Watch You Grow! Month 9

Dear Ensley,

Happy 9 months! :) You have new tricks and teeth this month!

Your firsts:
Pulling up!  (1/21) You pulled yourself up on your walker and pushed it around this month. After you figured out how to do it once, you were pulling up all over. Your favorite thing to pull yourself up on was the pink toy that I took your 9 month picture with. Jeri gave it to us. It was the perfect height for you, and you loved all the noises and songs it played. The only problem was you didn't know how to get back down and you weren't very stable, so you fell all the time. Daddy and I spent A LOT of time sitting with you on the floor to catch you before you fell and conked your head on the tile. You hated having us hover over you because you are such an independent little thing.

Hmmmm...now how do I get down?

Waved Bye-Bye (1/22): You would often accidentally wave your arms around, but this month you actually waved on purpose. I was leaving for work and Mimi was watching you, and I said "Bye-Bye" and waved, and you waved back! It was absolutely adorable. From then on, you would wave hi and bye at strangers, and then we could get you to do it just by telling you to wave. You are such a smart, little thing, and I am so glad that I got to be on the receiving end of your first little wave.

Tooth! I'm bummed that I didn't write down the exact day you cut your first tooth. I sent it in a text to Mimi, but it was too long ago and got erased. I know it was pretty early on in the month, but I can't remember the day. I do remember that you were the best teether EVER! I was so worried about it because everyone tells these horror stories about teething and being up all night, fevers, ear aches, and it seemed like all of a sudden we saw your gums bulging a little bit, and then ta-da...a little tooth poking out. You got your bottom left one first, and I could feel it before I could see it. You would let me stick my finger in your mouth to feel your gums and then you would chomp down and I felt the little rough ridges one day when it poked out. The right one came a couple days later. I LOVE the pictures from this month and some from next month with your two little toothies. They are just priceless!

Real Crawling!  This is the first month that you crawled on your hands and knees. You army crawled before this month using your arms to pull yourself forward. It is so cute to see you crawl so fast now because it's so much easier for you to get around. Mimi always says you look like one of those mechanical baby dolls because you crawl so perfectly. You make this little slapping sound with your hands on the tile that we can hear all around the house. It is hilarious, and I think you like the sound it makes.

Superbowl! I know this isn't technically a holiday or anything, but I just love the picture I have of you watching with Daddy. You look so intent. You really liked watching football (and golf). It was probably because of all the colors and noise, but Daddy likes to say you were an athlete from the very beginning. I don't even remember now who was playing, but I'm pretty sure the Baltimore Ravens won.

 Art Project! I wanted to make a little art project I saw on Pinterest. It was a site full of ideas and crafts. I saw this little butterfly footprint and couldn't wait to try it. It started out with just making two but turned in to making about 10. I sent them to people for Valentine's Day. You were so interested at first, but the moment I put the paint on your little feet you started bawling. Poor little thing. I think it was really cold. You wanted nothing to do with it, hence the smudges on the footprints. I had you in your highchair and would paint and push the imprint on. I kept the best one for myself, of course. I just love it. Even though it is a little bit of a sad memory because you cried so much, I just love that I got an imprint of your feet.

Some of our favorite pictures of you:


Hahahahahaha! You LOVED your reflection this month. Every night before your bath you would talk to the mirror and give yourself big kisses. It was stinking hilarious!!

You with your toy car. You loved to roll it around on your walker. :)



This was one of my very favorite months because you were learning and changing so much. You are just the best baby in the world. I know I've said it before, but I am just so lucky to be your mom. I love you baby girl!

Love,

Mommy