My Funny, Hungry, Sleepy Baby

{9 months and gaining}

So yesterday at your 9 month checkup, the doctor said we could start giving you baby-sized pieces of our own food as long as you can hold and chew it without issue. When I mentioned this to daddy, he took it as a license to go crazy with the food-tasting, and tonight you tried green beans, your first french fry, and (!!) pork barbeque from Shane's Ribshack. Mommy was not happy with the fact that pork was your first meat, and promptly offered you a shred of my chicken. I fear we're creating a monster. But it's very cute to watch you grab the pieces with your thumb and forefinger and try to land them in your bird-mouth.

Dr. B said you were lookin good. 78th percentile in height; 15th in weight. They'd be concerned if you weren't so tall. Sounds like you take after your mommy.  :)  You're just starting the clingy stage and becoming wary of strangers, but you warmed up to the doc after a bit and even performed some of your tricks for him (the latest of which is flipping your paci sideways and gripping it with your two teeth). You also clapped and danced (I'm assuming the music was playing in your head), and stood on mommy's lap. 

You're presently not the most talkative of kids, but just the way you look at the world makes me think you're processing it all. And anytime you want to start actually calling me mama (instead of just throwing it out there sans meaning) is good with me. You give wonderful kisses—especially to daddy. You only bit me that one time... ;)

Your favorite snack for the moment is pretzels, which daddy has been giving to you for several weeks without my knowledge. You basically just suck all the salt from them and gnaw the bare stick. When I came home and caught this action going on one night, daddy said "she loves pretzels!" unapologetically. Yes, this was before we had clearance from the doctor to give you finger foods. But I guess no harm done if you don't get sick. Thank goodness you're a very tolerant baby, and can take pretty much anything we throw at you. Maybe I should thank God for that, too.

pretzel or teething tool? you decide

perhaps some lobster bisque for the lady??

yes, that is seriously what daddy is feeding you...

We're still doing the 'your bed most of the night; ours the rest' thing, but I'm moderately convinced it's only because daddy wakes from his temporary couchbed and grabs you on the way to ours (perchance sleepthinking you're restless even when you're not). Don't tell him I said that. I have to collect evidence first..

In the mornings, you stir around 6:30. And though we'd love just that half hour more, your waking process, again, is too cute for us to hate. First you tumble from side to side (mommy to daddy) and see if this gets our attention. You may still be half-sleeping, but it works. Then the paci dislodges and you turn onto your tummy and up to all fours. One of us generally attempts to coax you back to bed with a gentle check against the pillows at that point. But you are not to be discouraged and soon muster up to a stand, looming over one of our faces (employing the head for support). I'm not sure how you know, but the poking, prodding, pulling and smacking does it, and we are up to attend to your every beck and call once again. Periodically, mommy and daddy are more tired and therefore more resistant to your blows, and attempt to endure the abuse longer just to slightly extend the rest. 

Recently, you found that pulling daddy's armpit hair will shock him up swiftly. That was a fun morning.

Don't even get me started on the falling asleep process. It's more complicated by far, especially on days when your naps aren't regular, but always entails a paci and blankette (i.e. soft piece of fabric posing as a blanket, but smaller—often with a stuffed animal attachment). We call your favorite one Ellie, since it's essentially a flat pink elephant (no, not fat; flat. Seriously, these things sound absurd when you try to explain them). Anywho, you still perform the flailing exercise and rub your Ellie on your cheek to soothe you down. Daddy was watching you do this one day and wondered aloud "do you think she's still gonna have to do that when she, like, goes off to college? I mean her roommate will be lying there peacefully nodding off, and she'll start flapping a pillow about over her head trying to fall asleep." Then he demonstrated and I lost control. We get the biggest kick out of you, baby. It's probably not even funny to anyone else, but I love our inside jokes. You are terrifically hilarious.

Mobile Munchkin

{8.5 months going on 13}


nooo! my child has become a mean girl! (or at the very least, joined the paci police). last week was precious jake's first week at school, and you decided to make it super-easy (major sarcastic undertone) by crawling over as soon as i set you down, standing(ish) above him, grabbing his paci and throwing it away (in a "seriously, you don't need this here; i'm just gonna relieve you of it" kind of way). and you did so with the efficiency of a hawk snatching its prey. jaclyn thinks maybe you're just trying to "assert your seniority" and show everyone that although you're little, you're no pushover. i would hate to think of my darling, sweet girl as a bully, so i'm claiming that you were really just preparing to go in for some lovin. you are, after all, a shameless flirt.. 

(see?)

and not just with the little guys! at lunch just last week, you could not take your eyes off the young blonde surfer boy who came in as we ate. you were babbling away, banging two toys together, and literally stopped mid-play to watch him make his order. you were distracted by his beauty for a good five minutes, which is a dang long time for a baby. luckily, we were at jimmy john's, so he got his sub freaky fast and left. daddy is still your number one guy, though. and we like it that way. preferably until you're about 18.  

another recent development at daycare has been the need for us to sign a "sleep waiver," because you allegedly refuse to remain on your back during naps and your teachers seem to have grown tired of flipping you around.  ;)  ok so this isn't news to us. on a number of occasions, i will admit, we've put you to bed and check an hour later to find you snoring away on your tummy with your bottom up in the air and legs tucked underneath you. you've also grown to prefer starting out on your side. and honestly, though i know back is best and would absolutely never forgive myself if something happened, i kind of feel like  a baby's gonna sleep how a baby wants to sleep (especially if she's little miss mobile and does crib gymnastics like you do). i'm more comfortable on my side, too. 

you're crawling all natural-like now, and seriously i feel like we went from infant to toddler in a week because you're pulling up on everything and cruising around just like a real little human (ok yes i know that's what you are, but it's clearly surreal for mommy to watch you growing before my eyes)!

(multitasking)

(the plastic bottle - still one of your favorite playthings. 

sigh.)

(and your new favorite toy)

(hmm.. sweetie I'm not sure that particular thing should go in your mouth)

and random/cute sidenote: daddy often falls asleep downstairs to the drone of the television (he claims it's the only thing that puts him out. and since our room remains technologically-challenged, the den is his preferred nocturnal habitat). as i'm sure i've mentioned before, daddy has some strange sleep habits and it often results in incoherent babbling or some form of sleepwalking. in the wee hours of the night last week, he tromped upstairs and fell into bed and i said "goodnight sweetie, i love you." to which he replied "night babygirl. i love you so much."

over the weekend we let daddy sleep in while we redecorated the bonus room with your toys. the dogs started barking randomly as they sometimes do (to alert us that there is a squirrel or rabbit that needs our attention), and apparently it woke him. you and i watched/listened helplessly as daddy leapt out of bed, ran to the stairs and somehow launched himself clear over most of them, landing about 4 steps from the bottom. when the dust settled, he came in the room and admitted that he was half-asleep and convinced we were downstairs in danger. i think maybe he was reenacting his childhood superman fantasy .. just kidding.