9 Months Old

What can she do? Lots. She has managed to master many skills in such a short span of time. Unbelievable.

Today I learned that Leah can climb up the stairs pretty well. (I was right behind her.) She cruises around the living room. LIke she will move around upright while holding onto furniture. She takes a couple of steps too. After many bumps and falls, she has gotten pretty good at bending her knees and sitting down from standing. I am thinking of getting her one of those toddler truck things, like the stand up toys you push around.

We need to childproof this apartment. Big time.

Playing and learning. Leah has made great advances when it comes to playing and figuring out what to do with her toys. She has her bucket with colorful blocks and she likes emptying it out, putting the blocks in her mouth, then putting them back in and out again. For simple entertainment I stick a bunch of stuff in the diaper bag and let her go to town.

I have also noticed she is becoming increasingly aggressive. If I block her way when she is crawling she becomes upset. If I take something away from her, she is starting to make her feelings known.

She can sit herself up, roll over from both sides, stand with support and sit.

We spend a lot of time passing her balls back and forth. Or I will roll it to her and she will try to roll it back. She hasn't quite gotten the idea of stacking her rings but she will pass them to you to put them on the holder.

I have been told that the next few months are tough when it comes to seperation anxiety. So far so good with Leah. I think its harder on me, than her.

What else...oh yes her talking. Holy cow she talks a lot now. Before, just a month ago, not as much. But now sometimes she won't be quiet at night when it is time to go to sleep.

Her babbling is starting to sound like real words, like "ma" and "da" but I don't get too excited about it because simply its not really the actual word yet. But its still cool.

I talk to Leah a lot. I spend all day talking to her. I cook, I tell her what I am doing. I am on the computer and I tell her what I am doing. I think she gets more form my tone than my words. But it can't hurt to talk to her. And besides it keeps me sane!

Leah has begun to respond to her name, Either she will look at you when called or just stop what she is doing to see who called her. I try to say her name often so she gets it. Hmm..oh yeah and she is beginning to understand the word "no." Doesn't obey it yet but there is definitely recognition there. She also loves to imitate sounds. Just the other day Ruth was telling me how she and Leah just went back and forth in the car.

Leah is a very social baby. Her personality is beginning to shine through. She smiles at people and doesn't quite get it when someone doesn't want to play with her. She loves attention and completely eats up having pictures taken of her. She tries to wave hi and bye. Getting pretty good at that as well.

I can't tell if she is a righty or a lefty. I am thinking righty. She can pick small objects up with no problem, which means being more diligent in watching her at home, in case I missed something on the floor. She throws everything. Hurling toys entertains her.

Hmm...she is eating more foods now. Pretty much weaned off breast milk, not completely but mostly. So she has her formula, iron-fortified cereals, mashed fruits and veggies, along with pureed veggies and fruits.

She hasn't really started any finger foods. After I speak to her pediatrician and he gives the go ahead I will do that. But for now I think she is good. She has her two first teeth so it should be easier for her now that she is actually trying to bite down on stuff. Oh and juice. Some occasional apple and pear juice. And I think she got a teething cracker the other day. Overall when it comes to food Leah enjoys them all.

Overall I would say she is developing well and as Ruth pointed out to me. All I have to do is look at her and see how happy she is and I know we are all doing a great job.

We, as in Matt, myself and with our family's support. Couldn't do any of it without them.