9 months old

On Friday, the 18th, Molly turned 9 months old--where has the time flown??!  She is such a happy little baby and so sweet.  This past month, she has really developed new skills, new interests, and grown a few more teeth! Here are some fun facts about Miss Molls:

• Now has 5 teeth (3 on the bottom, and the outer 2 center ones on the top---so no front teeth yet!)
• Loves to eat and try new foods--some new favorites this month: lasagna, braised root vegetables, avacado, Earth's Best "fruit bars" (cereal bars), Dr. Praegers' fish nuggets, and tofu bits
• Sleeps about 7:15 pm - 6:30 or 7:00 am, waking once to eat (although she has been really thrown off by the time change and wanted to go to bed an hour earlier and get up an hour earlier, too...she is slowly settling into a new routine).
• Doesn't want to sit down anywhere---wants to be standing up, even to play, especially on the edge of the coffee table or at her music table.
• Can "cruise" along the edge of things without assistance
• Has stood up on her own from sitting about 2 times this past week
• Has balanced when standing several times after letting go
• LOVES to play with Ella and laugh with her
• Likes to "dance" to music whenever it's playing in the background 
• Recognizes the words, "mama, dada, Ella, eat, milk, more, seat, car, baby, ball, cracker, night-night, nappy, Bluey, no, Molly, dog, book, kiss-kiss"
• favorite things to play with: her baby doll, balls, music table, race cars, teethers, banging things like drumsticks
• Can use a pincher grasp to pick up and eat food with both right and left hands
• Tries to feed herself with the spoon (although I usually wait until dinner time-when a bath is in soon- for this as it is VERY messy :)  )
• Has really increased her babbling sounds---babababa, mam ma, ahh-dada...
• Has started drinking water from a sippy cup, although is still trying to get the hang of the spout and we're still trying to find one that is easy to use
• Loves to climb the steps
• Likes her monkey friend, Bluey
• Likes to mimic sounds (e.g., Ella growls like a lion and Molly copies her; I'll stick my tongue out and Molly does, too)
• blows "raspberries" when I say, "Make bubbles!"
• loves to take a bath and puts her leg up to try to climb up into the tub--then splashes away in there!
• dislikes having her diaper changed (or just dislikes having to stay still)--sometimes I could use an extra few sets of hands for the job!
• likes to play peek-a-boo
• does "yoga"--downward dog position
• likes looking at pictures of family members on the fridge or the wall

Now for the best part---a few new pictures of her:

 love that little scrunched up nose

 silly face

 interested in something

 feeding herself "puffies"

 something is sour?? No, just a scrunched up face because of the camera flash

 where she can usually be found---along the edge of the coffee table

 "Who's taking my picture?"

 opening a care package from Baba and Pappy

 excited about what's inside

 "Too bright, Mama!"

 trying to open Ella's apple juice boxes

 happy baby, happy mama

scrunchy faced and toothy grin!