Nine Months

12 November 2016

Dear E,

You finally got to meet Great Grandma Rogers and Great Uncle Paul this month. They loved being with you so much. We had to drive about four hours to get there. You did fine on the drive up, but got really upset on our drive home. You cried so much that you threw up all over yourself and your car seat.

Your first two teeth are in! I'm loving your smile.  The doctor told me he can feel a ton of teeth that are just about to break through your top gums. No wonder you've been so miserable lately.  The picture below sums up how you and I both feel about teething. 

You have also grown a little bit more hair. It's the perfect amount for you to play with. You love to play with it when you're trying to fall asleep and sometimes while you're drinking your milk. Another thing you started doing while falling asleep is slowly kicking one of your legs against the mattress. 

Even L likes playing with your hair. 

You love standing up. You are constantly practicing. You're getting pretty good at staying up for long periods of time now. It's so fun to see the big smile on your face as you do so. 

You have had a cold twice this month. Combine that with teething and it's no wonder it's been pretty rough for our family. I can't wait until you are totally better. I'm sure you can't either. It's not like you to be grumpy this often. 

You love your dad so much. It's so fun to see your face light up when he gets home from work. Nobody can get you to laugh as much as he can. Riding on his shoulders is a favorite activity right now. He also created a game where you and L try to escape to the kitchen over and over again. I could just watch you playing with him all day. 

The favorite toy right now is a teething ring shaped like a fish. Thankfully, we have two because you and Lucy always steal one from each other until I place the second one in your line of sight. One is currently lost and I'm searching high and low for it. Sometimes when you and your sister steal toys from each other, you get really upset. Other times, you both start laughing. It's the best. Oh, how I love watching you two interact.

I've taken you to the store before, but I always had you stay in your carseat.  Now that you're such a good sitter, you have been sitting in the grocery cart.  You love it so much since you can see everything going on around you.  The people in the store love it, too.  

Serious shoppers 

I'm sure I say this a lot, but you are such a wonderful baby. I'm so blessed to be your mom. 

Love you!

Mom

Dear L,

Great Grandma Rogers and Great Uncle Paul were so excited to meet you earlier this month. We had a great time visiting them in St. John's. They couldn't get enough of you and your sister.

One of your trademark things right now is ‘eating’ people. You open your mouth super wide and go for their face or whatever body part you can reach. Then we get covered in lots of your drool. It’s so funny (especially when you get Dad).

Speaking of your dad, he sure loves you. He loves to play with you so much and you are always in heaven when he does so. When he gives you shoulder rides, you hold on tight to his hair and you sometimes eat it. It's a guaranteed way to get you in a good mood. Another favorite is when you ‘escape’ by quickly crawling to the kitchen and Dad pretends to freak out. He brings you back to the carpet as E escapes. You both loving being ‘caught.’  It goes on and on until you wear him out. 

You have had a really hard time sleeping the past few weeks since you have been sick. There have been many nights when it takes forever for you to get back to sleep in the middle of the night. On one particularly hard night, your dad slept with you on the floor all night long because that was the only way you would sleep. It was so precious to see you asleep together when I went to check on you. 

You are moving around so much. And you are starting to stand up on your own. I had to borrow a baby corral since our kitchen isn't very baby proof. You don't really like being caged in, but I think you like it better than falling and hitting your head over and over. 

You are OBSESSED with the fish shaped teething toy. It is in your hand all day as you crawl around the house. You even hold it sometimes while you are sleeping. It's always still in your hand when you wake up. One of the two was lost for a few days, so you kept stealing the green one from your sister. Sometimes when you steal toys from each other, the unfortunate one will get really upset. Other times, you both start giggling. Oh, how I love watching you two interact. 

You are such an amazing girl who brings joy to my life each day. 

Love you!

Mom