2014? Really?

Oh hi there! Are you still around?

It's been quiet around these parts and I have no idea how the time has been going by so quickly. It's already 2014. There was no Christmas post (spoiler alert, it was awesome), or year end wrap up or even a list of New Year's resolutions... And (shocker) there was no "Dear Nora" newsletter (or Dear Callan one for that matter). But you've reached the 9 month mark and that seems like a noteworthy month. I said with Callan, it was 9 months in, 9 months out and oh what a difference!

So here goes.

Dear Nora:

You are 9 months old... and amazing. You so desperately want to walk and are getting ready. The past month had you crawling with your belly (finally) off the ground. I realize that there is a lot of it, so I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon, but you are amazingly mobil. Once you set your sights on something you are off. For awhile the army crawl was your preferred method of transportation -and you were quick, but now you've got a proper crawl down. Now that you've mastered that,  you are pulling yourself up on everything and sort of shuffling around. Walking can't be too far behind, but I'd like to wait a little bit longer.

You are a pretty sweet baby still although you'll get vocal about things that displease you. Generally those things are minor, but you do not like being told "no" or being told not to play with hazardous things (plugs, lights, cords, etc).

You are eating like a champ although you're slowly starting to show less and less interest in milk. But, I get it... once you've tasted real food, who a liquid diet! So far there isn't a whole lot you don't like. You prefer to feed yourself, so you sometimes will lose interest in soft/puree foods that need to be fed to you, but you love to eat and you're drinking from a straw cup like a champ. The transition to solids took a little toll on your bowels, which your dad is oddly obsessed with, but I think you're ok.

You (please, please continue) are sleeping pretty well. Your naps are generally good (and on the long side) and you sleep (almost) through the night. You sometimes get up around 3/4am to eat, but most of the time go right back to bed until 6/7am (a few times you've decided that it's a good time to get up, but yeesh, it is not).

What else, you've finally got your first set of teeth -your bottom two. But that's it. I try not to compare too much between you and your brother, but your brother had 5 by his 9 month birthday. But don't worry, the lack of teeth are not slowing you down from chomping away at your favorite goodies.

We celebrated your first Christmas (yea!) with nana and papa in town and your first new year's eve party (that you slept straight through). Now that it's 2014, I need to gear up for your first birthday (what the what) and come to terms with the fact that my little baby is no more. You are a pretty awesome little girl and can't wait to see what 2014 has in store for you.

Love,

Mama

p.s. Although this picture depicts otherwise, you really did have a good time at Christmas dinner at the Four Seasons. I mean, think of all the food!

p.p.s. We had your 9 month well baby visit and it was pretty great. You are still giant -bigger (i.e. heavier) than Callan was, but shorter (you've stayed consistently 2 inches shorter than him since birth). You're in the 88th percentile for height (29 inches) and 99th percentile for weight (24 lbs, 14 ounces) and 100 percent perfect.