Happy 9 months, Story!

Mommy, I already know what you are going to say, and I am 9 months old today. Believe it. We're not getting any younger, you know?

Oh, my sweet Story! I can't believe it. In fact, just today I had a glimpse of my life in about 10 years with a 13, 14, 15, and 16 year old, and my heart might have stopped for a few beats. You are indeed 9 months, and what a busy month it has been for you. In fact, some weeks it seems like you change so much we can hardly keep up.

At the beginning of this month, we celebrated snow week, and it was so much fun to be at home with all of you for a whole week when we should've been in school. I loved it! This was day 4 at home, and we busted out the Halloween costumes for fun.

Here's what you are up to at 9 months:

• Your doctor's appointment is not until Monday, so we don't know your stats just yet.
• You did have to go back to the doctor this month for a sick visit though. You had hand, foot, mouth disease and your poor little body was broken out everywhere with blisters. It was pitiful, but you were such a trooper. In fact, after looking at you Dr. G couldn't believe that you weren't screaming in pain. The first night you did keep us awake all night long, but we forgave you because it didn't happen again.

• You are wearing size 4 diapers and 12+ month clothes.
• Your shoe size is a 2.
• You have 4 teeth, with a 5th one coming through on top.
• You sleep from 6 pm until 8 am most every night. You take a morning nap for about an hour and a long afternoon nap for 2-3 hours.
• You love bath time. This month, you moved from the baby bath tub straight to the big bath tub! We were so surprised that you took to it so quickly. With your brother and sisters, we transitioned to a blow up toddler tub, but we just put you right in the big tub! I guess that's what happens with the fourth baby, ha!

• You have become even more mobile this month. You have moved completely away from the army crawl to all fours.
• You are pulling up on the furniture so you can stand, but you have not begun cruising yet though we think it's only a matter of time.
• You love for us to hold you while you jump up and down.
• You dislike being on the changing table at all times.

• You love to feed yourself. In fact, with the exception of yo-toddler and oatmeal, we hardly feed you with a spoon.
• You are eating cut up vegetables and fruits like a champ. You also love macaroni and cheese. This was your first table food to try, and you loved it! You also love multi-grain cheerios, yogurt melts, and puffs.
• We have to watch carefully because sometimes your big sisters "help" you eat your food!

• This month, we traveled to Shelter Cove to visit the Hollands, and your cousin Haleigh loved playing with you. She was such a big help.
• You are talking a lot with your favorite words being mamamamama and dadadadadadada. We don't mind!
• We are teaching you to sign "please" and "all done."

• Your brother and sisters still like you, which we are thankful for. Tilly adores you and calls you her "baby sister!" So cute!
• Carter likes to pick you up and move you from place to place; he is such a big help with you.
• Summer is extra sweet with you too and loves to sit with you in the floor and play with you.
• You don't have to much, but you seem to entertain yourself well, which is a gift.

• This month was your first time to actually play at Jump4Joeys. You loved crawling over the bouncy toys.
• One of my favorite things that you do when I pick you up is you rub my hair with your hands. It is so sweet. Tilly does this too; I wonder if she taught you?
• You loooove kisses, and you have begun to kiss us back, full open mouth on the mouth kisses, there's nothing sweeter!

• The biggest highlight of this month was having Papa and Gigi come for a visit.
• You did great while they were here. I think you loved having all the extra attention. You even got to spend a day with Papa and Gigi by yourself while the big 3 were at school.
• I think we all behaved well enough that maybe they will come back soon, ha!
• And, finally, here is the monthly picture with all four of you. Can't believe how much all of you have changed since you were born. You are even big enough to sit by yourself on the couch, what!

Happy 9 months, Story!
In case it's not so very obvious,
we love you to the moon and back! A whole bunch!