Gillian Grace is 9 months

Dear Gillybean,

Today you turn 9 months old. With your first birthday only three short months away, I've got my work cut out for me. As you're learning, Mommy likes to have everything just so and won't settle for anything less than magazine perfection on your special day. It seems like just yesterday that I was preparing your 1 month post, my how quickly time passes. Your Daddy and I no more turn our heads before you are doing something new for the first time. You continue to grow, thrive, and change right before our very eyes. And, you never fail to amaze us!



You are very independent and have tremendous confidence in your abilities, 9 months going on 19 we like to say. You began crawling around six months and never looked back. Now you are crawling faster than we can keep up. Pulling up is still one of your favorite parlor tricks, only now you've begun standing on your own. Just the other day we caught you standing for almost a minute before you realized that you were no longer gripping the ottoman and plopped down. You like holding our fingers and having us escort you throughout the downstairs. You still enjoy your walker, and have added Playskool's walk n'ride to your list of favorite toys. Within two days of playing with your new toy, you zoomed with the walk n'ride across our living room rug. When you reached the hardwoods you turned, grinned, and waited for our applause. I'm not sure you'll ever grow tired of being the center of attention!



Unlike last month, we think that you now understand the word "no" and surprisingly, do not fall to pieces when you hear it. Upon hearing no you usually pause, look at us, test your boundaries a few more times (only to hear no again and again), before abandoning your efforts and moving on to something else. Daddy and I are crossing our fingers that you'll learn all life's lessons this quickly and painlessly.



You love spending time with other kids, especially the neighbor girls. You continue to have a fascination with people, particularly boys and men, and are a hopeless flirt. We're praying that this is not a sign of things to come, because I'm not sure that your Daddy will ever be prepared for that! You smile at any and everyone, and have never met a stranger you didn't like {Yikes!}.



Your vocabulary has continued to grow and now includes "mah-mah" (Momma), "buh-be" (bye), and "num-ne" (yummy). You clearly recognize familiar faces like your Gammie and Grandad and objects like your food and bottles. You can even recognize voices and sounds. You love it when Gammie sends you a long distance dedication and sings You are My Sunshine on the speaker phone. You have two laughs, a little giggle when something makes you smile and a loud belly chuckle when you find something really amusing. We can usually get you going with a game of peek-a-boo or hide n' seek. It even makes you laugh to hear people stomping as they come up the stairs! Whenever Gammie is around you like to pretend cough. She'll ask, "Does the baby have a bad cough?" and as if on cue, your fake cough will follow. When she fake coughs back at you, you give her the most devilish angelic smile, laugh, and then continue coughing some more. You can be quite the little actress when you want someone's attention.



You've begun dancing all the time and it cracks everyone up to watch your silly moves! When I sing, Dance too much booty in your pants! Dance too much booty in your pants! Dance! Dance! Dance!, you bounce up and down, occasionally letting your tushie drop to the floor. You've also begun swinging your right arm around in circles to the beat and slapping your knee when you get excited.



We have a really active summer planned. Beginning in May, you will join the Bugs activity class at the Little Gym. I'm excited for you to meet other little friends your age, while watching you use some of your abundant energy to learn new skills. Maybe they'll be able to wear you out a bit since I seem to have little luck in that area. You are so flexible and strong we can't wait to sign you up for pipsqueak soccer, although we'll let you play any sport you'd like. And since you get so much happiness from music, we'll be participating in Kindermusik classes offered at a local Methodist church. Grandad is so pleased, as he thinks you'll really benefit from the classical music activities. He's hoping that a little Bach and Beethoven will help you in the areas where your Momma struggled most, math and science.



It's hard to imagine our life before you were a part of it. It seems like you've always been here with us even though we welcomed you into the world a little less than a year ago. Each day with you brings more smiles and more happiness than we could've ever imagined. You have given our lives a purpose and filled it with meaning. We couldn't love you more!



I love you bigger than the sky,
XOXO,
Mom

Nine Month Stats

Clothes: 18-24 months

Weight and Height: We'll find out Wednesday at our doctor's visit

Diaper: size 4- daytime and night time

Food: 24 oz of formula per day and 3 meals at the high chair

Teeth: None yet!

Sleep: Two naps a day, averaging about two hours each/ Night time sleep averages about 11 1/2 hours (bed by 7:30 awake by 7:00 the following morning)

When people comment on what a content and happy baby you are, I always tell them it's because you are such a good sleeper.

Favorite toys: Cirrco tunnel, Playskool walk n'ride, Chicco DJ walker, sand pail and shovel, clothespins, and household items like pots, pans, and dishtowels

Favorite show: Imagination Movers and Special Agent Oso

You love: Seeing Daddy come home, visiting with Gammie and Grandad, and playing outside