New Year, New Discoveries

The countdown to the New Year has come and gone, but certainly this new year will bring more and more new things to enjoy in the world of Sophia.  This month brings 9 month milestones, in which our not so little baby is surely becoming a big girl.  She has loved trying new foods including oatmeal, waffles, crackers, turkey, cheese, and many more.  But her favorite seems to be cheese and any kind of cheese will do for this little lady!  It's amazing to watch her gain more and more of her own little personality and become slightly more independent each day!  She is beginning to pick and choose what she "wants" to eat off the plate, instead of just opening her mouth to whatever we give her. 

Along with becoming a little more independent, Sophia has also become more mobile!  She is officially crawling and getting into EVERYTHING!  She is pulling herself up on just about anything and loves to be chased!  Our hardwood floors are slippery, but this little machine manages quite well.  She is laughing and giggling at just about anything...and now we have learned all of her little tickle spots! 

This month has also brought the official sighting of "crazy hair."  No matter what we do, or how we try to style it...her hair ends up like this!  As crazy as it is...I still think she is the most beautiful little girl in the world!  She has also outgrown her infant carseat..and graduated to a big girl seat!  She absolutely loves it and being more upright to see all of her surroundings. 

Another one of her favorite things is playing with some adorable little kiddos...the Miranda's. 

Cooper is just so gentle with her...there will surely be a genuine friendship when these two grow up!  And Connor, Megan and Cole just love taking care of our little sweetie and she loves them right back!

A few of her favorite people!

She is so interested in Daddy's DVD player and XBox and she is instantly drawn to the remote controls.  And not just any old batteryless remote...she wants the "one" that controls the TV!  Needless to say, she definitely has us contemplating new strategic ideas for babyproffing to keep our little detective safe!

This month also included a trip to Muddy Creek Pediatrics to see Dr. Habel for the 9 month well check.  All the stats look good, except our little peanut seems to be a little small!  Her length is great (thanks to Daddy's 6'4 height), but her weight is a little on the low side...only in about the 25th percentile.  So we have to just let our little munchkin eat anything she wants...so you guessed it...more cheese!  Also, her hemoglobin levels are a little low (10.6), which the doctor said is typical with breastfed babies.  But since her weight is a little low, and her hemoglobin is low, we have to start daily iron supplements.  No big deal...just another step in the bedtime routine and she takes the stinky iron like a champ!  But she's not a champ all the time.  Sometimes that cute little body just can't keep up...especially when we get croup!

Croup Day 1

So 1 week after the 9 month check up, we go back to Muddy Creek to confirm Mommy's suspicion that Sophia had croup!

Croup Day 3

Deep, barking cough along with a bad runny nose proved to be a long 10 days, but she eventually kicked the nasty bug and was quickly back to her normal happy, healthy, little self!



We couldn't be luckier to have such a happy little girl.  She loves to jump and swing with Daddy and spend cuddle time with Mommy, and she is simply growing up just way too fast.  She is smiling and giggling all the time...which makes my world turn upside down.  The days go so fast and the months are a blink...sometimes I just need to stop and basque in the beauty of Sophia!