jess and the gang: Willa {9 months}

length: 27.25"

weight: 18 pounds, 7 ounces

accomplishments: says "mama" and "baba", stands on everything

9 months in, 9 months out...oh wait, I did the math. We have about two more weeks until she will have been out as long as she was in. Yes, I counted! haha! Nine months with you has certainly flown by Willa!

You started pulling yourself to standing on your 8 month birthday. Then you spent this past month mastering it and pulling up on everything. The kids have learned a lot less is safe now, as once you stand, you can grab so much more stuff! And everything, I mean everything, goes in your mouth. That doesn't bother me so much, but your siblings apparently don't like slobber covered things. Going back to standing, you even managed to stand in your high chair, so are now promptly buckled in each time.

Speaking of eating, you are doing great. You eat anything and everything presented to you. Sometimes with more gusto than others, but I never know if it's the food or your mood. I feed you baby food sometimes, but whenever we sit down at meals, we always throw you some of our food and you love it.

Size wise, you are in 6-12 month clothing and size 3 diapers. I feel like the diapers fit well, but you have been having blowouts lately and I think that means it is time to size up. You got your first pair of shoes last week at the store where they actually measure your feet. We discovered your right foot is bigger than your left...just like your daddy. You are measuring around the 50 percentile for both height and weight, but your head, well, its a big one...that seems to have been a trend with your siblings as well. Weight wise, you came in number three at nine months out of your siblings, with Connor consistently being the lightest baby.

You gave us a scare earlier this month with an allergic reaction. Given you hadn't had any new food, lotion, clothes, etc, the doctor thought it was probably something in the air. The medication she gave you cleared it up quickly and came in handy when it happened again a few days later. But it hasn't happened again, so who knows.

I would say we shouldn't even talk sleep, but I will anyway. If I get you down in your bed for naps, you take really good ones. The problem is, you often fall asleep on a school run and that 20 minutes in the car seat ends up being a nap. Nighttime is a whole other thing. It's going not so well. I thought teething, then I thought maybe it's just our new normal. Then last night, you gave me a several hour stretch, throwing me for a loop. I think you are just trying to keep us on our toes!

Willa, you are still such a smiley little joyfilled baby. You bring such joy to our home and everyone around us. We love having you as part of our family.