Doggie

We have a wonderful neighbor, Abe, who has a dog named Jack.  Abe got Jack as a puppy not that long after you were born and this was one darn cute puppy.  For several months you have been mesmerized by dogs we come across on the street... not to mention Jack!  This afternoon Abe was having friends over in the yard and they brought friends for Jack as well.  We sat out back so you could watch the kids and dogs frolicking.  I have been identifying "doggie" for awhile now and said the word over and over for you to hear while pointing and Jack and friends.  You tried!  You clearly said, several times, a two syllable word beginning with /d/.  This might very well be your first actual word!!

While we were sitting watching the other neighbor, three-year-old Juniper running around with Jack I was overwhelmed by a mom feeling.  You were so eager to get out there and play, run, and chase... but you can't even yet stand by yourself!  I wanted so badly for you to be able to join in the fun you were so excited by.  But at the same time, I am perfectly fine with the wait.  My little girl can remain little a little while longer.    

9 Months and Favorite Food

You're nine months old!  This seemed like such a big milestone all along but also so far away.  And here we are.  And it certainly is a big one!  Crawling (First time on April 16th) and trying to pull yourself up on furniture, our legs, the dishwasher, etc.  And teething!  You're getting your fifth tooth, an upper.  I won't lie:  this was one rough week.  For all of us!  You have lots of snot with this tooth coming and maybe some allergies with the beautiful weather we've been having.  You don't seem sick otherwise.  We also had our first bloody boo boo. Oh it was traumatic, again, for all.  You were pulling yourself up on an ottoman and fell backwards, and giving yourself a fat lip.  Blood all over your lips and teeth.  Yikes.  I suppose there's more of that to come but I hope they're all minor bumps.

 You also seemed to lose interest in solids the last week or so.  I'm told that sometimes happens while teething and that makes sense.  But tonight you ate a great dinner.  Steamed broccoli, sweet potato and some cherry tomatoes.  Those were your very first tomatoes and it is fair to say that I think we've found your favorite food!  You sucked the seeds out and then scraped the pulp out with your teeth all very enthusiastically.  It was wonderful to watch!  Other foods you have enjoyed the last few months:  strawberries, raspberries, pasta, toast with avocado or peanut butter, frozen waffles, Indian spiced gardenburgers, mom's spicy turkey meatballs, oatmeal, yogurt, scrambled eggs, avocado, dried pineapple, dried mango, etc!

Ah, other recent developments: we bought a house! More on that later...