Happy 9 months Kensley!

Dear Kensley,

Today you turn 9 months old. What can I say besides the fact that each day gets better and better with you in our lives? You bring your daddy and me such joy and your little smiley face is all we need at the end of a long day. Also, it seems that each day you do something new and fascinating and we are scrambling to catch up with all of your new accomplishments.

This month you began pulling yourself up into a sitting position from laying flat on your back. When I walked into your bedroom the first time and saw you sitting in your crib smiling up at me I was so happy. Because you’re a little bit on the chunky side it seems that tasks other babies have been doing for months take you a little bit longer. In no way are you delayed, you just have more body to maneuver. Its actually been hilarious to watch you try to pull yourself up into a sitting position because you grunt and groan and your face turns all red and you completely look like your momma as she tries to complete her pilates dvd.

You are still crawling backwards and I’m starting to wonder if you will ever truly learn how to crawl. You are much more interested in standing, either by us holding your hands or as you hold on to the couch or your crib. Today I stood you up to hold on to the couch and you let go and held it with one hand! You little dare devil. So needless to say this month has brought on a lot of bumps and bruises and I have seen you smack your head more times than I would ever like to. I’ve read in all the doctor books that when this happens we are supposed to smile or do something to distract you so that you don’t learn to cry when things like that happen. But honestly, none of those doctors could possibly be a mother because when I see you fall down I know instantly that it is going to make you cry and I scoop you up and wipe your tears as you cry out “momma”. Wasn’t this the exact reason God made mothers? To fix the boo boo’s?

You are definitely more mobile this month even if it is by you crawling backwards. You have a toy shelf full of toys in the corner of the room and you finally found it this month and sit there and pull out toy after toy. You got a little giraffe tricycle and you love being pushed back and forth across the living room riding it. You figured out that we have Christmas presents under the tree and you try to play with all the boxes and bags. The surprising thing to me is that you couldn’t care less about the Christmas tree. I figured you would try to grab it and pull it over, but so far it hasn’t interested you one bit. You also figured out how to scoot right up to the tv and will be inches from the screen while watching Shrek and Nemo. You flap your arms up and down and kick your legs and your eyes are the size of silver dollars because you are so excited. I’m sure in your mind it seem like your INSIDE the movie when your that close.

We started to try to give you more big girl foods this month but that’s not necessarily working out. I cooked you some peas, carrots and corn and put them all finely chopped on your highchair tray to see if you would pick them up and put them in your mouth but instead you had more fun smooshing them with your fingers while I fed you your baby food. The things you do like are these little puffs and yogurt melts that melt in your mouth when you eat them. And you are quite good at feeding yourself these things. The whole time you are eating them I can hear you say, “mmm” and “nom nom” and it’s the cutest thing and I hope you continue to do that until your 25. One reason I really haven’t pushed table food is because you still don’t have a tooth! I know I can see about four along the bottom so maybe any day now. I am hoping you won’t be a toothless wonder for much longer.

This month you celebrated your first Thanksgiving at Great Grandma Sally’s and then at your Aunt Cathy and Uncle Larry’s. You had mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce. Even though you don’t yet understand the significance of holidays like these, this time of year is my absolute favorite. I have so many good memories from when I was a little girl spending the holidays with my family and I only hope that as you grow up we can create great memories and traditions for you to pass on to your babies. I may be getting ahead of myself but I would like grandchildren very much please.

As we are headed into Christmas now, your daddy and I are like 6 year olds all over again. You have brought back the excitement of the holidays for not only us, but everyone in the family. We can’t wait to see your face on Christmas’ to come and to teach you the real reason for the season. We just want you to know that you truly are the best gift we have ever received.

Love,
Momma