Happy 9 months to you...

Isabelle had her 9 month birthday on Monday while we were gone, so I took her pictures when we got back... I have been trying to get her in all of the vintage dresses we got from Kim (my mom's bf) because they are just too cute and she is about grown out of them, so this is one of them.  As you will see, we had such a hard time getting Iz to look at the camera and not at the beautiful picture my wonderful manager made for us (thanks again Laura!!).. I couldn't blame her though, it is super cute.
Dearest Isabelle, we can't believe you are 9 months old already!  You are almost 1!

*you are still wearing size 2 diapers
*you are still wearing size some 6-12 month clothing, but mostly 12 month and some 12-18 month
*you wear size 1 in shoes

*you have started to show some separation anxiety and you definitely get excited to see mom and dad
*you have about 4 bottles a day, about 7, 11-12, 4, 6:30-7, and I still nurse you for the last one before bed (the 6:30-7 feeding)
*you eat some fruit and cereal for breakfast, a veggie or fruit for lunch and a fruit and veggie for dinner

*you love food and it's so fun to try new foods with you... I don't know that there's much you don't like, you love bananas and like to try to hold them and eat them by yourself, which is not a good idea because you get too big of bites for your little mouth... and, you won't share them with me anymore because you want the whole thing to yourself, so selfish already.
*one of your favorite snacks and 'saviours' for us are the puffs... you love them, you get so excited when you see them, they make you happy, which makes us happy!

*you have learned to pick up food on your own and put it in your mouth

*you are on the move, you love to crawl and I can't just set you on the couch or bed anymore because you immediately lean forward and want to start moving... you have gotten pretty fast.
*you have 4 teeth now! Your first one is sticking up the highest and then you have a little one next to it and two that are coming through on top.
 *you still love all of your toys, especially things that make noise and light up.

Side note: We kept trying to sneak the paper next to you so you wouldn't see it and take it, but you caught dad doing it and it was pretty funny... you are too smart.

*you have started to have more 'hand gestures', you kind of wave (we are still working on it), you clap when you get excited and you throw your hands up in the air, like 'yay'!
*Papa also told you the fist pound, which you are still getting the hang of.

*you are so funny and have such a cute little personality
*you have an infectious smile and laugh, I absolutely love your laugh, it's the cutest thing
*things that make you laugh: when we tickle you (you are tickelish!), 'throw' you up and catch you, fly you around, when you drop something and we pick it up several times (you have figured that game out and think it's pretty funny) and your self, you will just chat and play with your toys and giggle to yourself.

You are such a happy girl and we are so blessed and lucky to have you as our daughter.  We love every moment with you, watching you grow and develop... one of my favorite things is to walk into your room in the morning and see your smile peeking through the rails of the crib, it is the best thing in the world and it is one of the many things I am going to miss about this age!