Cailin Hope- 9 months!

Baby Hope,

You are getting so big, so fast!  It's such a trite thing to say, but it's true.  While wandering through Dollar Tree :) yesterday, I saw "Happy 1st Birthday" party supplies, and realized we'd need to purchase those soon (tear!).  But let's not rush things.

-You are still such a happy girl.  You smile at everyone and giggle all day long...as long as you can see me.


Sweetness

-Stranger anxiety set in right on schedule.  You're not fond of new people.  We have not yet had a successful drop off at the church nursery.  Thankfully you tend to sleep through the service while you're with us and if not, it's nothing a few pretzel sticks can't cure.

-You are still a mama's girl.  Your second favorite person is Charlotte.  When we walk across the hall to open her bedroom door in the morning, you start to squirm and giggle with delight even before we can see your sister.  Not to leave Daddy out.  You scream "DADA!" in the evenings when Daddy gets home from work.  (Note- Matt's regularly home in the evenings.)

-You army crawl all over.  Your clothes are always filthy as a result.  I'm like a walking ad for oxy clean.  

Ab workout




-You have started to use some signs.  You wave Hi and sign milk, eat, more, water, and occasionally "all done".  "All done" is more commonly "signed" by throwing all remaining items off of your high chair tray.  You scooch yourself into the pantry and grunt until we come find you, at which point you sign "eat" while staring at the cheerios.  It's rather resourceful really.  Maybe this is why you can't yet manage to get your belly off the ground.   



Big sister lends a hand

-You say "mama" and "dada" but not yet with regular intenionality.  Tonight, while getting ready for bed, you were whining and we all were certain we heard you say "blankee" which would be such a sweet first word.  So say it again tomorrow. 

-You understand many words and get excited to hear us say Charlotte, Blankee, Mama, Dada, Milk, Eat, and Cheerios. 



You challenge Charlotte to a race

-As you may have gathered, you like to eat.  A lot.  You spit out any and all babyfood.  It's endearing.  Really.  Only not.  You have this desire to be included and if we don't share our meal with you, it's not pretty.  This means you now eat everything.  Including the spicy foods your sister refuses.  You are still sensitive to dairy but the allergy is improving.  You've tried yogurt and I think you like it but since it comes from a spoon, I really can't be sure.



-You are a fabulous sleeper.  Still.  Thank.  You.  You go to bed around 7 and sleep for about 12 hours at night.  After getting dressed and eating breakfast (assuming we're still home), you nap for an hour.  What I wouldn't do for this schedule.  Then in the afternoon you (and your sister) nap for 2.5-3 hours.  This probably contributes to all the smiling.  


Crawling around with blankee in tow

You are such a sweetheart and we love you more every day. Happy 9 months baby!

[In true, second child fashion, this was written and posted one week late.]