Clarke-9 months

Hello Blog friends and family.  Things are crazy around here, but never too crazy to forget the monthly blogs.  I LOVE looking back at EF and Ryals’ monthly updates and I’m determined to keep up with Clarke’s.  If only I kept going and at least did every 6 month updates for the big girls.  Sigh.  Doing the best I can!

Happy 9 months, Clarke!  It’s been a big month.  Here’s some info about our sweet baby Clarke right now:

-Clarke got her second tooth (bottom tooth).  Her little teeth are so stinkin’ precious; although I think that teething bothers her a good bit.  Poor baby!

- This month, Clarke was pretty sick off and on.  I took her to the doctor after 6 days of pretty high fever and she was given Augmentin (?) for double ear infections (and a possible UTI).  She hasn’t really been herself this month: waking up some at night and some early mornings.

-Clarke decided on a lovie.  It’s a teeny tiny naked baby doll.  It was one of those super cheapo dolls that I remember getting for EF when we were in Target one day and I just needed her to hush.  Well, Clarke loves it and drags it everywhere.  Unfortunately it’s missing at this moment, but I’m sure it’ll turn up somewhere.  It’s too heinous to not stick around for awhile.  :)

There's "baby girl" (her lovie)

-Clarke can pull up to a stand.  She started by doing this to her knees and then quickly figured out how to stand.  Sometimes her sisters try to “help” her and they end up knocking her over, which makes her pretty upset.  I think she is pretty tough though, considering all of the abuse she takes.

-I stopped nursing a few days ago.  I was really sad about it at first, but now I am ok (but still in physical pain!).  I weaned slowly. I had been just feeding her at night/morning for a month or so, then I dropped the night and a few days later, dropped the morning feeding.  She is doing absolutely fine with it.  She was already taking bottles of formula (and has since she was only a few weeks old), so it wasn’t such a big transition.

-wears size 3 diapers, 9-12 month clothes, can still wear a few 6-9 month things and the occasional 18 month outfit.

-weighs 15.6 lbs (EF was around 17 lbs, Ryals was 13.3 lbs! at 9 months)

-Sleeps on her belly, sucks her fingers.  Naps at school in the mornings for 20-30 minutes, then at home for 1.5-3 hours in the afternoon.  Goes to bed around 7 and sleeps until 7 or 7:30 in the morning.  Seems to be a pretty light sleeper…if there is a loud noise in the house towards the end of her nap or early in the morning, she’s up!

-says “dadadadada” and it’s precious!

-eating much less baby food and more finger food.  She is not crazy about weird textures, so right now I’m pretty limited on what I can get her to eat.  She loves yogurt.  Finger food-wise, she’ll eat: cheerios, yogurt melts, puffs/cheezipuffs, loves raisins, will eat some eggs, bread, baby MumMums and loves lima beans.  I’ve tried mandarin oranges, “meat sticks”, peas and she didn’t like any of that.  I’m working on what to try that’s soft and a good finger food for her.  I’m hoping to discover some new things soon, but this stage makes me so nervous that they are going to choke!

-absolutely loves going to school, never cries when I drop her off.  Honestly, she’s ready to play and wants to get down when I take her into her classroom.  Her teachers are so wonderful…I don’t know what I’d do without them.

-Her separation anxiety is probably even worse than it was last month.  She does well with familiar drop-off environments when I leave her (school and gym nursery), but at home she has to be able to see me at all times or waterworks!  It’s really hard if she wakes up early in the morning to get ready.  She literally wants me to hold her all morning and I need to get myself and the girls ready for school.  She’s so sweet, though.  It’s hard to resist!  I know she won’t want me like this forever!

-Prefers to be on the floor playing.  Not big on the jumper or exersaucer anymore.  Mobility is upon us.  She found the stairs the other day and actually made it up one.  Oh boy.  But, for now, she stays pretty close.  She hasn’t “taken off” yet in terms of crawling away.

-Happy 9 months, C girl!  We love you!!