9 Months Old

Big Girl!

 You are 9 months old today!  In just 9 short months you have learned so many things and have become very independent.  I find myself holding back tears every time I watch you do something new or just watch you play.  Just so you know, I will be that Mom who cries at every event that you participate in; I am just apologizing ahead of time, because I know it will happen. :)  Right now, it seems that you are doing so many fun, new things.  Your most recent accomplishment is taking your first step; you are up to two steps now.  No one can believe that you have already taken your first steps, but you have shocked and awed us all with how advanced you have been all along.  You love to pace the floor with your walker one-handed, usually holding some toy in the other hand until you run into something and get stuck. You also like to look out of windows, particularly the one over looking the AC unit, so that you can watch the fan spin around.

At your favorite window in the house

You are becoming so mischievous these days.  You know that you are not allowed at the fireplace, but just before you take off, you turn your head and give your Daddy and me the biggest grin and then crawl as fast as you can to try to beat us to it.  You like to dance to music, especially to the ABC's.  When you hear a song you like, you will bounce up and down or rock back and forth; it is so sweet to watch you.  Sometimes, you will kinda sing, in your own baby mumble of course, and you hit every note just right. You are starting to really like playing peek-a-boo too.  You never use your hands to play, but rather a blanket or something fabric; it is absolutely adorable.

Playing peek-a-boo with your curtain

When you are excited, you do this hilarious tongue thing!

You eat so good now.  Besides your cereal, some of your favorites are sweet potatoes, squash, banana, pear and peaches.  But most of all, you love a sippy cup full of water!  I believe you would live off of your solids and water if you could, because your bottles just don't seem to interest you as much.

You still suck your little thumb when you are hungry or sleepy, letting us know what you need.  When it is time for sleep, you like to have something soft to hold on to, especially your pink teddy bear blanket.  It will be interesting to see how long she will stay around.  At bedtime you enjoy us reading to you and are so good at turning the pages and following along.  Sometimes, if you are in the mood, you will read out loud with us.  You really enjoy bath time too.  Here lately, you will hold on to our hands and walk straight for the tub!  You love the pink cup that we use to rinse you with and you demand rights to it as soon as you hop in the water.  You will take your bath toys and place them in the cup and continue to take them out and put them back in.

In your room with ALL of your books in the floor

Despite having tubes put in your ears recently, cutting your teeth, and coming down with this hand, foot and mouth yuck today, you have remained the happiest, most content baby ever.  You are the most motivated child I have ever seen.  Once you set your mind to something, you will not stop until you have tried everything possible to make it happen.  If all of this has happened in 9 short months, I can not imagine what you will be doing by your first birthday!

Keep the great times coming!

All my love,

Mommy

Peek-a-Boo, I see you!

Dear Avery,

We had a another great weekend together.  Today Grammy and Granddaddy came to visit us.  You hardly knew that Daddy and I even existed once they walked through the door; you love them so much.  Today, you took more steps!  You managed two steps today!  Daddy moved your walker just out of reach and you took two steps and then stretched the rest of the way to reach and grab on.  Your Daddy and I are in absolute awe of how fast you are growing.  We saw that you have a sixth tooth trying to make its way through on top.  Right now you have two bottom teeth and three upper teeth and most certainly know how to use them.

Spoiled rotten with Grammy and Granddaddy

Yesterday we went and bought you some new big girl shoes so that your little feet are as comfy as can be as you learn to walk.  We also went to Aquatic Critter to look at the fish and reptiles.  You loved looking at the fish aquariums and would squeal as they swam by and bang on the glass trying to catch them.  Later that evening we went to dinner at Blue Coast across the street, where we placed your food mat on the table to eat.  Next thing we knew, you were playing peek-a-boo!  You would pull the mat over your head to hide, and then pull it down with a big grin on your face.  This was the first time that you ever played peek-a-boo with us and you initiated it all on your own!

Where is Avery....?

Peek-a-Boo there she is!

These days you and Daddy play the guitar together and it is so sweet to watch the two of you.  This weekend, as Daddy started playing, you stood in front of him and began dancing.  Once the dance fest was over, Daddy let you strum a little tune.  I must say that you guitar playing is pretty impressive. :)

You make me so proud sweet girl.  I can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store for us!

I love you bunches,

Mommy

First Time to hold your Sippy Cup and our Zoo Trip on the 4th of July

Big Girl,

At lunch today, you held your sippy cup and drank your water all by yourself for the first time ever!  You were so proud of yourself too!  You made several attempts before, but couldn't quite get the cup turned up enough to actually drink the water.  It's funny that you are all about holding your sippy cup on your own, but not so much your bottle.  I am certainly fine with holding your bottle for you though; it is the one of the few things that is "baby" left of you.  I am so excited to watch you grow and learn all of the new things that you are, but sometimes I wish I could put in all in slow motion because it is all happening so fast, that I can hardly keep up with you.

Later this afternoon we went to the zoo.  The first animal that you saw was a cow who was eating some hay and you were very intrigued by her.  You just stared at first and then just started gibber jabbering away.  You also loved the chickens, but your two favorites were the red panda and the rhinoceros hornbill bird.  The red panda walked right by the glass and you immediately started bouncing up and down and banged on the glass.  The rhinoceros hornbill was jumping up and down from a tree and just tickled you funny; you really started chuckling at that little guy.

Today was your first 4th of July, but we didn't watch fireworks this time.  You like to be in bed by 8 or you get a little cranky, so we just hung out at the house for the night.  I'm sure that you will be ready to stay up a little later next year and we can watch fireworks together then.

Much love,

Mommy

First Baby Step!!!

Avery Girl,

Oh my!  Today you took your first tiny baby step!  We were all at Grandpa and MiMi's house when you were standing independently in the living room.  You wanted a small stool that was just a step away and you raised your right foot to take a step toward it and remained standing!  Granted it was the tiniest of steps, but it was your first!  Everyone, your Daddy and I especially, were absolutely shocked to see you in action.  At 8 1/2 months you are well on your way to full mobility.  It was only been about two weeks since you stood up on your own and already you are attempting to walk.  With the right motivation, you can do anything.  We are so proud of you!  Everyday with you is so special and fun.  I get so tickled to watch you grow and learn.

I love you big girl,

Your Mommy