Dear Adell,
I cannot find your actual journal and you are doing so many fun things I just have to get them down some where!
You are almost nine months old! You took your first craws this evening. I was sitting on the couch while the big girls gave me a fashion show with all of their new school clothes. You were sitting on the living room floor a little ways away from me. You rolled onto your belly and got up on your hands and knees. After plopping one hand in front of the other you straightened your legs in a modified bear crawl. When you figured out that you could not move from that position you went back to your hands and knees. Then you tentatively put one knee forward, then a hand, then the other knee...and you were off. You only took about four or five "crawls" but you made it over to Momma! I don't think you realized exactly what you were doing to get over to me but you were trying really hard. You'll be all over the house before I know it!
For the last two weeks you have been rolling onto your belly and using your hands to push yourself backwards. This is not an ideal form of locomotion as you have no idea where you are going and often end up stuck under furniture. We've pulled you out from under the coffee table, couch, credenza and beds.
You are quite the chatter box these days. You've always babbled but your sounds are starting to take on meaning. About three weeks ago you started saying "Nu-ah, nu-ah, nu-ah." when you are hungry and want to nurse.
You always say "nnnna-nnnna" late at night when you wake up and want to nurse back to sleep. You can say "Da" and "Ma" but not always meaning Dad or Mom.
You also make a "car noise" by holding your lips loosely closed and blowing out a "brummmm" like sound. You ALWAYS make this noise when you are not happy about what is happening to you or around you. Lorien was the first to make this connection.
Just last week you started saying "Ah-da" for Adell. You usually say "Ah-da" after we play patty cake together.
A few times (three or four) you have given me and Daddy a kiss. It is wonderful! We mush up our lips and ask for a kiss--you lean in and slobber on our faces.
About two months ago (just before you turned seven months old) you started standing up when we would try to get you to put weight on your legs. Previously, you would just curl your legs up and cross your feet--refusing to stand up! Both Daddy and I wondered if you would ever get to standing up on your own two feet. Now you love to be standing!
You have the most beautiful blue eyes and clear complexion. People compliment me on your sweet looks every where we go. Your hair is growing in and when it is wet it curls like your brother, Wyatt's, did when he was a baby. Once, Wyatt's kindergarten teacher (Jenny) said you looked like the baby from the Dick and Jane books. You have always been a pudgy, round baby but in the last few weeks you've started loosing a little of that baby fat. We all still love to squeeze and pinch your soft belly rolls.
You roll your hands when you are excited, happy, tired or frustrated. You frequently pat your belly, the back of the person holding you or the surface in front of you with your open hands. You point your finger at the pictures in story books. Daddy usually reads you a story every night before bed.
You are a wonderful baby. We all love you!
Love,
Momma
