9 Months!

Baby girl…you are 9 months!  Hard to believe you’ve been here for as long as you were in mommy’s tummy!  We enjoy every single second that we get to spend with you and love watching you grow and discover new things.  As I have said every month, somehow you get cuter each day and we love you more and more!  Your joyous and spunky personality is contagious!

And speaking of contagious….we have definitely started to understand what it’s like to be  parent…especially one of a daycare child!  The week before her 9 month checkup, she came down with a tummy bug (along with everyone else in her class!)  Somehow Jason and I managed to not catch it (WHEW!), but we heard that many of the parents and teachers had it as well.  YUCK!  Poor baby was down and out for a few days with that one.  Then, this past week, she developed pink eye and some terrible virus (congestion, high fever, cough)….and passed both on to mommy!  We were both in bad shape all week.  We took Emma to the doctor 3 times…and mommy went for herself twice!  I think we’re finally on the mend and we’re just ready to be healthy again…until the next breakout at daycare!

Emma’s 9 month checkup (so, yes, she’s gone to the doctor 5 times in one month!) went really well.  She is growing so fast!  Here are her official stats:

Length: 26 ¼”

Weight: 16 lb. 13 oz. (but she’s over 17 now…we found out at our other appointments!)

Head Circumference: 17”

Our only concern was a strange eating habit.  She absolutely loves her solid foods (Plum Organics and Gerber Organics pouches are amazing!)…but when we tried to give her more “solid” foods (mashed up banana, mashed up avocado, teething biscuit), she threw up!  Each and every time.  So we decided to stop doing that and stick to the Stage 1 and Stage 2 pureed pouches of food until we went to our checkup.  And the verdict….overly sensitive gag reflex!  The doctor said it is pretty common and she should outgrow it naturally by 15 months.  15 months?!?!  If baby girl can’t enjoy cake at her 1^st birthday, I might cry!  She might just have to eat melted ice cream instead! ;)

We also had a special visit from Mamaw this month!  She hadn't seen Emma since she was born, so they had a great time getting to know each other and spending quality time together, which included lots of playing, going to Opry Mills for some shopping, going to the zoo and going to Gentry's Farm to pick out pumpkins!  We hope Mamaw (and Papaw!) won't wait so long for their next visit!!

Milestones:

• Finally outgrew her 6 month clothes (mommy held on to those WAY too long!) and has moved on to 9 months….which are actually pretty snug!
• Bedtime is anywhere between 6:45 – 7:30 p.m...usually wakes up anywhere between 6 – 6:30 a.m.  There have been a few days where she slept until 7 and I almost died!  Amazing what you can get accomplished in those few extra minutes!
• Still sleeping in her crib in her room and napping in her swing when she’s at home
• Is all over the place!  Crawling, pulling up onto her feet, exploring EVERYWHERE!  She especially likes getting into things she’s not supposed to (blinds, electrical outlets, air vents, etc.)!
• Still loves eating her tootsies, toys, books, remote, phone, my hair, etc.!  Puts everything in her mouth!!
• Loves “talking”/”singing” more…still no “mama”
• 6 oz. at each feeding…and now eats three “meals” a day.  She has oatmeal cereal and a fruit or veggie blend at school, then a veggie or fruit blend at night.  She also likes YoBaby yogurt!
• Has now started cruising!  She will go from one side of the couch to the other….around the coffee table…and now cruises around her new Fisher Price activity table.
• Clapped for the first time this month!  She was really into it for a few days, then she stopped.  Now it's back to just waving at everything!

Favorites:

• Smiling (all the time!)
• Talking/singing
• Watching Baby First TV
• Chewing on her hands and tootsies…and anything!  She recently has taken a liking to chewing anything leather!  Mommy’s boots, daddy’s belt!  OMG!  She’s like a puppy!
• Standing...with mommy and daddy's assistance of course or pulled up on the coffee table, couch, freezer, kitchen chairs, hamper, etc., etc., etc.!
• Story time before bed…and books in general.  Has started turning the pages herself…so adorable!
• Pulling Mommy’s hair
• Laughing at Daddy when he “gets her belly” and when he swings her around or tosses her in the air!
• Crawling, pulling up, cruising
• Loves playing with door hinges, air vents, cords, etc.!  Anything that you’re NOT supposed to play with!
• Eating
• Waving
• Bubbles
• Pulling every single toy out of her toy box and placing them all throughout the living room!
• Loves playing peek-a-boo...she has even started "hiding" herself!  She will take anything...a blanket, burp cloth, toy, doll....and cover her face, then pull it down really fast, just waiting for us to say "Peek-a-boo!!"  Then she does it over and over and over.  It's adorable!

Dislikes:

• Being sick!  It was so sad to see such a happy-go-lucky baby be so down and out while she was sick.  Although it was awful, mommy and daddy enjoyed the extra snuggles!!
• Having her face wiped
• Eye drops!  Oh what a joy it is to put those in!