9 Months Old and Counting

I turned 9 months old on July 5th and have been having a wonderful summer! I just saw my neurologist Dr. Thangarajh and found out I weigh about 20 lbs! I also get to see my pediatrician Dr. Kreusser next week for my 9 month checkup. I haven't started crawling yet but I am so eager to get moving! I can push myself backwards on my stomach and pivot and roll, but I haven't quite been able to figure out how to get my knees under me to move in the direction I want to go. I'm so close and I get so frustrated sometimes so I just do the "superman" sometimes and lay on mu belly waving my arms and leg up in the air. I also love standing up! I can sometimes pull myself up with my activity table (compliments of my cousin Bea) if I am sitting on a pillow but mostly mom and dad help pull me up by the arms while I push up hard with my chubby legs. I get the biggest open mouthed smile on my face and giggle when I do this because I feel so accomplished! Sometimes I even wave mom and dads hads away because I want to try doing it by myself and I know I am getting so close. I say a lot of "Ahhhh"s and "Gaaa"s and I like to blow raspberries, growl and make a smacking sound by sucking on my top lip -but nothing that sounds much like talking yet. I don't have any teeth yet, although mom keeps sticking her finger in my mouth to check - yuck! I can clap my hands and wave Bye Bye and I love to shake my toys and rock and dance to music.
I have been getting out a lot this summer, going to my grandparents' houses, my aunt and uncle's house, the pool, restaurants, church and even a Gymboree class. I love all of my wonderful family members and especially my cousins whom I've gotten to play with a lot lately. We had a great 4th of July with everone celebrating the holiday and my Grandpa Butler's Birthday over at my house. I also went to my friend Parker G.'s 1st Birthday party and had watermelon for the first time and I loved it. I thought Parker looked pretty cute in her baby bikini, too! I love being out and about but sometimes I get a little upset when someone holds me but mom and dad :( If they are out of sight, I forget all about them and have a great time, but if I can see them - especially if it is getting late and I'm a little tired - I can turn on the waterworks until I am back in their arms. Mom and dad told me that we need to work on that.

A few things haven't changed much; I still love my baths and I smile and laugh all the time! I am sleeping great at night but I am only taking 2 naps a day now. I love my babysitters Abby and Penne and I am also very excited to start my new day care in August! I will be going to the same place as my cousin Bea and my buddy Parker S. so I will have lots of familiar faces there to welcome me.

Here are some awesome pictures from my 8 month photo session by Maya at Sunflower Life Photography http://www.sunflowerlifephotography.com/