9 Months...Wait...What?!

Yes! Ellie is 9 months old! I'm late on posting this because I'm late on getting her 9m picture with the bear. Finally I gave up...for now. She's been sick, but the real reason for not getting the picture is the bear just hasn't made it's way from the car to inside. Lame, I know. Anyway, she's 9 months. Unbelievable. 27 1/2 in long (48th percentile) 20 lb 5 oz (76th percentile) head 17.5 in (65th percentile). We're making the transition to 12 month clothes. At 9 months she's such a treat! A bit of a drama queen, she fusses when she's been tapped (which I suppose comes as a natural defense mechanism for a 3rd child). Otherwise, she's the smileyest kid I think I've ever seen. She reminds me a little of Stevie Wonder because she's constantly tipping her head back with a full-face smile. I can't remember if Eve and John were as happy and smiley at this age, but everyone comments on it, so I think she must be extra smiley. I love it! She's crawling around faster now, but still not at top speeds (whew!). About a week ago she explored from the den to the kitchen for the first time. Also about a week ago I gave her a drink with a straw just to see what happened. Almost immediately, seriously within probably a minute or less, she started drinking through the straw. Grandma promises she hasn't been giving her chocolate milkshakes to teach her, but I'm not sure I buy it. Either way it's impressive. Her major motor accomplishment this week was turning over, believe it or not. She's waited forever, has been able to crawl and pull up to almost standing, but just now figured out how to roll over. I've been cool with it because once on her back, particularly in bed, she hasn't moved. I've been able to leave her on our bed alone up until 9 months without worrying she'll roll over! The end of an era has come. Last week I found her trying to pull up on our headboard, and ever since, I find her sitting up in her crib rather than stuck on her back when she wakes up. We had to lower her crib. As far as verbal, she's mostly experimented with "da da da" until she was sick and pitiful and up all night last week. Then she perfected "ma ma ma" which just sounded to pitiful and sad. She still doesn't associate either with the person...just learning new sounds. John and Eve love making her smile and laugh, to the point of being very distracting to all 3 parties...particularly during mealtime. Still, it's so fun and sweet to see them all playing together and enjoying each other. Eve is finally discovering what it's like to have someone younger and less experienced touch her stuff, and she's not a fan. Hard to believe 9 months has gone by. What a treat. What a blessing.