Friday, November 10, 2017

Dear Kiley... Nine Months


Dear Kiley,

Here we are again, with another month having gone by in the blink of an eye.

It was nice to have a relatively quiet, calm, routine month where we didn't have any big trips or terrible sicknesses to deal with. Grandpa Russ came to visit us for a week, and on October 18 we left you for the first time with a babysitter who wasn't a family member while Daddy and I went to a work event. You were a very good girl and were sleeping soundly in your bed when we got home. I was sad to have missed our usual bedtime cuddles, but relieved that you had a good evening.

We spent one weekend at Nana and Papa's house while Daddy played in a pickle ball tournament (he took home the gold!) and visited again a couple weeks later for Nana's birthday party. 



You love hanging out at Nana and Papa's house, partly because you get to spend time with your cousin, Kinley, who is only six months younger than you. 

That yellow high chair actually belonged to Papa when he was a baby!



You attended your good friend Caleb's first birthday party in October, and you got dressed up all fancy for the occasion. 





At the party you socialized with your friends and showed quite a bit of interest in Daddy's adult beverages.







We celebrated your very first Halloween!



You went with us to a costume party at Ryder's preschool, although you slept the whole time in the front pack. 



At home, we carved pumpkins for the first time.



And you dressed up as an adorable ladybug for the actual holiday.









We joined Daddy and Ryder for a walk around the block while they Trick or Treated, but since it was kind of chilly, you and I were happy to head back early and hand out candy to the rest of the kiddos.


Daddy hosted a Turkey Bowl football game in early November, and we went and watched for a while until it started raining. 



Back at home, you were the life of the party in the midst of the action with all of your little friends. You sure are social!



At night you sleep in a Pack 'n' Play in our room next to our bed.



We've had you in the raised bassinet insert, but recently realized that it's not safe anymore, and that it's definitely time to lower you down...



You are sleeping a little bit better, but you still wake up several times every night to nurse and be rocked back to sleep. You clearly want to cuddle and don't prefer sleeping alone, so sometimes I'll bring you back into our bed to sleep. Unfortunately, no matter how you sleep during the night or what time you go to bed, you also consistently wake up super early in the morning, sometimes around 4:00 AM, and refuse to go back down. I have to admit I really don't appreciate this very much... 

Naps are still not going well. You're chronically exhausted, but you still will only nap while being held or in the car.



I wish we could help you understand that if you'd just sleep you'd feel so much better!



You have graduated from your baby bath tub to The Duck Bath, and you are now the fourth family member to use it, following cousins Sophia and Aubrey and big brother Ryder. Kids just love that thing!




Some of your favorite foods these days include Cheerios, puffs, teething biscuits, pear and sweet potato baby food.



Although the opportunities are getting fewer and further between as the days get shorter and the weather turns, you still love getting outside whenever we can. 



You're sitting up confidently all on your own now, and we're no longer constantly paranoid that you're going to tip over and bonk your head, which is a nice change.







So far you haven't shown much interest in crawling, but I have a feeling that it's right around the corner...


You still love playing with your brother, and the two of you are spending much more quality time together now that you've become so much more interactive.


Although lack of sleep makes you fussy, your general personality has remained sweet and happy. 


You love to laugh and babble, and it's such a joy to watch as you enthusiastically discover the world. I love to cuddle and squish you and just breathe in your sweet baby-ness. I love nuzzling your neck and blowing on your belly to make you squeal. I love petting your silly fuzzy hair and kissing your round rosy cheeks. I literally can't get enough of you, maybe because I know that as each day passes, you'll need me less and less.  

Don't grow up too fast, little girl!


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