9 months!

Nine months ago today L*ily made her grand entrance into the world. L*ily, we have now known you outside the womb longer than inside.

At 9 months, you are just beginning to sit on your own.

At 9 months, you smile with your whole face or even your whole body. You light up when I walk into the room and I can't help but smile, happy that you are happy.

At 9 months, you can down a jar of baby food faster than we can eat our dinner and gum your puffs and biscuit with a little help.

At 9 months, you shout when you are excited or want something and I smile knowing it means you will talk someday.

At 9 months, you have become coy, tipping your head side to side and smiling.

At 9 months, you are just under 16 lbs of squeezable baby with dimpled knees and a little roll on your arms.

I have to pinch myself when I think about where we were at a year ago - so many fears, so many unknowns.

You have changed us, L*ily - changed how we see others, the world, ourselves.

Happy 9 month birthday to the most beautiful L*ily I have ever met. I am honored to be your mommy.

Good Eater!

When I look at these pictures, it is hard to believe that this is the same baby that struggled to eat 40 cc's of milk in the hospital and that was days away from a feeding tube after 3 weeks of struggles with eating.

L started cereal at 6 months... (sorry I didn't turn these pics)

She started well, although she didn't open very wide and her tongue got in the way a lot. Then we graduated to a big open mouth but I could still get a couple of my own bites in (of my own food) in between hers. Now L downs a jar of baby food like nobody's business and I can't take any breaks - if I do, she squaks and sits with her mouth wide open. What an amazing process this feeding thing is, and what an amazing child! (BTW, do you see those nice little rolls on her biceps???) So fabulous!