Happy 3/4 Birthday!

Dear Ella,

Yesterday you turned 9 months old. Nope, I’m not sure where the time goes. You’ve been “out” for almost as long as you were “in.” As you start to get more and more independent and less and less babylike, I see why people want another one. (No, we’re not going to act on that quite yet.) You now want down when you’re on my lap -- there are so many places to explore and leaves to eat. The list of things I’ve fished out of your mouth includes: leaves, paper, cardboard and a foam tire you bit off of Charlie’s subway train.

You’re pulling yourself up on everything. The rocking chair, the cabinets in the kitchen, your highchair, the CD case, Katy… Today you made a copy on the printer. And you even take a few steps while holding on to things. It won’t be too long now… heaven help us.

But for now, you can crawl pretty darn fast when you want to. We have to close doors to keep you in the same room as us. Although most of the time you’re right under my feet, playing happily with measuring cups, funnels, wooden spoons or any other object that is not an official baby toy. The fridge is your new fascination. You make a beeline for it whenever it’s open and get mad when I pull you out and close the door. When you start paying the bills, you can leave the fridge open for as long as you want.

Other new tricks this month:
- Doing the bear crawl
- Climbing into Katy’s bed
- Climbing on top of boxes
- Playing peek-a-boo
- Giving zerberts on my arms, legs, face...

Next month: Swimming lessons

As always, you fill our days with smiles. I can’t imagine life without you, little Lovebug.

Much love,
Mama