Butterflies and Hair Bows: 9 Months Old and Crawling

It has finally happened, the moment we have all been waiting for, Emily is now mobile. She has learned how to crawl, although it is her own style of crawling where she crawls a couple of steps then sits and then crawls a little more. She gets to where she needs to go but I did find out that if you get down on your hands and knees with her and crawl she will go further without sitting, almost as if she wants to race you.

Pulling herself up into a standing position is a task in progress right now. Emily has done it a couple of times but she still needs assistance most of the time. She loves being able to be upright and tries to grab hold of things off the coffee table. When she wants some assistance to stand she puts out two hands and then pulls herself up. Sometimes she'll try to walk and she is getting better at standing unassisted. Her standing entertainment table is a big must have right now as it keeps her practicing the pull up and balancing act. She starts to dance when the music comes on by bouncing up and down a little, it is the funniest thing. Emily also likes peek-a-boo and loves it when you start to clap, she thinks it's a game. She is still loving Pat-a-Cake, it makes her smile everytime we sing the song.

Tantrums have shown up in full force, which mommy is not liking at all at the moment. It seems as though every time I place her on her changing table, she has a fit that includes crying, wiggling and rolling which makes it almost impossible to change her without cooperation. I have to find ways to distract her with toys and if that doesn't work then I stern with her but for some reason she thinks it's funny and laughs, which is not the reaction I am hoping for when it comes to trying to discipline.

My baby has a healthy appetite and smacks her mouth when she sees something she wants to eat or drink. We have introduced juice to her diet, but not too much, we still stick with water at the dinner table. Emily loves water and especially when drinking out of an adult cup that has ice. She will put her little hands in the cup and swish the ice around. Plastic lined bibs are a must have during dinner time.

Last week Emily caught her first cold and had a difficult time sleeping at night. She haes the aspirator and will start to shake her head from side to side before you even come near her. It is the most dificult task trying to keep her nose clean and clear. Every time she sneezed mucus would come out of her nose but she hated when you tried to wipe it clean. I am just thankful it only went on for a couple of days and thankful that I had a nasal decongestant that the doctor prescribed back when we thought Emily was getting allergies because I am sure that is what helped get her better faster.

Yesterday was Emily's first time in the water at the beach. Daddy took her out while mommy took some pictures of them. She loves the water and splashed around as much as she wanted. We sat her at the water's edge but only for a couple of minutes since she kept trying to put sand and sea weed in her mouth. Overall, it was a good time out at Rockport beach and I'm glad Emily has such a wonderful beach experience. I hope to take her out more time this summer before baby #2 makes her arrival. Next year, mommy will try and put Emily in swim lessons, I'm sure she'll love that.