Kate ~ 9 Months

To think that this baby is going to be one in 3 months is just crazy!  She is growing and learning so fast as of late and her little personality is really starting to shine.  This past month, Kate...

...has started to move, and she is everywhere.  She's not officially crawling yet, but she does the cutest little army crawl and it totally gets her to where she wants to be.  And she's fast!  I'll turn my head for a second, and she's off!  There have been a few times where I have to go and look for her, and when I find her behind the ottoman, she starts squealing and and giggling so hard!  It's her new game...Hide From Mommy!  

...has really got a hang of grabbing food and putting it in her mouth.  It's nice to be able to set her down in her highchair with some puffs while I cook dinner or get something done that requires two hands.  

...still loves to be held most of the time.  I think she's nervous to be on the ground with her three siblings running everywhere.  I don't really blame her :).  And I honestly don't mind holding her.  I know that this time will soon pass, so I'm taking full advantage of keeping her close.

...she loves to eat!  Her little body still doesn't like oatmeal or cereal, but she loves pretty much anything else.  

...is a really messy little eater!  As soon as I put food in her mouth, she'll put her hand in her mouth and smear it everywhere!  And I mean everywhere...her face, hair, clothes, high chair, floor.  

...is still such an amazing sleeper.  She does tend to wake up around 11-12 at night to eat, so I just go in and feed her before I go to bed so she doesn't wake me up :).  So far, so good.

...has been SO sick this past month!  She was sick at Christmas with the flu, and has been sick again this past week.  It's been so hard for all of us to have her feel so sick.  All of us just want to love on her and get her feeling better.  I took her in for her 9 month well check this past Friday, and she has RSV, an ear infection, AND a yeast infection!  Seriously...why my baby?!?  The RSV is pretty mild, so we have been able to handle everything at home, and she is doing so much better.  Just today she started smiling more, which is so great.  This winter has been hard on us in terms of being sick, especially with Kate.  I really, *really*, hope that this is the last of it!

...is very little!  At her 9 month appointment, she weighted in at 14.9 lbs!  She only gained a few ounces since her 6 month appointment!  I'm baffled because she really does eat a lot.  She also is a mover, so I attribute it a little to that.  I want to give her some more milk/formula if she needs it, but the problem is that she will NOT take a bottle.  Like at all!  She will throw in it on the ground if she gets her hands on it...she will refuse to open her mouth to try it...she doesn't want anything to do with it!  I'm going to have to work on it with her this week, because we really need to get her weight up.  Wish me luck.

...is so, SO, stubborn!  The example with the bottle is just one.  If she doesn't want something, there is no way we can persuade her otherwise.  She's just like Noah...seriously!  Noah can be so stubborn and I am beginning to notice that Kate acts just like him when he was little.  Heaven help me!  Strong willed children are not my specialty!

...loves books!  She'll play with her toys, but she's most interested in books.  Yay!  I love reading to my kids, and I especially love it when they want to sit on my lap and read with me!  She's just like Isaac in this respect.  Leah loves to get on the floor and read with her...it's so cute to see them bond like this!

...does not like having her diaper changed and will do anything and everything to get away from me the moment that I lay her down to change her.  Stinker. 

...is so sensitive.  This is where she is turning out to be like Leah!  So...she's stubborn and sensitive.  Great!

...gets so excited so easily.  If I leave and then come back in the room, she will start freaking out with excitement.  She'll start kicking her legs, waving her hands, giggling...it's SO cute!

...is still a total mommy's girl.  She'll go to Doug too when he's around, but if it's just me, she'll just want me.  I'm ok with that :).

She's a little gem, and we love watching her bloom into such an amazing and beautiful little angel!  We love you baby, to the moon and back!