Nine Months Already!

Ella, you were nine months old on Saturday.  It's hard to believe!!  You truly are a joy and are so much fun.  This has been your Mommy and Daddy's favorite stage because you are so interactive and love to have a good time...and are a little more independent too.  We love you more and more each day that passes!!  Here's a recap of month 8:

New things that happened during your 8th month:
-crawling (the first week you were 8 months)...you are a girl on the move!!
-pulling up and walking around things like the couch, your crib, book shelves
-waving-- you have the cutest little wave :)
-clapping with joy...you stop and clap when something makes you happy.
-saying mama and dada--not sure you know that they are our names yet...but you might be catching on
-attending Mother's Morning Out...which you love!
-having your first babysitter that wasn't a family member, Sweet Melissa (you wouldn't go to bed for her, but she said you were sweet).
- getting your first cold from MMO :(

"Hobbies"
-Playing...you play your heart out everyday-- it's your favorite thing to do!
- Trying to crawl out of the barracade in the family room to get to the dog water bowl in the kitchen
- Trying to eat everything you find
-Playing with your tongue...she photos below!
-Pulling things out of baskets....just wish you also liked to put things back in :)
-Playing with other children...you love other kids and can't wait to play Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays with the babies in the nursery

Favorite foods:
Chicken and rice/ Turkey and vegetable dinners
Anything BANANA!!
Green beans
Your organic puff cereal (banana and sweet potatoes)
You still love your Nutramagin formula...you are a milk drinker!
Avacado

Sleep:
You still fight sleep because you hate to miss out.  You don't nap.  I am lucky to get a thirty minute nap in the morning around 9ish and a thirty minute nap in the afternoon around 4ish from you.  It makes getting housework done a challenge.  You go to bed around 8ish and usually sleep until 6:30 or 7 in the morning.  You always wake up in the middle of the night at either 2 a.m. or 5 a.m. and fuss a little (or play), but we don't go in there to get you because you need to learn to sleep through the night. We do go in there if you do become hysterical (you throw up sometimes if you get yourself too upset).  Naps are something I wish you took...they'd be good for both of us-- but overall you sleep well at night.

MMO:
You are so well loved by the your Mother's Morning Out teachers, Miss Audrey and Miss Christa, and the Director, Miss Charli.  They love you and tell me that you are the easiest baby to have in class.  This makes me laugh because if only they knew how far you've come from your colic days.  They say you play and keep yourself entertained.  You love to be around other children.  You love to go outside.  You are always smiling.  They tell me the only time you cry is if several of the other children are crying....they say you get upset to see others upset.  I think this is so sweet.  You love MMO and I never feel guilty having to leave my baby all upset like many of the other mothers do...I'm very grateful for this!! :)

You are everything we hoped for and more in a little girl.  You're still as spirited and feisty as ever, but you are also a sweetheart.  You love your family and spending time with your grandparents and uncles.  You are a social butterfly and this personality will serve you well.  We love you!!  Happy 9 months, Ella Grace!