NINE MONTHS

It took 9 months (and a couple of extra weeks) for little K to go from a single cell to a 6 pound baby capable of eating, pooping, crying, and sleeping. Pretty freaking amazing. In the 9 months since her birth, she has grown by leaps and bounds and has developed into a little person. Again, pretty freaking amazing.

At her 9 month check-up (just two days ago), K weighed 15 pounds 10 oz and was 27 5/8 inches long. She's still a little peanut. She has a long torso and is wearing 9 month-sized onesies, but is still in 3 month pants/shorts and one-piece outfits. We're getting the most out of all of her clothes.

If I had only three words to describe her at nine months old, they would be:

ON.THE.MOVE.

The girl is all over the place. She crawls at a lightening fast speed. One minute she's in the kitchen at my feet and 30 seconds later she's at the top of the steps or in the bathroom pounding on the toilet seat. Her favorite toys are the dishwasher, the toilet, the shower (or a faucet), and spoons. The dishwasher is definitely her favorite. If you want her to play in the kitchen-area, the dishwasher must be open. She's capable of pulling both the top and bottom racks in and out of the dishwasher. To keep her from playing with knives and forks, we place spoons in the front of the silverware holder; knives and forks to the back. Her newest trick is pulling the top rack out, pulling herself up on the rack (baby chin ups) and standing on the open door. She thinks she's so funny.

She also loves crawling up the steps. And if you chase her, it's even better. She just laughs the whole time she's crawling. We definitely need to install a gate at the bottom of the steps. Although she's pretty good with the climbing, she does get clumsy at the end of the day and when she's looking over her shoulder to see who is chasing after her.

She's pulling up on everything and anything and cruising around the furniture. Our favorite nurse at the pediatrician thinks she'll be walking on her own in less than six weeks. Oh.my.word. My baby is getting so big.

She's learning to give high-5s and waving 'bye-bye' . I love it. She's such a curious little girl. Always off to investigate a new spot on the floor, a new box stacked in the corner of the kitchen, or a pile of dirty sheets by the washing machine. It is so fun to watch her discover and uncover new things. She is currently trying to figure out the stream of sunlight hitting the bedroom floor. And getting frustrated that she can't pick the bright 'object' up.

Her separation anxiety is is full form. I took three steps away from her in the pediatrician's office on Wednesday to sign a form and she started screaming and crying. She wouldn't even let the pediatrician hold her with me in the room. A woman at church calls her my "Mama Monkey". And that is exactly what she is... she climbs all over me whether I'm sitting or standing. It's all over Mama all.day.long.

She's also a "Papa Monkey" when he's around. When D comes home in the evenings, she lights up. Everything stops and it is all about getting some lovin' from her papa. We currently have a tenant living in our basement. He came home the other day right at dinner-time when D usually is home. K heard the door unlock and got all excited... she got a look of complete dejection on her face when she realized it wasn't D walking through the door.

She's eating wonderfully. And drinks quite well from a sippy cup. We're pretty much bottle-free these days. Sleep is improving. She was only up once last night and slept until after 6am. Hopefully we'll be back to a better sleep routine in the coming weeks. I'm hopeful that this is just a phase and we'll be back to peaceful nights soon. Please, please, please....

K, you are so much fun to be around. You make me smile every time you pound on the toilet, beg for the dishwasher to be opened, or climb up my legs. Your smile puts a smile on my face.