9 months!

Our sweet Julia Ann turned 9 months on June 8th!  This age is so much fun as she keeps us smiling with her clapping, giving high fives, giggles and constant babbling.  Three days after she turned 8 months we caught her standing up in her crib and since then she seems to always be standing and has been caught standing on her own for a few seconds a few times.  She also squats without holding on to anything every now and then which is pretty cute!  She is definitely a mama's girl and has started to have a bit of separation anxiety when I leave but as long as she is redirected she is ok.  She has a very strong grip and we call it her lock hold because when you hold her she locks her arm around yours and has a pretty tight grip.  She still loves being in the ergo and I carry her mostly on my back these days as it allows for a little bit more freedom with my arms.  

She has been napping in her crib daily since May 24th and I am proud to say that her afternoon nap is normally close to 2 hours!!  The morning nap is still normally on the go but most afternoons she has finally mastered it in the crib on most days (this was her summer goal so happy to say that she's met it already!)  

She is busy, busy, busy and always on the go trying to keep up with Joseph and Ella.  She puts everything in her mouth- I caught her with a safety pin (closed, thankfully) in her mouth earlier this month so we definitely need to always keep an eye on her.  One of my girlfriends recently said to me that she thinks Julia is going to be the sly, mischievous one and I definitely agree!  

9 month pictures from June 8th

I think this is the last time that she wore a headband.  She will not keep them on at all anymore, which makes me so sad, especially since her hair on the top is still so thin!

 LOVE her mischievous looks!

She is a great eater and prefers all finger foods now instead of the purees, which I guess explains always putting things in her mouth.  I am still nursing her about 4 times a day and she continues to be a great sleeper at night-down around 7:30 and waking around 6:30.  When you put her down now she opens her mouth looking for the pack-she is definitely a paci girl!  I don't give it to her around the house during the day, unless she is fussy for some reason, but she definitely uses it to sleep and in the car.

She loves the bath, which is a good thing since many days I'll bathe her after each meal because she gets SO messy!  She starts kicking her legs like crazy as I carry her into the bathroom.  She has tried to climb out of the bath chair a few times so definitely need to keep a very close eye on her.

Random but sweet pictures from May 21st.

Big, brown eyes!

All smiles in her dress for Memorial Day on May 24th.

 

One of the whole gang!

 

 Fell back to sleep on Daddy after one of her short 20 minute naps in the crib later that day.

She could swing forever and ever! Thankfully our park is very shaded so we are still able to get out there almost daily even though summer is here!  Here she is on June 2nd

Just hanging out in the kitchen on June 3rd

She looks so big to me in these next pictures from June 4th!!  Speaking of big, we had her 9 month appointment on June 8th and she is in the 82nd percentile for weight, weighing 20 pounds, 5 ounces and is in the 26th percentile for height at 27 inches.  She has two bottom teeth that look like they are starting to pop through but aren't there yet.  Hopefully for her 10 month picture we'll have a smile with at least two bottom teeth!

She does this scrunch face all of the time and then blows air out of her nose that is just the cutest thing ever!  I remember Joseph doing the same thing!!   Scrunch face on June 4th

Hanging at the splash pad on June 7th with one of her best buddies, Kannon.

Rich calls her "peeper" as she is always peeking around checking things out making sure that someone is around.  Here she is playing peek a boo with her bib at dinner on June 8th.  So much for the bib keeping her outfit clean!

Happy 9 month birthday sweet baby girl.  We all love you so much!!