10 months

These photos are becoming difficult to take. Little Miss is not interested in sitting still. If she is willing to sit in the chair, she will try to eat the paper sign or rough up the stuffed dogs. I distracted her this month with the toothbrush; who knows what will work next month.

Tooth Watch 2008: The Front Two

Julia had a rough week last week, because she was trying to cut her right front tooth. Happily, it broke through Friday night/Saturday morning, so we all have gotten more sleep.

She doesn't like it when I try to feel what is going on in there; she will clamp that little mouth closed or turn her head. I do hear her grinding her bottom teeth against that new little bit of tooth. That's how I knew it broke through.

Today, I got her to give me a big smile. My agenda was really to see what was going on with the teeth. The right front tooth is definitely coming through, and there's a bit of the left front tooth showing as well!

I can't wait to see she what she'll look like with those two front teeth. My guess is that it will make her look like more of a toddler than a baby. She's already acting like a toddler, trying her hardest to talk and walk.

New Camera

I got a new Canon digital SLR, and it's wonderful. There is a great deal I have to learn, and hopefully, the class I'm taking on Saturday will help get me started. I bought the same camera as my friend, Nicole, so we are taking the class together. (Coincidentally, Carol also bought the same camera, and I promised to teach her what I learn in class.) We all have small children and take many pictures.

My sister is also in the midst of learning to user her new digital SLR. She has quite an eye and has already taken some artistic, amazing photos with her point-and-shoot. I can't wait to see what she'll do with her new camera. Perhaps she should start a blog!

Our mother moonlighted as a professional photographer (while teaching school and raising four children). My siblings and I grew up with a darkroom in the house, surrounded by her beautiful photographs. We were all inspired.

Here are some recent photos of my favorite subject:

Hup Holland Hup!

The Dutch team is playing really well in Euro 2008, and thanks to Family Wolt and Family Smits, Julia is dressed appropriately to cheer them on.

Thanks to Tom and Irene for the football.

First Father's Day

We celebrated Robert's first Father's Day with Oma and Opa at Coastal Flats. (Yum!) Julia was very happy at dinner, and we all enjoyed our evening out.

9 months

Tasty Little Tootsies

I thought it had been too long since I posted a picture of Julia.

Julia stats: 9 months

Weight: 20 lbs 5 1/2 oz (80th%)
Height: 30 3/8 in (97% +)
Head Circumference: 17 7/8 in (85%)

Whoa...Julia's shots are just getting tougher. Yesterday, she was happily babbling away to the nurse, giggling and waving. I was just cringing knowing that two shots were coming her way. That big, dimpled smile turned into big, fat tears and a red face. Luckily, she got over it quickly.

Later, a lab tech stuck Julia's finger for a CBC to test for anemia. She didn't get enough blood with the first stick so she had to stick another finger. The first time, Julia did not cry, but the second, she lost it. After seeing the tech squeeze and squeeze that little finger to get more blood, I told the woman that they should consider having Valium on hand for the moms. Perhaps that is an idea for the suggestion box I saw on the way out of the office.

She's crawling!

Over the last 4 or 5 days, Julia has gotten this crawling thing down. She is no longer *trying* to crawl. She's figured it out. She can be fast, especially when she is trying to reach one of her favorite things like a cell phone or a mirror.

Time to step up the babyproofing efforts!

A Few of Her Favorite Things

From comparing notes with friends who are mothers of babies Julia's age, I know that some of Julia's current interests are typical for kids her age. I'm sure she has a few of her own unique quirks here!

Likes (in addition to the people in her life)
Jake
Cell phones
Cell phones, again
Dancing
Remote Controls
Mirrors
Baths (She tries to get into the tub before I even get her undressed.)
Paper (She likes both crumpling it and trying to eat it.)
Music
The play table
Men with glasses
Men with glasses & facial hair
Pulling glasses off of people
When Dad sticks out his tongue, especially when he makes the phhhttt noise
Parties
Saying "DAdaDADaDADadadDadadDAda"
(I keep repeating "MaMaMaMaMa to her. So far, it hasn't caught on.)
Being out and about
Talking to strangers (We'll need to work on this.)
Walks
Drinking water out of a real glass
Chewing on her feet
Being outside
Pulling hats off of her head



Dislikes
Diaper changes
Wearing bibs
Lying down, especially for diaper changes
Having anything pulled over head
Having her fingernails or toenails cut
Peas
Having her face wiped, especially her nose
Bonking herself in the head with a hard plastic toy (It happens.)
Being put down in her crib, at least the first 5 minutes. ("I'd really prefer you sit in the rocker and hold me all night.")
Wearing hats

I realize some readers may find that these posts include too much minutiae. That's OK. I'm writing them for me. I know that some day it will be fun to go back and read what was going on in our day-to-day life with baby Julia.

Wow!

Julia was a bit slower to sit up (or so it seemed), so I expected that she might take longer to hit subsequent developmental milestones. Well, I was wrong.

Getting to Sitting...2.0
I knew things were going a bit faster when I saw her sitting up, gnawing on the crib railing. On Friday, Julia got the hang of getting to sitting. (She can get around, but she doesn't have crawling quite figured out yet.) She seems so intent upon learning these new skills and so excited when she figures something out. She'd army-crawl a couple of feet then wriggle her body around to the sitting position. Then, she'd grin and clap with delight.

Pulling Up
On Saturday, Julia and I were at a friend's house (yummy brunch), and baby Sophia had a play table. Julia really enjoyed standing (!!) at the playtable. When I got home, I got out Julia's table. (Thanks, Nicole. She loves it.)

Sunday afternoon, Julia was playing near R who was lying on his side. She was climbing all over him and using him as a jungle gym. She grabbed his shirt and pulled her little body up to standing.

Now, she just wants to stand (so far, always holding onto something). Much like when Julia learned to sit; she no longer wanted to lie on her back. "I don't want to lie down. Lying down is for babies." She seems fascinated with standing, dancing, and from time to time, pulling up. She's had a couple of spills, and it's tricky to keep her from bumping her noggin.



Today, after her afternoon nap, Julia was STANDING (!!!!) in her crib. I'm working part-time, and I'm a little nervous she'll start walking Thursday while I'm at work!

Not ALL Roses and Sunshine

I want to make sure I present an accurate picture of life with Julia. Most of the time, she is a funny, happy, smiley, giggly girl. There are the moments (few and far between) where she can be a bit of a....drama queen.

First Mother's Day

This Mother's Day, I reveled in the fact that I am a mother!! Despite some rainy weather, we enjoyed a wonderful brunch in DC with Julia's Oma & Opa.

Julia Updates

Little Miss is really growing up.

Trying to Crawling
She has made some significant progress towards crawling lately. For a while now, she has been getting onto all fours and usually ends up in Downward Dog position. She seems to be trying to both stand up and crawl at the same time.

When I was in Atlanta two weeks ago, Caroline and I were hanging out with the kids down in their playroom. Over the course of our conversation, Julia scooched - backwards- about 3 feet. I called R to share my excitement about her new mobility. Hours later, as she took her first signficant tumble, I called R near tears....about her new mobility.

Getting to Sitting
She has been sitting up for a while now and is much less wobbly. Another big development is that Julia can get to sitting all by herself. The first time I knew she had acquired this skill was also confirmation that we *really* needed to lower the crib mattress.

Last Sunday, Julia was down for a nap, and I heard her wake over the monitor. She didn't cry, but I heard her moving around long enough to be satisfied that the nap was over. She wasn't just stirring in her sleep. I walked in the room to find her sitting up (!!) with what seemed to be spit-up on her face. Upon closer inspection, I could see that her face was covered in white paint, because she had been testing out her new chompers and gnawing on the crib railing. Time to lower the crib mattress AND purchase a crib rail guard. I called my friend, Nicole, and informed her that Ian and Julia have something in common. Perhaps he is the twin for Julia.

8 months

Tooth Watch 2008: There are TWO!

Shortly after the first tooth broke through, a second little tooth popped up on the bottom gum. They aren't all the way in yet, but I can tell you with certainty that those little chompers work. She bit my finger when I was trying to feel her gums. I'm just pleased it didn't happen while I was nursing!

That's MY spoon!

Perhaps it's not great that I am teaching her to play with her food, but who could resist these giggles?

Julia's first doll

Dolly was a Christmas gift from Grandma.

Robert & Roberta

You think they look alike?

Warmer Weather!

Julia was a lovely audience as I played fetch with Jake in the yard. It's great to be outside.