9 Months

Kind of crazy to actually think about the fact that it was 17 months ago today that I found out I was pregnant with Miss Em.  Still seems like such a blur to me, but here we are with a little girl getting so big.  Well, the getting so BIG part is a bit untrue... Emily is probably under 17 pounds still (she was 16lbs 10oz at her doc's appointment 2/9), and it's still pretty hard to find a genuine fat roll on this baby, but she is growing :)  Emily hasn't changed drastically over the last month, but the gradual changes of a baby sometimes sneak up on you.  She's currently interested in Duplos, Elyse's plastic groceries, and anything Elyse is playing with.  Most of her play time is spent watching Elyse (if she's around) or "swimming" on her belly.  She loves to sit up, and I've caught her a couple of times in the sitting position when I left her on her belly.  Unfortunately, I have yet to witness this feat of hers.  I hope she's not a sneaky one!  Other than the very random scootching across the floor and spinning/rolling in all directions, she has no interest in crawling.

She is eating well, but she has started screeching between bites, and it makes Mommy insane.  I know it's possible to still love your kids to pieces and be annoyed with bad habits at the same time, right?  My index finger seems to be getting a workout as it's pressed against her lips most of mealtime.  I must admit, it is kind of cute to watch her try to lick my finger :)  She loves all of her veggies and fruits for now, but she will not eat plain avocado.  That is one veggie that I must be sneaky about.  I can slip it in with another veggie, but if she even tastes the slightest avocado taste, out it goes.  I'm just starting to think about finger foods with her (now that my baby food stash in the freezer is getting low), but since she's not much of a "put-things-in-the-mouth" kind of kid, she's got a LONG ways to go.  I hope we get there soon.  I'm ready to move on from mushy foods, as I'm sure she is!  Sleeping is going well.  I can tell she's not a child that naturally loves a tight structure, but she's keeping at 12-13 hours a night with only a random wake-up now and then... Could be due to two head-colds, one bout of random fever, and an ear infection in the last month.  COME ON, SPRING!  She's been inching towards a 6pm bedtime, but I'm just not quite ready for that :)  That makes wake up 6 - 6:30 every day.  Right now, she's going to bed at 6:30 (maybe 7) and waking up between 6:30 and 7:30.  I'm embarrassed to say she takes a lot of naps- sometimes still 4.  Thankfully, she's fine if we're out & just can't get her a nap, but she loves them if we're home :)  She is definitely girl who needs & likes her rest.

Em's still not much of a giggler, but she's very pleasant and goofy in a "quiet" sort of way.  She loves to be outside & LOVES having wind blow in her face.  She'll sit in the living room and stare at me as I work in the kitchen, just waiting for me to look over and grin.  She'll clap and coo as soon as I see her.  If I had to pick, I'd say she's more of a mommy's girl than a daddy's girl, but I love watching her with Daddy.  His voice, sneeze, cough... anything will make her eyes get big and her little mouth hang open.  She adores when he tickles her or just plays with her.  She's enough of a clown that when her audience is gone, the whining begins.  I love seeing more glimpses into her personality.  It makes me laugh and frightens me at the same time :) I really do have two little goofy girls on my hands.  I STILL have a feeling Emily's a going to be a little spit-fire.  Oh, dear.

fun's:
* She almost always smiles with her mouth OPEN.
* I love that she'll try to hold my face with both her hands.
* Fishy lips
* Bathtime
* Clapping & cooing at the same time
* Pigtails :)  Sometimes they're like palm trees, and other times they're like little buns :)
* Watching Em bop to music
* Em still loves to play with her toes.
* Her feet still twirl like windmills, & she loves to pull off her right sock all the time now!
* Seeing how funny she looks sitting in the high chair with the tray on... she looks so tiny!

not-so-fun's:
* She's definitely bonding with things that aren't toys.  Whether it be a wrapper, a piece of paper, or some other strange object, when I take it from her: WATCH OUT.
* As I mentioned before, the screeching is NOT cool.
* She's getting a very firm grasp on things- whether it's my hair or jewelry, she does not want to let go.  Ow.
* She's still into blowing raspberries when she's had enough to eat.  I think I need to post a sticky note on her forehead that will remind me to start teaching her some sign language!
* She is into exercising her bad temper if I put her down for a nap she doesn't think she needs.  Funny thing is, as soon as I shut the door behind me, I'll hear her start to play or talk quietly to herself.  Booger :)
* Since she's had her fair share of sickies this month, she will cough & inevitably sputter out veggies at me, but only if I'm wearing a nice outfit or if the veggies happen to be neon.
* I wish I could freeze time.  It's so cliche, but so true for me right now!

Emily Mae, you are one funny baby.  We love you to pieces & can't wait to see the toddler you will become!