Eighth month recap...

Today Olivia Grace turns nine months old!  Wow!  That happened fast.  Well, on some days I can hardly remember our old life and motherhood is so consuming I feel like I have been a mother forever, but that is a post for a different day.  She doesn't know it, but her special day falls on 'Selection Sunday'.  What a lucky little lady ;)

Weight: 19 lbs according to a doctor visit 2 weeks ago.  She has lost nearly a pound.
Height: not a clue and she is napping and I don't feel like waiting till she wakes up to measure her

showing off her yoga pose

Napping: She has officially dropped the third nap of the day and naps in the morning and the afternoon for an average of an hour an half.  Her naps have increased in length, which I am happy about because she is such a happier baby when she gets enough sleep! She goes down sleepy yet still awake after some snuggling from mommy.  Sometimes (like this morning!) she crawls around her crib and plays for up to 15 minutes before laying down to go to sleep. 

the 'put open mouth on floor' trick learned from her cousin Drew!

Night: Do I even want to talk about this?!  Bedtime has moved up to 6:45-7ish due to dropping that third catnap and she wakes up ready for the day around 7:30 am.  That in itself is a good deal; however, she is waking up anywhere from one to three times a night!  It is frustrating, to say the least.  I need to get serious about sleep training again, but have been making excuses  (e.g., traveling, teething, etc.)  Perhaps her ninth month will be the time...

showing off her baby blues

Food:  She loves all fruits and grains (i.e., oatmeal and barley cereal), likes avocado, butternut squash, carrots and sweet potatoes, tolerates peas, and gags/chokes on green beans, meats, and pretty much anything else we offer. She likes to eat Gerber puffs, Cheerios (the adorable face has passed;), and bits of cracker and is quite good at feeding herself.

Spring has sprung and her Easter basket has arrived

Nursing: Breastfed every four hours during the day for anywhere from 10-20 minutes total. Eats solids three times a day and drinks water from her sippy cup.

Skills: She began crawling just about a week ago and has even mastered the wood floors (that were too slippery to begin with).  Explores all of the rooms of the house and gets into just about everything!  Has begun to pull herself to her knees in her crib and while playing.  Feeds self more efficiently now and can pick up small items with the pincher grasp rather than using her whole hand.  Claps to show excitement and along with some songs.  Raises her arms up in the air when we say "yay!" and raise our arms.  "Dances" by sitting and bouncing her body and head along with music (and just radomly when she is in a good mood).  Laughs at the puppets on her Baby Einstein videos and whenever there is another baby on TV.

Language: Expressive - added several consonants to her repertoire this month including /m, p, n, k, t/, increased 'dada' to 'daddy',  just began to say 'mmm' and 'ma', but I am still waiting for the coveted 'mama'!,  continues to squeal and shriek to show delight and to simply enertain herself.   Receptive - will look towards Andy when we say 'where is daddy?', says 'ka' when we point and say 'cat',  No independent gesturing/signing noted yet, but all household objects, animals, and social words are continually modeled with the appropriate sign.

Fun Facts: her first two teeth broke through this month (the bottom middle), has a slight complete obsession with balls and books, still puts everything in her mouth!, shows her frustration and anger by saying 'mmmmm', clenching her fists, and turning red, continues to blow raspberries with her lips, does not wave hello or goodbye as frequently anymore, loves to have books read to her and turns the pages for you, pulls off her socks and shoes almost everytime we are in the car, had her first ear infection this month, likes to go on walks and be outside, is very active and vocal at Gymboree class each week, buries her head into your shoulder when sleepy, has begun to sleep on her belly most all of the time now, startles very easily, plays around happily in her crib after naps and in the morning until someone gets her, likes any and all dogs, remains very schedule oriented and lets us know when it is time for her to eat or nap!

intently keeping her eye on the prize!