Dear Lilah,
I can't believe you are nine months old already! Just three short months until your first birthday. Lately you've been into giving me these big grins that make my heart just spill over with joy. You are so much fun.
This month you've made some pretty big leaps. You finally got the hang of the eating thing and have been doing a much better job at eating solids. You are still pretty picky though. The only way I was able to get you to eat anything at all was to feed you those little pouches of organic baby food that are currently all the rage in the baby food world. They enable you to suck your food right out of the pouch, which was a more familiar way of eating to you than using a spoon.
You do finally eat off of a spoon as well now, but for the most part we've stuck to the pouches...they're easy, and they work. Of course, they aren't cheap. I made most of your brother's baby food and hoped to do the same for you. You aren't really cooperating with that plan. So far, you have turned your nose up at any of the food that I have made for you. But I plan to keep trying. You do seem to take some time to warm up to things.
You also have started moving around more this month. You still haven't quiet taken off crawling, but you do drag yourself around the floor some. And you can get yourself into a seated position on your own. I have a feeling that things are going to change around here soon!
Your other latest modes of transportation include riding on my back in the Beco (baby carrier)...
and riding in the Joovy (stroller) like a big girl (i.e. sitting up instead of in your car seat).
Your top two front teeth are just starting to come in. You are getting so big! You even show me when I ask you...
"How big is Lilah? Soooo big."
I've never shared any of your nicknames on here. By far
the most prevalent one started very early on and has stuck. When you
were still very young, I started calling you Lilah Bean. Then I
shortened it to Bean and that has been your primary nickname ever
since. We commonly refer to you as "the bean." Another favorite
nickname is Liley, which was coined by Caleb.
This month, your mama realized that summer was almost over and subsequently tried to cram in as many summer activities as possible. You played in the pool in our backyard (even though it was a little chilly)...
rode the train at Belleview Park...
went to the beach...
went camping for the first time...
and even got to go on your first boat ride!
That was actually your second time out on the boat and you were really tired, but you had a BLAST on the boat. I wasn't too surprised because for some reason you love the feeling of wind in your face. So when the boat went fast you just smiled and giggled away.
Speaking of wind in your face, your brother learned early on how much you enjoy it, and is often trying to blow in your face because it makes you smile and giggle. At least it usually does. Sometimes he goes a little overboard, which is a good general description of the way he interacts with you. But you're a pretty tough cookie.
I'm excited to watch your relationship with your brother grow as you grow. So far, you seem to like each other quite a bit. I hope that time will only make you closer.
I can certainly say that my love for you continues to grow as you grow. You are my sweet sunshine, and I'm so very thankful for you.
Love always,
Mama
