20 pounds 3 ounces
27.5 inches
Sweet Big Baby,
9 months old girl friend!! At your doctors visit I had to schedule your 1 year visit and I'm in complete denial. So for now we will focus on month 9. You didn't get any taller from last month, but it seems like you did. You didn't even gain a full pound either, but you seem bigger. Maybe it's because you're growing into your features and looking older. You don't even look like the same baby I gave birth to 9 months ago! Your cheeks are still voluminous and beautiful, but not as over powering as they once were. These days your eyes are your most commented upon feature. Those big baby blues you inherited from your daddy are to die for. The melt my heart every time you look up at me.
My first Mother's Day fell on your 9 month birthday. Sadly you were cutting a tooth and absolutely miserable. It was a really rough day. Dad was working a double so he wasn't able to help us out, so we made our way over to Grandma's to celebrate with her (and help distract you). You spruced up while we were over there and while you weren't your usual happy-go-lucky self, you were better. You got fussy again when we got back home. womp womp. Dad was off Monday so we celebrated Mother's Day the day after. Daddy got up with you and took care of you while I slept in and got some work done. He cooked breakfast and we just spent some quality time together.
You officially cut both of your bottom teeth and you look so different! They still haven't fully come in but they're slowly making their way out.
You helped backstage with your first dance recital and you were pretty good! I wore you in the Tula and we did have to take a break and drive around for a while so you could nap, but we returned and you stuck it out. You stayed home with Daddy for the actual recital but you really enjoyed your time there. We were backstage most of the time but we sat in the audience for a bit while you took a bottle and you were enraptured with the show! You then felt the need to talk and yell along while watching, so we had to go back stage again. You enjoyed the show so much you wanted every one to know you loved it!
We did a lunch trip to Buffalo Wild Wings with Aunt Beth and got some good cuddles and conversation in. Your new thing is you are great in restaurants -- until the food comes. Then you absolutely will not sit in a high chair and only want to be held and walked around while the other person eats. Not the best way to enjoy dinner! But after we ate (or tried to) we went to Target and did a little shopping and just had a good time. We always love our time with Aunt Beth!!
We kept Nana & Papa Chip's dog Sophie for a long weekend, and you thought she was pretty awesome. You love watching the cats so a dog was a fun experience for you. It spurred Daddy and I to have the conversation about welcoming a dog back into our family. We've decided we are emotionally ready, so I'm guessing you'll have a puppy of your own by the end of the year (or sooner). We are probably crazy for that, but everyone needs the perfect love of a dog.
We had a super cool play date with Elliot and Lindsay where we went to see Frozen on Ice! It was such a neat thing, even if you did sleep through the whole second act. And even if we did walk around the convention center for the last half of the first act. So really we didn't see a whole lot of it, but what can you expect from an 8 month old? Elliot on the other hand watched pretty much the whole thing I think. He is a few months older, and Frozen is his favorite movie I believe. But it was so much fun hanging out with a baby friend and our October Mom group friend (even though neither of our babes were born in October).
You started pushing up on your arms in an attempt to crawl. You've still got some work to do but you are attempting it! A couple of weeks later you starting rocking on all fours. You aren't crawling yet but you've got the general idea! You also are a master at rotating. When you're on your belly you will push yourself in a circle to check out the things around you. It's so funny to watch. So you move yourself by rolling and rotating. But the crawling will be here soon!!
We have been seeing lots of cousins Mabry and Liam when we do Mabry's dance lessons. You think Liam is just the bees knees. He's your sized so you relate to him I guess. You two just look at each other and laugh and smile and are too cute. Mabry loves making you laugh, and she usually succeeds!
We spent some time with Nana and Papa Chip and went swimming for the first time! You loved it!! You started out in a float that was ok for about 20 minutes, then it started hurting your tushy I think so I pulled you out and held you. You did frog kicks and splashes and jumped up and down and laughed and smiled and you just had the time of your little life. If that first swim was any indication of it, you're going to be a little water bug! We can't wait for more swim trips with Nana, and Aunt Teresa when her pool is completed as well.
We did a fun lunch and hang out with Sofia and Aunt Michele. We hit up Panera and you sat in the high chair like a big girl and Sofia helped feed you! You both thought that was too cool. After you finished your puree meal you started getting a little fussy and we weren't finished eating, so I gave you the outside crust of a loaf of bread and you gummed it for a while. You loved it. Until you started to bite a piece off and I had to take it from you. Then you lost it. You were inconsolable. I tried giving you another piece of the same bread, but it didn't cut it. Stubborn little thing! After lunch we went back to their house and we were getting pretty close to nap time so you got a little fussy. It hurt Sofia's feelings unfortunately, so hopefully we can make it up to her soon!
One of your favorite pastimes is watching videos of other babies, and yourself. You personally think your own videos are the best. Also sitting in front of a mirror is really entertaining. We often put the front facing camera on my phone and just let you smile and laugh at yourself. You'll be a selfie queen. Yikes!
You love when you do something good and we say "yaaayyyy" and you usually try to say it along with us. You smile and sit up straighter and cheer yourself on.
Sweet Hannah, you're so happy, and kind and curious and friendly. Everyone who meets you loves you. They all say how beautiful you are, but if they're around you long enough the compliments move to how happy and cheerful you are. You brighten my day every morning when I walk in and you smile at me with the sleep still in your eyes. When you cuddle into my chest when you get a little shy, or try to kiss back with the open mouthed wet kisses. We love you baby girl, so much more than you'll ever know.
All my love,
Mommy
