9.5 Months

Dearest sweet baby girl Ainslee,

9.5 months-how can it be? You are still my little baby. I wish you could stay that way forever, or it seems I do, and on another note I can't wait to see what the world holds for you.

At your 9 month appointment you were off the charts-the bottom of it, that is. You are officially below 1% in weight and head size. So you are really my little girl:) You weighed in at 14 lbs and 12 oz and were 27.5 inches long. I believe this was around 30%, so sorta long and very lean. You have hit all the milestones just fine. We think you are just a wee thing genetically. I love that you are little because I can be in denial that this year has flown by and you are almost 1. What you lack in size you make up for in love.

This past week you have started to take a few steps and can stand up on your own in the middle of the floor without assistance. One day soon you will just take off! Lena Kate thinks it is great and will tell you how proud of you she is. She always asks me if I saw what you just did?! I too, and so very proud of you and everything you do. I know you are not yet one, but I want the world to know you are mine and can't express the love and pride I have for my baby girl.

As for food, you still like baby food and will eat a bowl for 3 times a day as well as nursing 6-8 times a day still. You will then raid my plate when I'm eating. You seem to like lots (of what you have been offered, anyway) of table food as well, so I hope that continues.

As for sleep, well, you still are the difficult one. You will lay down for a nap just fine, but at night you are sure fighting it this past week. I can rock you to sleep and as soon as I put you in your bed you start screaming. Prior to this past week I didn't have to rock, nor did you fuss. I'm not sure what your deal is....let's hope that it goes away soon. I can't keep you in my arms all night and I don't like to hear you cry. It hurts a mama's heart. I'm praying it is just a short phase.

You still have no teeth and I don't show any real signs of a tooth showing up soon.

Thankfully you still like to snuggle with me in the mornings and sometimes throughout the day. I can still get sweet hugs from you. They are priceless. You even share some. I know Papa got a special on after church Easter Sunday and Pastor Patti got one after baptising you. You will wiggle out of my arms if I am sitting in order to get on the floor and chase your sister or play with your Little People or other toys. You and sister play in your playhouse together. Lena Kate is the only one that really gets you to giggling. You are usually a content baby but not one that smiles all the time. When Daddy is home you will make faces at him and try to get his attention if you are sitting with me. You will even make funny sounds sometimes. It is like a game for you and I think it is so darn cute. I love watching your sweet personality emerge each day. You are a thinker and possibly a bit mischievous. You have discovered it is funny for me to tell you no and if I come after you, you crawl away as fast as possible, grinning all the way. It is cute, for now:)

You were baptised on March 25th and surrounded by your family, except poor Leelee was too sick to make the trip. We sure missed her. Uncle Chili drove in from Midland to be there as your Godfather. Unfortunately, Aunt Carla and Cinco couldn't make the long drive. You are so loved by your family and friends. Mimi and Papa had a nice lunch after church and went out of their way to make it a special day for you and all of us. We are blessed to call your ours and to be entrusted to raise you by God.

You enjoyed discovering your Easter basket and playing with eggs this past Sunday. I think you had almost as much fun as your 3 yr old sister, although she wasn't a fan of you stealing eggs from her.

Ainslee, you are taking after your sister in liking the outdoors. If she is outside, you still stand at he door and holler at her wanting to go outside too. I like to sit on the porch swing with you in my lap watching Lena Kate play. You seem to enjoy it too, unless you want down to attack the cat, and growl at him on occasion:)

Little Bug, I can't help but smile every time I look at you. I never dreamed I'd have a blond baby, much less a blue-eyed blond. God is full of surprises. I treasure you and think you are just precious.

Love you with all my heart!

Mommy