Nine Months

We were in Ohio for Jovie's nine month b-day, so we took pictures about a week late.  Here they are, anyway.

Nine month stats:
20 lbs 13 oz - 80th percentile
29 inches - 90th percentile
Head circumference - 17 3/4 inches - 85th percentile

We love this age!  Every day, Jovie gets a little better at something.  She changes all the time, and it's amazing to us.  She's more and more like her own little person.  She makes us laugh with her expressions, antics and communication, and seems to know what makes us laugh or gets a response, and will do things intentionally for that response (like her exaggerated "H" sound with a big smile).  She gets slap happy when she's really tired.  She claps when I sing her favorite songs like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Wheels on the Bus".  (The mamas on the bus saying "shhh" and the wipers going "swish-swish-swish" usually bring a giggle.)  She amazes us and endears herself to us more and more, if that's somehow possible.

Jovie is really learning to move!  Although not quite crawling, she heaves herself forward on her belly by pulling her arms under her and pushing off with those toes.  While sitting, she can turn herself anywhere.  Her relaxed sitting pose is when she crosses her ankles.  And she can pull herself up by holding our fingers, and once when sitting in the laundry basket.  Also, when we hold her hands, she takes some steps.

Here's the clapping in action: 

Her coordination is improving.  She can clap her hands, and when she holds her puffs in her hands, she can work them up by rubbing her first finger and thumb against her palm until the puff peeks out the top.

She is as verbal and animated as ever!  And she communicates a lot more these days.  She makes noises, faces and gestures when she's trying to tell me what she wants or when I ask her questions.  We're trying to teach her sign language, and so sometimes when she wants to tell me something, she will earnestly look me straight in the eyes and wiggle her fingers.  One of her funniest communications is when I ask if she's hungry, she'll immediately stare at my mouth and moves her fingers like she's maneuvering a phantom puff.  Or, sometimes she'll work her mouth like she's eating.

We are always impressed by what an interactive and responsive and observant baby she is.  She seems to get happier every day, and she giggles more often now, often chuckling at Howie.  And while she still says the same words (mama, dada, hi), her tone and syllables are more complicated.  "La", "Na" and "Ya" are common to hear.

Jovie likes to watch her own videos!

Her taste for food is getting refined.  And she knows what we wants and doesn't by sight and smell.  And when she doesn't want something, she throws her arms up over her head and ducks her chin.  I call it the "Super man".  This isn't the best picture of it, but it's hard to catch.


And with two bottom teeth in with a couple more on the way, she's learning to chew more and more foods.  She regularly eats puffs and cheerios, and has tried tiny pieces of peach, banana and cantaloupe.

She loves her music, and seems to try to keep the beat with her wooden clapper instrument and by clapping her cups together.

And as I've said before, she's persistent!  No matter how big or awkward a toy is, she gets to it.  As a nursery worker once told me, when Jovie wants a toy, she goes to get it!

Jovie is on a good schedule , eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and a nighttime bottle with a snack or two thrown in sometimes.  She typically sleeps twelve hours a night with a morning and afternoon nap ranging between ninety minutes to two-and-a-half hours.  I love it!  She's such a good, happy baby.  What a gift!