The Curtis Diaries : Month 9

She loves: playing(!), peek a boo, dancing, music, cheese, walking holding hands, her grandparents, drinking water, the refrigerator, trash, toilets, Brody's bowls, opening and shutting doors, and her shampoo bottle.

She doesn't love: when I close the refrigerator, being made to lay still during diaper/clothes changes, being forced to sit or having certain things taken from her.

21.9 pounds
29.33 inches
18.5 in head
Low iron (just a little) from a toe prick.
Possible swallow study
Dr. Swindle called her WILD! He said she's very bright and strong, and we might have a walker before 1.
Got the first part of her flu shot.

• Depending on the brand, she's in 6-12 or 12 month clothes. She can still wear a few 9 month items.
• Size 3 diapers for day and 4 for night.
• Naps at 9:30 and 1:30 for about an hour/hour and a half.
• Bed time around 8:30 and up around 7:30. Even if she wakes in the night, I don't go get her unless it seems necessary.
• Nurses 4 times a day (every 4 hours) and eats a solid an hour after she nurses. We still do cereal before bed as well, but it no longer has to be mixed with breast milk.
• 2 bottom teeth, and big buds for the top teeth.

- Started the month on day 5 of RE sleep training.
- First day of her ninth month was a rough one. She slept poorly the night before and wouldn't nap. She acted this same way a couple of days before that tooth popped up!
- She pulls up on everything with ease. She sometimes gets brave and lets go to just stand there or she starts to walk along things.
-We hosted a house warming party 3.5 weeks after we moved in. Whew. It was SO wonderful for ALL of our friends to get together and Claire loved playing with the kids. Our guests were: Rountrees, McClains, Duffields, Carters, willards, Tarvins, coopers, glovers, devenports, and Gobers. Our new neighbors the Crouches showed up for a little while. We have so many wonderful friends here and loved celebrating with them.
- Started to become even more talkative and goofy!
- Took 3 steps with walker toy on 7/27. She also choked for the first time. It was on a puff and Andrew simultaneously scooped it from her throat while beating her back. She cried.
- She started sucking a straw (from a sonic water) on 7/29.
- When she gets upset or is doing something she doesn't want to do, she kicks her right leg like crazy!
- She had a bout of diarrhea that lasted several days. She would wake up with it in her diaper and have a few times during the day. No fever and she was still as happy as ever! We made sure to keep her hydrated and put her on the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast).
- She hasn't wanted to lay still to nurse on the right side. She stands on her knees to my left and just bends over to eat.
- Took Andrew to Rhea Lana's. Bought: 4 pair of jammies, 4 rompers, 2 dresses, 5 pair of pants, 1 jacket, 13 shirts, and 4 pair of shoes for $115.
- Bottom right front tooth broke through on 8/2 and she waved on purpose to Shannon Driggers.
- She has started to squat to play rather than sitting. It makes her seem so big to me.
- She loves everything she's not supposed to: paper, toilet paper, toilets, random items on the floor, knives from the dishwasher, plugs and cords, door stoppers, outlet covers, trash, books with pages she can rip out...
- She likes playing in the open refrigerator.
- Has started saying "mama" when she's crawling around looking for me or crying, but doesn't say it to me. When asked to say it, she spits.
- She started crossing her feet when she sits.
- When she sees something she really wants, she says "mama" and crawls really fast.
- She likes to sit and use her feet to swivel around.
- She's starting to share things for us to "pretend" with her.
- She walks holding our hands now.
- On the night of 8/8, she woke up really upset. After letting her cry for a little while I just had to go in there (this after 3 weeks of sleep training). I'm so glad I did, because for the first time ever, she just laid her head on my shoulder and let me rock her. Such a sweet time.
- She lays her head down on us and sometimes squeezes for hugs.
- She learned to throw (more like "share") a ball with lolly.
- She has started putting things in her mouth to hold while she uses her hands for something else.
- One night, she played with a cracker wrapper under the kitchen table for over 10 minutes. She was just talking and would touch the chairs with the wrapper while rotating around. Sometimes she would slide into her belly and lick the ground....My little weirdo!
- She's been making herself gag during dinner. Mostly on vegetables.
- She has this funny cough/laugh that she does when she sees something she likes.
- When she falls or gets hurt, she looks at the object and yells at it while she cries. It's hard to feel sad for her because it's so funny.
- She's getting pickier about foods. She doesn't care for veggies right now.
- She does a real cry when I'm getting ready to feed her but have to put her down for a minute.
- "Nana" is her new favorite sound to make. She does it and grunts/stiffens at the same time.
- She learned to call the hogs.
- She L•O•V•E•S to give kisses. Sometimes she just won't stop. She likes when I make the "mwah" sound. Sometimes she bites the lips instead of a sweet kiss...
- The one thing that always cheers her up is singing "clap clap clap your hands clap your hands together."
- She found her shadow.
- Lover of playing chase.
- Naptime has become a struggle again. She wants me to hold her and snuggle. She cries when I lay her down.
- Runny nose started in 8/18 (probably the cause of sad naps).
- Likes to lay her head on things.
- Ended the month sleeping really well!

Oh my sweet sass, you are 100% better than I could have even imagined. Your joy is contagious. I love watching you focus and play, and I adore when you come searching for mama snuggles. I can already tell that you have a majorly impressive future ahead of you. I hope you never lose your determination. I love you, wild girl!