My Dearest Joslyn,
This month we've experienced many new and wonderful things with you. We are seeing quite an amazing little girl before us, full of smiles, spunk, love, and as always one heck of a personality!
Just after your 8 month milestone, you officially started walking. As a result of this new achievement, it has become your dads latest mission to record as many videos of you, as can be found at our friendly neighborhood movie store. We then find ourselves watching them over and over while you are sleeping. (It has been reported that your Grammy does the same thing with the videos of you we post on the blog, so what else can we say but that it seems none of us can get enough of you!) It's during these night time movie viewings that your dad and I have had fun recounting your steps. So far we have counted a whopping 55 steps! That's without falling, nor holding onto anything. You can also turn very well, which allows you to change directions with ease. We think that the progress you've made is just pretty darn fabulous, and it seems that nothing you do ceases to amaze us! Keep on keepin' on sweetheart!
This month you have found a great love of imitating the puppy dog. You've always gotten such a kick out of her, and constantly try to play with her. But now you roam about the house making cute little "Rarrrrr" sounds. It's absolutely hilarious when you do it, and what couldn't have been better, is the fact that it worked exceptionally well with your teddy bear Halloween costume. Almost as if we'd practiced the sound that bears make ahead of time!
Speaking of Halloween. This, as well as Thanksgiving, were two new celebrations we were blessed to share with you for the first time. You LOVED (or more like WE loved) dressing you up and parading you around to a few houses of loved ones. We were even given some candy! Perhaps next year we'll allow you to indulge in a few samplings, but this year mommy and daddy were the ones who were treated. :-) Thanksgiving was not quite as fun for you as Halloween was. You were sick with your very first cold. You ran a temperature, were coughing and sneezing, and had the stuffiest little nose. You had great difficulty eating and sleeping because you couldn't breathe all too well out your nose . . . which nearly broke our hearts. You still suffered through it like a trooper and came out unscathed. We are very glad that this particular "first" is over and out of the way!
For whatever reason, we've noticed that you've taken a bit of a disliking to men over the past little while. Unfortunately for Grandpas and Uncles (but not daddy, no NEVER daddy) you require a little more time to warm up to them. We can't figure out exactly how you can tell the difference between men and women, whether it be facial hair or a deeper voice, but you most definitely have it figured out! Time and time again you've made your preference known. I do believe that your dad is secretly okay with this, and hopes you stay clear of the opposite sex for the next 30 or so years. I on the other hand think it's just a phase that too shall pass.
There have been many newly discovered "firsts" that definitely need mentioning. You've found your first favorite television show, called 4 Square on the childrens Treehouse station. It's a cute little 15 minute skit of brightly colored puppets, dancers, and singers who have you completely mesmerized every. single. time. I haven't seen you sit still for anything else, other than these 15 glorious minutes. (Please note that we have every episode PVR'd, from now until college).
You had your first flu shot (the special H1N1 version) this month. We've taken you on a few first time outings, including the Corn Maze, Boo at the Zoo, the Great Canadian Train Show (that was all daddy's doing of course), and the Childrens Museum at the Forks where we took you today to celebrate the first day of your 9th month. Sadly you no longer fit your baby ring, and we've had to put it away. But you've been showing a very notable love of jewelery this month (boy are we in trouble!), as well as a love of buttons. You love playing with whatever earrings, necklace, or ring I have on, and are are forever putting buttons from our clothing into your mouth. Your reach has also gotten a whole lot taller, and you have an undying fascination of opening doors and cupboards. (Operation installing safety latches is officially ON!) We have also seen 2 new teeth come in this month. Another two up top, for a total of 6 teeth!
Your favorite thing in the world right now is bath time. As soon as you hear that water running, you smile, scream with delight, and go scurrying off in said direction as fast as your little legs will carry you. Your favorite food is undeniably yogurt, and your favorite word is Dadada. You have a few new favorite expressions. One is clicking your tongue. Another is making a cute little face where you scrunch up your lips, and stick them out, in what we call your fishy face. And lastly, whenever anybody talks to you, you give a little shy look where you bury the side of your face into your shoulder. It's the cutest darn thing we've ever seen . . . well, one of many anyway.
One thing I've really taken notice of this month, is how much you've grown. You are so much longer resting in my arms when I feed you at night. You are much heavier when I pick you up and am holding you. And I can't help but notice how many bins of outgrown clothes are sitting in our basement. This saddens me, and I find myself wishing I could keep you this age forever more. As you continue to grow and become harder to hold, like the baby I hold in my arms today, I will always cherish this very special time with you and will keep it close to my heart. Just as a favorite line from a book I read aloud to you, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."
Love,
Your Mama Bear
