9 months

 

I think I blinked and now my little girl is 9 months old. It is amazing to see how fast she grows, learns, and changes. Within a matter of days after "learning" to crawl she was an expert and completely unstoppable.  She will follow us down the hall or into the kitchen and our new favorite game is to chase kitty around. Kitty doesn't much care for it but has tolerated quite well. Here is proof she follows us into the kitchen to "help"

We have had a few busy weekends. Two weeks ago we spent the day in Decatur to visit Grandma and Grandpa C and then go to Great Grandma Sheppard's birthday party. When we left the party, we stole our first balloon.

It was more fun for me to rub it on her head and make her hair stand up. She just wanted to try to squeeze it or bite it (which scared me with those teeth in there). I seem to remember liking to bite balloons growing up so hopefully she won't follow in my shoes since it's a bit dangerous. 
Then last weekend we went and spent the day with Grandma and Grandpa Brockman. They will be retiring soon and heading south for the winter so we have to squeeze in a few more visits before they go.
In other general updates we now have 6 very visible and very sharp teeth. I think we are going to be a biter. I've been bitten 2x already and she got the sitter yesterday. OOPS! Kenley is also very mobile and can pull herself up on almost anything including the couch, the chair, the bed, your leg, a laundry basket, toys, well pretty much anything. She has also started moving along the couch or bed after objects and reaching onto tables. No item is safe if within reach.

I can't get over how big she looks when she stands and looks around. Here are a few more pictures where she just looks like such a big girl.

She even "walks" towards things if she can hold on or will "walk" along in front of you if you hold her hands. I'm thinking we will be walking before our first birthday if we keep this pace. Maybe even before Thanksgiving ;o) That would be fun since we are going to visit cousin Sophia again and we could chase each other around. She also prefers to stand and mostly hold on with only 1 hand or try to let go at times.  The only problem at first was that she hadn't mastered sitting down. She would get to stand up in the crib and then cry when she couldn't sit down. Sure it's not bad at 2pm in the afternoon during naptime but at 1am or anytime during the middle of the night it was a little shock for me again to have to get out of bed. She is slowly learning how to get back down somewhat gracefully.
In addition to our new found mobility and level changes, she is doing great with a sippy cup and drinks from it most every night. She has the concept of holding it and tipping it back under control but sometimes doesn't swallow the milk so it gushes out but she is getting better daily.

I just wish she would eat more food at home and drink more milk at the sitter's. She is usually pretty fussy at night if she doesn't get a good 2nd nap so she doesn't eat much for us and is yawning and ready for bed by 630. We had some good weeks with naps but they seem to be gone again. I'm wondering if it's all the developmental changes and I'm hoping it's just a phase and we can get it worked back out.
Clay and I are both doing good too. Busy but very good. The new house stuff will be on a temporary hold soon until we have it re-bid this winter. We have talked to the bank and have a few more questions to work out with the plans and options. The realtor came to look at Hotel Brockman and had very positive things to say. We have a few projects to do this fall to prepare for the sale in the spring but it was mostly stuff we wanted to do anyway. We will just have to recruit some Grandmas to babysit and get a few things done. Work for me is very very busy so I apologize if the updates on the blog are spaced a bit longer apart. Clay and I have been watching 30 Rock and True Blood at night after Kenley's in bed so I haven't been on the computer much. Again I am sorry but please know I always have a few posts swimming around in my head and someday I will sit and post them. I hope this finds all of you happy and enjoying the coming of fall.