Dear Clara, 9 Months

I know there's no 6 month letter...I did write a "Dear Clara, 6 Months" but forgot to post it. It only exists in paper form now as my hard drive crashed recently. I'm so thankful I printed it!

September 25, 2015
Dear Clara,
My Clara-bell, you are nine months old. You are getting more personality every day. You like to wiggle and dance when you're happy, and you can scream shrilly when you're not You are still pretty sensitive when you get hurt. You enjoy holding clothes or rags over your face to play peek-a-boo. You've recently learned "So big!"  You just learned to clap. It's so fun to see you proud of yourself and your accomplishments.
You are hitting milestones so quickly! You started crawling a little past six months. You started out inchworming, but after a week or so, you learned how to move on all fours. You are very fast now. In the past couple of weeks, you've learned how to crawl up the stairs. You love going up the stairs, and you're very fast at it.
You eat some pureed food, but you'd rather feed yourself. You got upset the other day when I was eating a cookie. You wanted one too! You don't like pureed peas, but you do like squash and sweet potatoes. You liked applesauce with banana and strawberry the best so far.
We've been to the library story time for the past few weeks, and you've crawled around the crowded room like you owned the place. You bounce when the big kids are jumping and dance and clap and crawl up to kids you think are interesting.
You enjoy Adlee, and she loves you. Often, you get into what she's doing, and she pushes you away.
You haven't been sleeping as well. You got sick a few months ago, and started waking up a few times a night. Lately, you've been getting up at 1 and 5 for snacks before sleeping until around 7. You also take naps at 10:30 and 2:30 or just one longer nap around noon. You still start talking before your eyes are open most of the time. You nurse to sleep most nights, but you can be rocked to sleep by me or other people if needed.
Your hair is getting longer and lighter. People are always talking about it looking a little red. You don't have teeth yet, but you certainly chew and drool.
You are a sweetheart and give good hugs and kisses. You are our sunshine! Your bright eyes and smile light up our lives.
I love you my Clara-bara!
Mommy

Dear Clara, 3 months

Dear Clara,
My dear, you are a sweet, sweet girl. You aren't demanding most of the time, but when you decide you need something you need it right away and you say so loudly! You have a lots of smiles for mommy and daddy and even Adlee. She's a little rough with you quite often, but she loves you. She brings you toys. I'm constantly finding toys sitting on your chest  when you sit in your bouncy seat or swing. She gives you lots of kisses and hugs, and she loves beeping your nose.

You've been a pretty good sleeper. You've slept up to 8 hours a night for a whole week, then, you got sick and we're back to waking every 3-4 hours. You like to stay up late. Since daylight savings time, you've been staying up past midnight. Often, I can put you in your swing and you fall asleep by yourself. You sleep in a bassinet by Mommy's side of the bed unless Mommy is too tired to sit up and nurse you, then you snuggle in beside me to nurse and sleep. I didn't start doing that until you were over a month old. I think you would be ready for a crib and regular nap times soon. We'll see if we can find room for the crib, and if I can get you on a schedule. What we're doing now isn't bad.

You were a good at nursing right away. You're just picky about the angle. You have to be positioned just right, and when you are, you are a good eater.

You were strong right away too. You held your head up while we were still in the hospital. You love to stand and do squats. I think--and I'm amazed--that you're already pretty close to sitting up on your own (but I know it could take months for you to start doing this).

You are just starting to grab and hold things. I can tell you're holding and feeling the blankies, burp rags, or toys that are sitting on your lap. Sometimes, you reach out in front of you like you want to grab something and then pull your hands to your mouth. I think you're going to be very good at putting things in your mouth soon.

You hate tummy time. You have rolled over twice (weeks ago now) from tummy to back. I think you probably hate tummy time because you have acid reflux. Most days of your life, you've full on thrown up full meals once a day. It has gotten better lately.

You've just recovered from your first cold. It was awful to see someone so little go through being ill. You were hoarse when you cried, and coughing made you cry. Your throat was probably very sore. My throat was very sore when I was sick right before you. While we're listing your ailments, you have cradle cap pretty bad, but it's hidden under your hair.

Your hair! Your hair was the first thing everyone commented on when you were born, and when I take you out to the grocery store, little old ladies will stop to look at you and comment on it. It is lightening and thinning just a little. I still think you'll keep most of it and that it will stay brown.
Your eyes are so beautiful, Hunny. I think the color of them looks dark and metalic, sometimes more gray, sometimes more blue, sometimes more green. Your sweet smiles light up your face. You started smiling pretty early--about 4 weeks. I think you're pretty social. You are also very chatty. You like to coo at Mommy and Daddy and focus right on our faces.

Mommy calls you lots of sweet names, but the one I never used until you were born is "Little Love." Daddy loves you so much and is thrilled to have you as one of his girls.

I love you, I love you, I love you,
Mommy