9 months old

One week ago, Brynley turned 9 months old! Much to mine & Rob's amazement, it seems she learns new things every single day. As I'm typing this, she is sitting up playing with her toys, putting them in a toy bucket and taking them back out, putting them on her wrists like bracelets, putting them in her mouth (of course). In just a few short weeks, she has gained incredible control over her body...army crawling, sitting up...she'll even stand holding onto furniture if we put her in that position.

At her 9-month checkup, she weighed 16lbs 14 oz and was 25-3/4 inches long. Her weight is in the 25th percentile. Her height is only in the 5th percentile...it seems she is a little shorty! She has started to eat some "regular" food now although she hasn't quite mastered putting the bits of food into her mouth. The dogs LOVE that she is eating regular food now since most of it ends up on the floor anyway.

Brynley is fascinated by our dogs & cats. She also has started to dance when she hears music or when we sing to her. Dancing to her is tilting her head side to side and moving her shoulders up and down.

I don't want to forget one single minute of this time for her. She is constantly making us laugh & smile!

Brynley likes...

...to fall asleep next to Daddy...

Happy Halloween!!

For Brynley's first Halloween, she dressed as a polar bear:

Rob & I took Bryn trick-or-treating in our old neighborhood in Linden. The evening was pretty warm for late October so she was really happy to get the costume off when we got home.

Eight months old

At eight months old, Brynley:

• Eats cereal, spinach, peas, green beans, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, bananas, carrots, and apples
• Doesn't crawl per se, but she gets where she wants to go when she is on the floor by rolling and shuffling around on her belly
• Has had her first sickness. She had a fever & stuffy nose that started on Oct 17th. She did not act bothered by it at all; she was as cheerful as ever!
• Makes so many different faces: fishy face (see previous post) is adorable. She also tilts her head to the side and smiles
• Was sleeping through the night regularly earlier this month, but it's been a little rough since she got sick
• Gets mad when she has something in her hands and it is taken away.
• Gets into things she shouldn't! She loves the laptop cord and screams when we catch her grabbing it and take it away. She also likes cell phones and remote controls. Oh yeah, and her toys too.
• Says "Mamamamamama" and "Dadadadadada". I'm not sure if she means it, but sometimes it really does seem that way.
• Will crane her neck to see what other people are eating.
• Rolls all over the place now without a second thought - back to belly and belly to back
• Hates getting her nose wiped
• Reaches out to people to be picked up or hugged
  
  
  
  

Random pics

Just some random pics from October:


Grandma & Grandpa came to visit Oct 9-10th. That Saturday morning we were running errands and decided to stop by Front Royal's annual Festival of Leaves. It was a bit chilly so we didn't stay long. We caught the end of the parade and visited Melinda at her booth. Next year we are going to plan to take Brynley and see the whole parade and stay awhile. I didn't even have my camera with me since we weren't planning on going.

While sitting on Grandma's lap, Brynley all of a sudden started making this fishy face.

Three things

Dear Brynley,
There are three things that people, whether strangers or friends, often say about you:

1) You look just like your Daddy
2) You are such a happy baby
3) I am very lucky to have you as my daughter

Yes, you look like your Daddy. I don't think he sees it yet, but I hear it over and over again.

And although you have your fussy moments (as any baby does), for the most part you are very happy, sociable, and interactive. You have the most expressive face. People fall in love with you instantly. You really are such a happy little girl and you make those around you happy too.

And....am I lucky? Absolutely! God blessed me with a beautiful, charming little girl. I feel grateful every day to have you in my life. Because of you, I am forever changed. I love you more than you could ever possibly know!

A trip to the pumpkin patch

On 10/13/09, Brynley & I went to Cox Farms with Heather, Ainsley, and Ava. We had so much fun!

Brynley & I on the hayride. Notice the hay in her hand. She kept trying to eat the hay so I had to hold her up higher on my lap so she couldn't reach it anymore.

Brynley loved the big slides!!