Better Out Than In

Yesterday was Gracie's 9 month birthday.  And though I've been her Mommy since time began, she has now been under my care longer than she was her biological mom.  So it was a sweet day for us.  She celebrated by cutting her 2nd tooth and pooping a lot. 

Basically this is her standard face.  She is either giggling and chatting, or she is asleep.  When she cut her most recent tooth, the only way I knew was from the extra poops and bloody drool. 

If you can't tell, her hair is getting longer.  Her hair is very soft and curly.  Henry loves to comment that the boys in our family have straight hair and the girls have curly hair.  Also, please notice in this picture that Gracie now has a neck.

In as much as Henry is toughening her up, she is softening him.  Now that she is crawling and pulling up, they are actually able to play together.  He was distressed that she was playing with his trains, so he quickly built her a "Cwistmas" tree for her to tear apart. 

She also has pretty much taken over Henry's collection of Pez dispensers.  They are her favorite teething toy. Many times she'll have one in her mouth, another in her hand, and one stuffed in her outfit. 

While she does love to play with trains, trucks, and Legos, we've also pulled out her dollies which are a huge hit.  Henry likes to put them in his cart and push them around and often tells Grace she needs to be careful when she drops them or bangs their head on the ground.

And this is pretty much how she rides in grocery carts.  No matter how many times I try to sit her up straight, she likes to be laaaaaid back.  And yes, she has her mind on her money and her money on her mind.  She's also been known to sit sideways in high chairs and put her feet up on the table. 

She loves to eat those fruit air puffs.  Thankfully they have about 25 calories per 1000 puffs.  She also loves the Earth's Best Vanilla Biter Biscuits.  She gums them and rubs the gooo all over her face, hands, arms, hair and me too if I am not careful. 

She is a quick crawler and has begun to pull up on everything.  Her mobil has been taken out of her crib and most mornings when I go to get her out of her crib, she is holding onto the side rail and jumping up and down. 

She laughs with her whole body.  Her laughter is infectious.  She and Henry will start giggling and tickling one another, and each time, I end up on the floor laughing with them.

Her stats--

Weight:  21 lbs 13.5 oz (90th percentile) 

She wears size 5 diapers because baby carries her weight in her belly.

Height:  26.5 inches (25th percentile)

Head circumference: 44.5 cm (about 60th percentile--for those of you planning to make her a crown)

And she has one and a half teeth. 

My sweet darling Grace, your brother is right.  You ARE beautiful.