Natalie - Nine Months

Natalie was 9 months old on March 12, 2014. 
Likes:  Eating solids, nursing, Mommy, watching Caitlin, bath time, flirting and talking to Daddy, putting everything in your mouth, talking/jabbering away
Dislikes:  Getting your nose wiped, getting your face/hands cleaned
Biggest Achievement of the Month: Army crawling 
Biggest Challenge of the Month: I'm sure there was something, but I honestly can't remember. Maybe separation anxiety?  It must not have been that bad, if I can't remember it.  
Sleep:    You typically fall asleep for the night anywhere between 7 and 730pm and wake up any time between 6 - 730am.  You have really started to sleep on your belly more often this month.  As soon as I lay you down, you reach for your lovey, and we also turn on the seahorse whenever you go to sleep.  Sleep has gotten better this month.  I think you have definitely given up sucking your thumb.   
Temperament/Personality: You are seriously the happiest baby when you're not teething or over tired or hungry.  You are always smiling, talking, screeching, etc.  You also are saying "dada" all the time now.  
Eating: Nursing is still going well.  During the day, you are eating about every 3-4 hours which works out to be 5-6 times a day.  You are still eating solids well, and we are now doing 3 meals a day.  You tend to prefer finger foods over purees, and you definitely like meat, specifically grilled chicken, ground turkey, black beans, turkey meatloaf and pulled pork.  You have mastered the pincer grip.  You will tolerate vegetables (i.e. we have to bribe you with puff or cheerio in between bites), but it definitely seems like you don't like them.  We have also started adding flax to basically everything you eat because you have some digestion issues, and it doesn't seem to matter what you eat.  I think it's helping a little bit.  We're still working on the sippy cup sporadically.  
The Superficial: Your hair is mostly brown (as opposed to dark brown/black when you were born), and there is a ton of it.  Your eyes are dark, but I can't really figure out what color they are.  Daddy says they're brown, but I don't agree.  I think eventually they will turn brown though. You have graduated to 9 month clothes (right on schedule).  You have rolls on your arms and on your thighs, and I just love it. You are wearing size 2 diapers. Your 9 month stats are as follows: weight - 16lbs. 7 0z (21st percentile), height - 27.5 inches (45th percentile) and head - 42 cm (9th percentile). Your third tooth (top middle left) popped through on Feb 27th.  
Developmental Milestones: Biggest milestone would definitely be army crawling.  You also can clap and do "so big".  
Out and About: No big outings this month.  You did celebrate your first Valentine's Day though.  
Big and Little Sister:

Natalie:



Caitlin: 

Again with the hair, Natalie definitely has more.  Natalie has Caitlin by almost 1.5 lbs, but Caitlin was taller than Natalie by an inch.  Natalie is still nursing like a champ, but Caitlin was getting bottles exclusively.    At this point, I think Caitlin was still mostly on purees, but Natalie has gotten a lot more of "normal" food and stuff that we are eating.  There are things that Natalie eats, but Caitlin won't try as a 3-year old (mostly meat-related).  Caitlin was rolling all around and pulling up on things.  Natalie still doesn't really roll from her belly to her back and doesn't seem at all interested in pulling up on anything.  Caitlin had also mastered the walker, and I'm not sure we have even tried it with Natalie yet.  At this age, you both love the "Good Morning, Good Night" book and roughhousing with Daddy.  The sisterly love is still in full effect, but I can see it changing a little bit when Natalie is really moving and getting into Caitlin things.  99% of the time, Caitlin is super sweet to Natalie, always bringing her toys to play with and talking to her and doing things to try to make her smile and laugh. Caitlin also is an amazing big helper for me, almost always willing to grab a bib, burp cloth, diaper, wipes, etc.  She also will jump at the chance to pick out Natalie's outfit in the morning for school.  

Another amazing month has passed way too quickly, and I can't believe how close we're getting to the one-year mark.  We are having so much fun watching you grow and learn and seeing how your relationship with Caitlin is developing.  You are the sweetest baby, and I still wish I could just freeze time right now.  We love you so much and can't wait to see what the next month brings! 

Love you to pieces, 
Mommy