9 Months Old

Kirksey, you are 9 months old today!

We anxiously expected you for 9 months and now we have joyfully enjoyed having you for 9 months. It's funny to think that I carried you around in my belly for as long as you have been alive now. It's hard to remember what life was like before you, and we wouldn't change that for the world!

So, what are you up to?

You are wearing mostly 6 or 6-9 month clothes; however, some 3-6 month things still fit. The outfit in your picture this month is actually a 3 month, but since it is a bubble outfit it still works for now. (I have been wearing that outfit out because I like it so much on you and you won't be able to wear it much longer).

You still wear size 3 diapers. I imagine you will wear this size for a few more months.

We went to your new pediatrician here in Memphis last week. Here are your stats:

Weight - 16.6 pounds (20th percentile)

Length - 25 inches (< 5th percentile)

Head - 17.25 inches (15th percentile)

You still nurse about 5 times a day.

You are a good eater. You eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You have tried so many things and there really is not anything that you really have not liked. I am still introducing new things to you about every 3 days. You love puffs and are starting to really like cheerios too. You are getting to where you want to be able to pick up your food instead of me spoon feed it to you. I don't know how much longer you are going to eat the pureed food.

You like to taste EVERYTHING...it all goes to your mouth.

You still have that sweet gummy smile. I love it so much. I think it won't be much longer until that first pearly white pokes through (although I have been saying that for a few months).

You sleep about 10-11 hours a night.

You also are taking 2 naps a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon (most days).

You have such a sweet personality.

You have many expressions.

You really take everything and everyone in with your big beautiful eyes.

You are a very persistent little girl. For instance, you love our iPhones. If you see one, you will crawl over anything to get to it. There is no distracting you. You see what you want and you go for it. That is a good trait. Your daddy and I will just have to make sure that we are steering you in the right direction in the future.

You have become an expert crawler. Just last night you raced to the front door to meet Daddy when you heard him coming in.

You have gotten really good at taking off with your walk n ride. You do get mad though when you come to a wall or furniture and can't go any further. I have to help turn you around, but then you are off again. You have only been walking around with that or by holding onto something (many times what you hold are my hands or my legs).

You have the sweetest, most infectious laugh. The other day you even snorted once while laughing. I thought it was funny, but it scared you.

You love the song "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes". You also really like "The Wheels on the Bus". We sing those songs a lot.

We play aot and you have had your first tent, of many I'm sure.

You have gotten to where you love to flip the pages of your board books. That can keep you entertained for a while.

You also love Maci. You follow him the best you can. He runs by you and you just keep turning to follow after him. If I am sitting on the floor with you and he is running around, you go to follow him then get really excited and come climb up me.

You "talk" a good bit, but "dada" is still the most recognizable word. I am trying hard to get you to say "mama"! Don't worry though, my feelings are not hurt, you make it clear that I am the one you very much prefer.

You are so incredibly perfect. We love you so much that I think our hearts might burst!