9 Months!

Oh how fast time is moving these days sweet Zaylee girl!  You have had quite the growth spurt this past month, and I am anxious for your doctor's appointment next week to see just how much you have really grown.  You finally grew out of the size two diapers and our comfortably in a three, which proves you have put on a pound or two!  When people see you, they always remark on how petite you are, and your Dad and I love your tiny little self.  It makes carrying you around much easier on our backs, and you love hanging out in our arms!  We are taking full advantage of you being our first baby, and the ability to give you all of our attention.  You go everywhere with us, and are always up for a good party or social event.  People comment on how they can't believe we never leave you, but we don't mind and truly just enjoy having you with us.  We have "dates" at home every night after you are in bed.  We love our evenings just lounging around with each other while we hear the static of the monitor coming from your quiet room.  Our birthday's are coming up, and we plan to go out on a real date and enjoy just being the two of us.  I get excited thinking about it! :)

Christmas fun and tree shopping!

Nine months!  You are so active these days, and in to EVERYTHING.  It's so fun to watch you discover new things around the house, but also tiring chasing after you.  Your favorite things to get into lately are the cupboards, pulling all the books off the bookshelf, kissing the mirror on the stairs, and playing with the basket next to the couch.  You don't have many toys, but you don't mind and seem to stay plenty entertained and are extremely gifted in the ability to self entertain.  It is quite entertaining to listen to you talk and babble as you play and explore.  Obedience is something that comes pretty easily for you (for now!), and when we tell you "no, no Zaylee" or "touche pas Zaylee" you look us straight in the eyes, give a little mischievous smile, and more times than not stop touching and crawl straight to my lap!  It's sweet and endearing and I love it!

This month has brought on a new side of our sweet girl, the mini temper tantrums have begun.  We are not fan's of this, and do not give in or show you any sort of acceptance to this behavior.  Something your dad and I discussed when you were still an itty, bitty was the importance to teach you good table manners and that screaming will not get you anywhere in this family!  A couple weeks ago, you started getting extremely vocal when you were done eating and wanted out of your high chair.  We had been teaching you the sign language sign for "all done" and been repeating it every time you are in your chair and we are finished eating.  You decided it was a good idea to through your hands up and scream, thinking that would get you out.  Well it didn't, sorry sweetie, and it never will.  The past week and a half you have become quite good at looking at us as we ask you, "all done Zaylee?"  You raise your little hand in the air and turn it and sometimes even mimic the sound of the words all done.  If you get moody and loud, we wait for you to calm down and try it again, and as soon as you show us the sign or quiet down and raise your hands up to me, we take you out and tell you how proud of you we are.  I'm not naive and know this will only get more intense and much harder the older you get, but for now you are being extremely responsive to the "discipline" we are teaching you and I can only pray that it continues on in the months to come.

Morning snuggles on Saturday mornings are our favorite!

You have also started showing bits of frustration when we take things away from you or stop you from playing to change your diaper.  Your little fists become tightly clenched and you raise them high above your head and let out a little grunt.  It's cute in its own special way, but worries me for the future :)  Sometimes when you get mad, you throw your arms behind you and flap them like wings.  That one makes me chuckle!  It is such a wonderful, exciting time seeing you develop into this little person that has ideas and opinions in your own little baby language way of things.  You are developing into such a "big girl" attitude, and as much fun as it is, it's sad to see you growing so fast!  You are still our little sweetheart though and have the most loving, content, kind demeanor about you.  Everyone comments on the soft, warm, happy little girl you are and love snuggling you!  It's funny to see how shy and serious you get when there are large groups of people around, but you are such a trooper as you get passed from person to person.  You love staring into people's eyes and are so observant and intrigued by each new person.  You are very much a people person, and are so great at making them feel special with your smiles and snuggles and just the way you study them as they talk and play with you.  The best part is when we get you home and it's just the three of us again, you talk so much and for so long.  It is our favorite thing to hear all the things you have to say about all the people and things you saw! :) 

2 hours wandering Target with this on your head.  You made many people smile!!

A few other little things about you lately:

• You still thoroughly enjoy bath time, and have figured out how to pull the stopper up and let the water slowly drain.  You smile and splash with excitement each time.  
• "Walking" around the furniture is becoming much more graceful and easy for you to maneuver.  
• You are QUICK! 
• Talking is something that has become quite fun to listen to and it lasts for much longer periods of time.  You even occasionally talk into my old phone that is now your play phone. 
• You said Mama last week for the first time, and really said it TO me!  So sweet :) 
• You wave now, but not all the time.  When you do, it is the cutest.  
• We are still working on clapping, but most of the time you just slap your hands against your legs! 
• You love your touch and feel Christmas with Marley book and enjoy feeling each page as I read it to you.  It's so sweet to see your mind at work, you really are a smart little lady!
• You learned how to make the clicking sound with your mouth and think you are pretty cool for doing so.
• Sleep is still something you truly enjoy and are still taking 2 long naps a day and sleeping 12 hours at night.  
• Daddy's shoulders are your favorite place to be.  You hold tightly to his ears and jump up and down with glee.  It's adorable. 
• You love eating, and eat three big meals a day, sometimes four.  

Zaylee Jean you are such a joy to us, and we love you more and more each day.  You are our biggest blessing and we thank the Lord for you every morning as you wake us with your joyful chatter.  Thank you for being so sweet.  We love you so!