Did I mention the number 9??!!!

I did say I now have a NINE month old did I not? Well - let me just remind you all of how far we've come in 9 months....



My baby is growing up!!!!!

My amazing 9 month old. Still not crawling, or trying.....but very cute and alert as she takes in the world around her from her little bottom. No teeth yet!!! She went from baby coos to repetitive syllables on my birthday, and could roll from front to back around then too. Sitting up unassisted became more frequent in February after just starting post Christmas. She is 90% of the time a good sleeper, though the last month of illness messed with her record. I seem to recall Lovely being a much better sleeper, but I've pumped less with Baby Valiant, and we did co-sleeping the first 6 months. Every precious child is different (and I'm glad I don't have a paid job to wake up for this time around with the staggered sleep).

She's ALL smiles (most of the time), cooing, babbling, touching and feeling with her hands (not very oral though - all tactile touch), baby shrieks, this very unique gasping sound to get my attention in dramatic fashion, and JUST kind of started to raise her arms to you when wanting to be picked up. She has started to develop separation anxiety, and along with her sister (who makes her laugh like NO one else....a real baby belly laugh), I'm queen of her world.


I'm treasuring it now, because I know "Daddy's Girl" will come - Lovely has proven that phase comes. She, just like her sister, has made me proud to be a mother - and forever grateful. My heart is now outside my body, moving around in two small children. I never knew I could FEEL so much. And Baby Val here has truly reminded me how fast life goes by, and how PRECIOUS babyhood is. I mourn the ending of the tiny baby stage, but delight in the cuteness of the emerging personality. I miss the constant cuddling and cooing of a newborn, but love that now her love is a "choice" and she chooses to snuggle in, engages me in babble, gives me kisses, and shows she wants me near her. I think God eases us out of past stages with the excitement of new ones. It eases the pinch some. SOME.

Happy 9 Months my Blue Eyed, Curly Top Sweetheart. You are loved.