The Halsey Hallway: 9 Months Old

Friday, December 3, 2010

9 Months Old

Dear Brenna,

Today you are 9 months old. Do you know what that means? It means you've lived outside of me as long as you were inside of me. Of course, that's not taking in to count the extra 7 days that I was pregnant with you past my due date - but I'm trying not to hold that against you! 9 months seems like such a big milestone - you are 3/4 of a year old!

This month has been so fun. You are interacting with us more and more, and Daddy and I just can't get enough of you. Your laugh is by far my favorite sound on earth. I could be in the worst mood ever, and hearing your little giggle would make me smile. I hope you always keep that sweet little laugh. Lately we can make you laugh the most when we blow on your belly, brush something over your face, toss you lightly up in the air, put your paci backwards in our mouth, play pat-a-cake, and - your favorite - PEEK A BOO. You love playing peek-a-boo around corners, over the railings on our stairs, and behind the ottoman in our living room. You just laugh and laugh, and then try to get us!

Just tonight Daddy and I were sitting in the floor playing with you. You did something new - you would stand up holding on to the ottoman and then let go and try to walk to me. I guess you'd say you technically took one step each time, before falling forward into my arms. You are definitely close to being a stander and a walker, Brenna, and that just amazes me. Times like tonight are the ones I try to just soak up and remember. And luckily for us all, Daddy got some of it on video!

You are still a great sleeper - you take 2 naps that are about 1.5-2 hours each. You sleep from about 7:30 PM - 6:30 AM each night. We had a couple of rough nights - but we later found out that you probably had an ear infection. When you were about 8 1/2 months old, I stayed home with you one day - and it was a good thing! When you woke up from your morning nap, I noticed that your ear had lots of "stuff" coming out of it. We headed to the doctor, and found that your eardrum had ruptured. Daddy and I felt so bad for you - but luckily, once you started on your Amoxicillin you seemed to be on the mend quicly. You finished your medicine yesterday, and I'm hoping we'll have no more medical problems for a long time!

Oh, Brenna, you have developed a love for food. Until about a week ago, you ate about 4 oz. two times a day, and mixed in a few Puffs every now and then. But, all of the sudden, you seem to want a lot more. We've uped your two meals to about 6 oz. or so, and added in some snacks. You LOVE your Puffs now - and you've also eaten some yogurt, yogurt melts, baby puff-type crunchies (these look like cheetos!), baby wagon wheels, some crackers and Cheerios, and some solid fruit. I can't believe you are the same kid who never seemed too interested in food. You're outgrowing your texture adversion (I hope!) and it's fun to see you enjoy new foods. You still nurse 3 times a day (when you get up, when I get home from work, and bedtime) and take one bottle while I'm at work. So far your TWO teeth haven't gotten in the way. I loved your gummy little smile - but I love your little toothy grin a whole bunch, too!

You still wear mainly 6 month clothing, and I think you're super cute in your winter clothes - especially your big, warm, puffy coat! You're cloth diapers are going well - except that you've learned to undo the velcro. Luckily, you forget you have this skill most of the time! We'll go for your 9 month appointment on Monday, so I'll have all your stats then. When we went to the doctor about 2 weeks ago - you were 16 pounds, 14 ounces. Maybe you've finally hit the 17 pound mark!

You've definitely taken an interest in your sister - Maggie the dog. You love to pull her hair. She isn't too fond of you, baby girl, but she usually just leaves the room when you get too interested in her. I hope you guys will be playmates when you get a little older. Maggie used to be our baby - so she's still not sure why we let you move in and take over!

We enjoyed our first Thanksgiving together. We spent some time with both sides of our family, and you got LOTS of attention. On Thanksgiving day you finally learned to clap your hands, and OH MY, it's so cute! It's pretty uncoordinated, but that's the best part about it. You do it all the time now - I think you're pretty proud of yourself. You also say "bye bye" and wave (backwards) sometimes when you say it. I think we're going to have to stop saying it randomly just to hear your cute little voice, and only use it when someone is leaving. I want you to understand the meaning of it, too. I look forward to hearing you say more words and hearing what your little voice will sound like. It already melts my heart!

We'll be having our first Christmas as parents this year, and we are so excited to share this season with you. Having you around has added a new spark to our holidays, and we look forward to creating our own family traditions. You filled a void in our lives that we really didn't even know existed. God knew exactly the kind of baby we needed in our family, and you are the most perfect fit for us that I could have ever imagined. We were looking back at your ultrasound pictures the other day and realized that even though we knew we loved you then - we could never have imagined how much you would steal our hearts. I've been blessed with a baby who radiates happiness and the most loving, helpful husband on earth. I just love our family, Brenna.