Nine months

Belle turned nine months yesterday!! She just gets more and more fun as time goes by and I just love her to pieces!! 

Dearest Belle,
You're nine months old!! You're such a big girl and SO full of personality. You are just the happiest little thing. You are way determined and don't give into my distractions very well. I think it's safe to say that you are strong willed and opinionated, but it suits you. I love watching you grow and getting to know you better each and every day.

You are wearing 6-9 month clothes, but I did unpack your 12 month clothes just because I wanted to switch up your wardrobe a little bit. The outfits are a little big, but just oh-so-cute. I just know there will be a day when I get no say in the clothing that you wear and so I am determined to play dress up with you as much as I want while I can. You started wearing size 3 diapers this month too.

Things that you like to do: crawl everywhere, stand {holding on whatever you can find to support you}, stick out your tongue, squeal, put everything in your mouth, and anything Jackson is doing.

Jackson is your favorite person. It is so much fun to watch you two play together! You get so excited when he comes in with me to get you out of your crib and you just love when you get to play on Jackson's bed after he wakes up from nap. You love to destroy his train tracks play trains with Jackson and any toy that he might be interested in at the moment. {I foresee the moment when we're on vacation and I want you to get a pretty little pick umbrella with your name on it as your souvenir, but you insist on getting a coon-skin hat and a cap gun. It happened to some other little girl I know and it drove her mother crazy. I wouldn't recommend it. Don't ask Grammy about it, K? And PS, this why I'm taking advantage to dressing you up now.}

You've been saying Dada for the longest time now and this month, you've started to say Mama and it is SO CUTE! Your little mouth is just so cute when you move your lips. I am a bit disappointed that Dada is your happy sound and Mama is often used when you're fussy. That's not cool.

Did I mention that you're a little strong willed? Well, this month you've decided that you no longer need to eat any food that comes from a utensil that I may be using to feed you. Nope, you only want to eat food that you can pick up and put in your mouth yourself. And you go totally out of your way to make sure the spoon doesn't get shoved in-- you close your mouth so tight and you squirm in your highchair and hid your face in the corner by the tray so there is no even trying. You turkey. What am I supposed to do with the cabinet full of baby food that you won't eat!? And you're appetite is just about half of what it was last month. Totally stressed me out for awhile, but you're cheeks are still chubby so I guess you're just fine.

Sleeping hasn't gone super well this month. This month was kind of a long month, really. With teething, flu shots, stomach bugs, the time change-- sleeping just wasn't as smooth as it has been in the past. Waking up multiple times a night, fighting naps... it's been rough, but we're back in a groove and you're back to sleeping better. You go to bed around 8-8:30 and generally you get up around 6am, but if I give you a bottle, you'll play and go back to sleep until around 8am.

You spent a decent amount of time being sick this month and you weren't your typical easy-going, always happy little self. But really, it made me realize what a great baby you are most all of the time! I knew you felt crummy and that made me sad for you, but I enjoyed the cuddling, because that is just something you never really do!! You even fell asleep while I held you for the FIRST time. I didn't want to ever put you down, but eventually I did. However, when you fell asleep on Daddy, he just held you so still for two hours. You've kinda got a hold on him. And me. And Grandma, Grandpa, Grammy, Papa... you're just so sweet that everyone just loves you so much.

Some pictures from this month:

{I may or may not have bribed you with an oreo so you'd be continent sitting in your high chair for longer so I could clean!}

Finally captured the classic pose- you lay like this often. It's only cute because you're a baby-- not when you're older. 

I can't believe I don't have a picture of you standing up! You love to stand up on anything you can, even if it's the chair that some other patron is using in the doctor's office waiting room! The good news {for me} is that you haven't shown a big interest in walking yet. I'm totally okay if you want to wait awhile! 

You're our little princess, Belle! We love you lots and lots.

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Nine month stats: 

• weight: 18.9 pounds (40%)
• height: 27.5 inches (47%)
• head circumference: 18 inches (91%)

Eight Months

Ohmigoodness... when did my little girl get so big?! She's mobile and quick. She is has a happy, energetic personality, and she's got her first tooth!!

My happy baby! The bottom right picture is a silly face to put in the collage,
but that's what she's up to these days, so I had to include it! Click on the picture
to make it larger to check out those baby blue eyes. Adorable! 

Dear Belle,

Your smile is the highlight of each day. People *always* comment about you being such a happy baby and it is so true. A big smile awaits anyone who glance your way-- even if just for a quick moment. You've even been known to stop people in their tracks as they walk through the grocery store. I have a feeling you are going to give your father a bit of grief when you grow up to be such a pretty girl. How about you just stay a daddy's girl forever?!?

This month you've gotten a tooth, started pulling up, and started crawling on all fours a little bit. Oh, and you've got your first "trick"!! You can wave. And it is SO cute. It's a whole arm wave and it makes your whole body wiggle. And you make the happiest face when you do it-- see the middle picture above. You were in the middle of a two arm wave.

Sleeping has been a bit off this month. After your shots and then spending a week traveling about the state, your schedule got messed up-- and you didn't sleep through the night for two weeks. Up multiple times a night. Hear me out... that is not cool. I ended up having to let you cry it out one night. It didn't last long and you were back in your routine the next day. Until just the other day. You can stand up in your bed now. So, instead of falling asleep, you stand up and cry. Just because you can stand up, doesn't mean you need to at every moment. K?

You are still much more interested in eating real {baby} food than having a bottle. And you're much more interested in eating finger foods than being spoon fed. A little particular, maybe!? You will drink about 18-20 ounces a day and will have two bowls of baby food and cereal. You have started to eat some finger foods like cheerios and green beans. You also love to crawl around and find any crumb on the floor. Your favorite is paper. {I even used some paper to get you to cooperate in your little photo shoot}. You are wearing mostly 6-9 months clothing, though you are still wearing a few 6 month pieces. You're pretty short for you age {okay, a lot short} so some of the smaller stuff still fits.

Watching you and Jackson play is my absolute favorite thing. You absolutely adore him. And he is so fond of you. Sometimes Daddy and I just sit in the front room watching you two do your thing. Jackson will put his face really close to yours and you will giggle-- He has a special face that he only uses on that occasion! Jackson will crawl and you will chase after him. The only problem is that you think that all babies/toddlers are yours to crawl after and climb. You just love to play with people. Oh, and I don't have a picture, but I swear that your BFF is the little girl in the mirror. You are so funny to watch when you see yourself. It can keep you entertained for nearly an hour at times!!

You are just a great little girl. We wouldn't know what to do with ourselves with you, sweet Belle!! Love, Mommy and Daddy!

You've outgrown some of your toys and have started to utilize them in different ways-- like crawling through and playing underneath your exersaucer.

Jackson was the first person to "catch" you standing up all by yourself! He is such a proud big brother... and look at you, you're so big!

You've started to get your own free cookie from Walmart to share enjoy. You really like the paper better, but I won't let you eat it.

This is your favorite spot. You love that extension cord. I can put you anywhere in the house and you always find your way back here.

And seriously, you love for your feet to be up. They are always up.

even when you are SLEEPING!!! Both legs up in the air. How do you do it???

We love you princess!

Six Months!

I know I say this every month, but I really can't believe Belle is already 6 months old! She is seriously the happiest baby you've ever met (I've seen her smile while crying at times!). Also, the squirmiest. And definitely the cutest!

Dear Belle,

First off, I have to say that I love your name. I don't know exactly what it is, but I just love it. And people say such sweet things when I tell them your name! A guy at the store actually said, "how charming!" once... and it took all my restraint not to say, "I know, isn't it!?!?" Ha. Sometimes, okay often, you get called Bella-- which is NOT your name, but I try not to get all crazy about it. I should have seen it coming; Isabella was the number one name last year for little girls. Oh well! I still love your name!

I spent an entire week without you this month. It was miserable without you! I missed you and your happy smile so much. Grammy took good care of you.

Seriously, you are the happiest. baby. ever!!!! Look at this smile!

This month has been a big month for you. You started sleeping through the night 100% of the time. Yay!!! Also, you figured out baby food really wasn't that bad and actually started opening your mouth to eat! That has made meal times *so* much easier. You're starting to sit up for longer periods of time, but you haven't mastered it completely because you just WILL NOT hold still. And that leads us to your biggest milestone-- you started crawling! You are one ambitious little girl, I must say. (watch the video here)

You enjoy sitting in high chairs (and carts) when we go places! Look at you!!

You're going to sleep routine has become pretty easy over this past month. We can just put you down, unswaddled, and you will play until you sleep! Super easy. You love to cuddle with Pink Ruff-Ruff (a gift from a friend) and I have found you on more than on occasion with your head covered whether it be with Pink Ruff-Ruff, the bumper pad, your clothes... weird, but cute. You are very good at playing in your crib after you wake up and you are simply delightful when we come get you out. 

cuddling with and covered by pink ruff-ruff!

 Your schedule goes something like this: 

Awake: 8ish, 6 oz bottle
Nap: 9:30ish
Awake: 10:30-11ish, play/run errands
Lunch: another 6 oz bottle, baby food- yum!
Nap: 12:30-1:30ish
Awake: 3-4ish, another bottle, play!
Quick Nap: between 5-6ish, about 30 minutes
Awake: Playtime with daddy, bottle, baby food dinner!
Bedtime: between 8-9ish

Other tidbits: People tell me all of the time that you look just like me, even Daddy. You do have his chin, but I guess the rest is all me. You entertain yourself, and us, with your tongue (watch video here). It is just about as wiggly as your body. You jibber-jabber all of the time. (My parents would probably agree to saying that is just like me as well). And your happy sounds are very loud and high pitched. We love when you're happy, but we don't love the sounds. You really aren't much of a giggle-er. Sometimes you let out a little chuckle, but even as I continue to flail about in the same fashion that triggered the first laugh, you keep your amusement to yourself. But it does make the times you do let out some giggles that much more precious!

You chew on everything, but no teeth yet.

You have the ability, but outright refuse to hold your bottle.

And you love to swing! (outside anyway; not a fan of the baby swing)

You helped Aunt Laura move into her college dorm last week.

Belle, you are so much fun right now! Daddy loves coming home to play with you. You are super easy going and just so happy all of the time. I'm having so much fun watching you get bigger each and every day. We love you so much sweetie!