9 Month Pictures

Finally, I got a chance to take Addison's 9 month pictures.  She's healthy once again and back to her old self.  I took these all by myself, which was a HUGE challenge!  She's always wanting to crawl around and not sit still.  I had to position her, hurry back and get the camera, get her to look at me AND smile at the camera.  That was a major feat, let me tell you.  I don't think I will attempt this on my own again, for her sake and mine!  As you will see, I couldn't always get her to smile - she was so serious at times and no matter what I did I couldn't get her to crack a smile.  Anyway, here they are...

These were taken with her rubber ducky bathtub and robe/slippers that she got from Aunt Marcia.

And here we used the rocking chair from Grandma Eileen and Grandpa Bob.  The boots were from Aunt Tonya.

I'm so bummed this one is fuzzy, she has a perfect smile.

Since she just wanted to play, I brought over one of her favorite toys - the cookie jar with shapes and this rattle that she's obsessed with shoving in her mouth.  And the smiles disappeared!

9 Month Stats

Addison's 9 month check-up was yesterday and she's right on track. 

Height:   28-1/2'' (75%)
Weight:  19 (50%)
Head:     17-1/4'' (45%)  - Her head circumference has always been on the low side and it seems to be catching up nicely with the rest of her body (it started in the 5th %)!

The doctor and I discussed how she is gagging on most table foods and he wasn't quite concerned yet.  At her 12 month appt, if she still doesn't seem to have progressed, then we might discuss some type of therapy.  THERAPY?!?  I know it probably won't happen and she'll progress just fine, but the thought of therapy scares me.  I think of all the children that have issues and wonder how their parents do it.  They have so many challenges on a daily basis and require so much extra attention.  It takes a special parent to raise those children.  I always said I wasn't one of those people, I hope I never have to find out.  I know...thoughts of a crazy mother ;-)  We'll just continue to try new foods and I'm sure one of these days it will start to get better.

Addison hasn't been feeling the best the past few days.  She's had a very deep cough and I've noticed some wheezing every once in awhile.  Her appetite has lessened and her mood is not as spry.  The doctor heard a little rattle in the chest but said it was minimal.  He did find fluid in one of her ears and said to watch her closely the next couple of days.  Needless to say, she hasn't been in the mood for a photo shoot!  I hope to take some pictures as soon as she feels better.  Stay tuned!

9 Months...already??

Addison has turned the big .75!  She is doing great and learning new things all the time.  She's a fast crawler and even faster walker when you hold her hands.  She also has a walk behind toy that she has been doing a great job walking behind all by herself.  Addison has started to wave bye-bye a lot more, but doesn't really do it on demand.  She loves to patty-cake and will usually do that one when asked.  We have also been working on 'So Big!' and just yesterday Doug said she repeated it once.  She still says Dada ALL the time, but that's it - no new words (but that's not from lack of trying!) 

We've tried introducing some different "table foods" like puffs and graham crackers.  She HATED puffs - she kept gagging on them. However, usually graham crackers is something she will eat.  Some of the Stage 3 baby food she gags on as well - like Chicken Noodle, anything with some consistency.  I don't think she's quite ready for all that yet.  Fine by me, less mess for me to clean up!  Yes, I'm still working on that whole neat freak thing.  Addison has also started drinking from a sippy cup.  I'm telling you, she's getting too big too fast for me!

I'm going to try and take some 9 month pictures soon and I'll post them when I do.  I just have to go shopping and buy a few cute outfits.  And yes, I HAVE to ;-)

I love sitting on Daddy's shoulders and slapping his head!

I love to get into spaces I have no idea how to get out of!

My new thing is pursing my lips together and blowing spit out!

(I'm sure there's a name for this - I just don't know it)

Taking ALL my toys out of the boxes.

Mommy and her flowers!

Conner's birthday - he's going to Disney World!!

He turned the 4.  Janel made his Lightning McQueen cake.

Then it was Papa Rich's birthday.  I helped him open his presents.

Crawling down my track (back and forth down the hallway)

I can drink out of a sippy cup!

Ready for girls lunch out!

Daddy recouping from getting his wisdom teeth taken out. 

I was on babysitting duty - it was a tough job.

The only table food I like so far is graham crackers...YUMM.

I was just a little tired.

Just passing by!

So big.

I love to crawl behind the recliner and play on the banister.

And crawl through the tiniest of places.

Papa Mike made me this toy box for Christmas!

Don't I look like a little puppy popping up here? ;-)

 Forward...ho!

The Holidays

This past month was a whirlwind to say the least!  The holidays always bring many get-togethers with family and friends and there was no shortage this year.  With this being Addison’s first Christmas, it was extra special for us.   

Addison has started crawling and is into everything.  For the first day, she would only go from toy to toy or across the room.  Then she realized there’s a whole house to roam about and started venturing from room to room.  Now when Doug or I leave the room, she follows.  Keeping her from the tree and presents was a full time job.  I felt bad about the number of times in a day I said no to her.  When do you think the meaning of the word will finally sink in?!?

She is also pulling herself up on anything her hands can reach - the banister, the coffee table, and the chairs.  We have ceramic tile floors in the kitchen and when she stands up against those chairs we get very nervous.  I know she’ll get bumps and bruises, but a cracked skull I won’t be able to handle!  

Opening Christmas gifts was not exactly something that Addison was in to.  We had to try and get her interested in ripping the paper (something she does love to do), but she’d rip a piece off and then into the mouth it went – forget the present.  Why is it that babies only want what they cannot have?  For weeks we had to keep her from ripping into the presents and now, you put one front and center for her to open and she crawls the other way!!

Addison has yet to get a tooth, although they must be moving around a lot because she has times where she’s biting everything and hard.  Occasionally she’ll get a little cranky because of it, but so far we’ve been pretty lucky.

As you would expect, I have a large amount of pictures to share this month.  Christmas was so much fun this year and we feel so blessed to have Addison in our lives.  Doug’s Christmas card said it best “Thank you for giving me the best gift I could ever ask for – our Baby Addison.” 

Helping Mommy decorate the upstairs tree.

Cookie baking at Grandma Joan's

Zach and Rachel were trying to be helpful, maybe a little too helpful!

 I'm a little reindeer!

Little Daniel, a second cousin, only a week or so old.

All tuckered out...

Brunch with the girls.

St. Nicholas came!

How do I open this thing?

Fa la la la laaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Santa's helper had to take a little nap.

This picture was on our Christmas card.  One of my favs.

Grandma Eileen reading to me.

Uncle Bruce's 40th Birthday party!

You say this is snow???  Pretty!

Who needs a pacifier when you have a little rubber ducky? 

We discovered I'm tall enough to make my first mark on the growth chart.

Giving Conner a big hug.

Aunt Janel and her boys, how cute!

Mmmm, wrapping paper.

Family photo time.

Matching boys.

First of many embarrassing photo ops, I'm sure.

Squeeeeeeeze.

Praying before mealtime.

Daddy told mommy she HAD to post this picture.  We were exhausted!

Sometimes I keep my hands from covering my eyes long enough to hold my own bottle.

Bed head...it happens to the best of us.

Christmas Eve morning we had breakfast with some friends.  Here's my buddy Braden.

Braden's mommy Lori and another friend Amanda.

Perfect snowfall picture....tadaaa (look at my hands)

Grandma and Grandpa Stein gave me a rocking chair!!

Opening gifts, I got a baby and a laptop like mommy!

Some of my older cousins.

Uncle Bruce feeding me my bottle.

Uncle Nick telling me a good story.

Grandma Eileen and Aunt Tonya playing toys with me.

Santa came!  Mmm, more wrapping paper.

Having fun in my wagon from Santa!

Cousin Jack with a cute bow on his head.

This box looked like a good place to have a seat.

Papa Mike and Nana.

On the road again...

My Emig grandparents and second cousins.

All bundled up for a short sled ride.

I love the snow!

I'm Daddy's favorite.

And Mommy's too, of course.

Yuck, peas.

I'm big enough for my rubber ducky bathtub now!

(Her expressions kill me, look at her eyebrow here.)

Excuse me?

Playing my piano.  I have to stand up for this, it's the big finale.

Mom, you think you're so smart trying to block me from the Christmas tree. 

Ha, I'll just stand up and reach over, duh!

I'm 8 months old!

A low key New Years Eve.  We had a few friends over.

Daniel got all dressed up for the occasion!

I love Sophie my giraffe.

How can I get closer?