Nine Months

This last month has been good, bad, and interesting.  I feel like we reverted back to the first few months where she is fussy a majority of the time and not sleeping well, either.  There have been moments where I've felt like  I'm back in the "newborn-walking-zombie" phase, but thankfully I don't feel that way all the time.  I assumed it was teething, reflux, and a cold causing the problems, but it just seemed odd that it was causing her to be so upset for the amount of time she has been.  I mentioned it to her doctor at her 9-month well check and he told me that she is right on track with babies that were fussy/colicky the first few months and that right around month 9 many tend to get this way again for a while.  He also mentioned that it makes separation anxiety even worse and they will just fuss anytime mom is not holding them even when we are at home by ourselves, which, hoooooly moly, is that ever true.  Anyway, despite all of that, there have been some reached milestones and happy moments as well.  Here's her stats and info at nine months:

Length: 29 inches (91%)

Weight: 18 lbs. 5.5 oz. (went from 21% to 41%!  Woohoo!  She's a growing girl!)

Head: 17 in. (26%... yet somehow none of her headbands fit anymore?!  I'm sad about this fact)

• Besides the two bottom teeth that were in last month, Lucy now has one of her front top teeth in and five more all coming in at the same time on top.  Needless to say, we've had constant drooling and gnawing on everything over here! 
• Unfortunately, teething causes reflux to flare up way worse, so that's another major issue again... which also causes sleeping and eating problems.
• Speaking of eating, Lucy gave up solids.  She was doing so well for a while, but now she will only drink bottles again.  On a good day I can get her to eat a few bites of rice cereal before she spits it out and grabs the bowl and throws it all over.  Funny girl- she has her preferences, I guess.  Thankfully this is not a huge concern right now since she's gaining a lot of weight still.
• Sleeping is hit and miss these days.  Some nights she will do awesome and sleep 11+ hours, and then some nights she'll be up every hour.  Naps are the same way, too... either she'll take two 2-hour naps or she will take two 20-minute naps.  You never know what you're going to get until it happens.  But on a positive note, she broke her sleeping PR last night and slept for 12 hours and 45 minutes and only woke up once!  I was in SLEEPING HEAVEN when it was almost 8am and I was just getting out of bed for the day (and given the circumstances of the day, I expected her to be up all night, so, pleasant surprise!).  The last time that happened was probably 10 months ago... you know, before Lucy was born.  Woohoo!
• One day Lucy learned to sit up on her own from crawling/laying down, which was a welcomed shock to me since I didn't even know that was something to expect at that age, and then the very next day she was pulling herself up on everything!  The number of bumps and bruises she has received have now significantly increased, but we're still so excited that she is so mobile and can get around to things she wants!
• Separation anxiety is at.its.worst!!  She will smile, laugh, and put on a show for anyone around, as long as I am holding her.  If anyone so dares to even come close to her though, she'll cry her eyes out and then be scared of them the rest of the day. It's kind of funny, but a little exhausting at the same time since she has to be next to/on me anywhere we go.  I am trying not to accommodate this all the time so that she can grow out of it quicker, but at the same time, I can't just let her scream while I'm at every gathering or I won't be invited anymore. :)  But hey, at least I know she likes me! ha.
• On this same note though, she doesn't mind being around little kids very much.  Sometimes it's a little too much for her, but often she will let them touch her and play with her without crying too much.  We go to the pool a lot with my friend Marci, and Lucy loves her two kids, Mya and Ty.  She smiles and laughs when we see them and will reach out and try to touch them. The other day at the park, there is a big swing that looks like a seat, and she sat in both of their laps swinging for a long time.  That's progress, right?
• She loves to read books.  She's been able to pay attention to some here and there in the past, but now she will sit and let me read her 5 in a row without trying to just rip them or eat them!
• Her immune system rocks!  I have had a bad cold for a few days and was sure she'd get it, which she did a few days later.  For one day it was really bad, and the doctor told me it was a virus and that it had to run its course for a few weeks, but it only took about a day and a half!  This has happened another time or two as well.  We count it a blessing every time because I am sure that it would mean no sleep.
• She says "mama" and "dada"!  She said "mama" last month too, but I'm sure it was just a sound to her.  Now it's definitely directed at me and Ryan gets a definite "dada" now.  It's kind of the cutest thing ever.  Also, I love how when I hear the garage door open I will say to Lucy "guess who's home?" and immediately she will turn and face where Ryan comes in with a HUGE smile on her face just waiting for him.  As soon as she hears the door knob jiggling open, she's giggling and gasping with excitement and by the time she actually sees him, she's bouncing and reaching her arms up for him to pick her up. The first item on their daddy/daughter evening agenda is usually "flying," which she looooves.

Just doing some typical Saturday morning chores:

Boxes are way cooler than actual toys, apparently.  So are tv remotes, cell phones, and computers.

I love this picture below because it perfectly shows Lucy's "determined face" where her tongue is out, her eyes are fixed on their target, and she takes a big breath and dives forward for whatever it is she wants.