to stand with it. Stand? How about walking with it?! You walked that thing right across the room. Then we turned it around, and you walked it right back. You are clearly so motivated to get this walking thing down pat that I’ll be a little surprised if you aren’t on two legs by your nine month birthday. (Not that I want or need you to be that mobile and independent by then!)

Needless to say, this has been a month of whipping out the video camera as fast as possible multiple times a week.

And perhaps my favorite of your new skills: you now say “Mama” with purpose. Even if I’m already the one holding you, you still associated the sound with comfort. And that makes me very happy indeed.

2 July 2012. baby, getting older, photos. 2 comments.