Dear Charlotte,
You are nine months old. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!
All things considered, nine months is not a very long time. I mean, heck, there are brine shrimp older than you, kiddo. BRINE SHRIMP. And you know what? I absolutely refuse to get all weepy about you growing up until you have outlived every sea monkey that was alive on the day of your birth.
Your father and I have especially enjoyed the last few months with you. It feels like somebody flipped a switch in your brain when you hit six months. Every day, you learn something new.
You give kisses on command, you can pick the letters C and M (for Charlotte and Momma) out of a line-up, you wave hello and good-bye to your grandparents. You kneel and stand and cruise along furniture. You crawl and army-crawl and scoot on your bottom. You recognize the rhythms of your favorite books.
At nine months, you are starting to communicate with us as well. You sign for milk, hunger, sleep, Hank, and diaper changes. You are also starting to mimic the countdown your father signs when you want someone to play with you. Watching you slowly, carefully move your fingers into JUST the right sign is incredible. Who knew that you would be commanding me to whip out my boob at such a young age?
A few weeks ago, your father and I discovered that one of your favorite activities of all time was knocking things down. We promptly began to build towers of all sorts for you all around the house. Before you wake up in the morning, I sneak out of bed and build four or five towers – out of wood blocks or board books or plastic figurines or kitchen utensils – for you to knock down.
Then you crawl around acting like Godzilla and generally having a great time.
Over the last week or two, though, this has suddenly changed. You still love knocking things down and you will still crawl across forty feet in the blink of an eye because one of us DARED to place a lion toy on top of a giraffe toy on top of an elephant toy…but lately you have been trying to remove parts of the tower without making the entire thing collapse.
Honestly, Charlotte, you’re still quite awful at it, but I am thoroughly enjoying watching you persevere.
To see you now, I have a hard time believing that you are the same baby I so rapidly thrust into the world nine months ago. You are so active, so playful, so LIVELY, and it’s hard to understand how that helpless little newborn I so adored could have possibly grown so much in so little time. Last week, I realized that soon you will have been growing outside of me for longer than you grew within my womb.
On that note, you know what? I take that bit about the sea monkeys back. I’m getting weepy already.
Happy nine months, sweet girl. I look forward to seeing where the next nine take us!
We love you more than bears love honey,
Momma and Daddy
(19) -
Isn’t it amazing how fast they grow? I admit, I actually cried real tears when mine turned one a couple of weeks ago. Such an awesome journey we’re all on…
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Krista - I’ve been signing with Charlotte since birth, but I wasn’t really consistent about it until 5 or 6 months. I certainly don’t think it’s ever too late - if I show her a new sign today and just keep doing it over and over, she can figure out what it means and might even try to sign it back. So if you wanted to, why not start now?
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Geez, I’m feeling a bit bad. My little (er, chunky) baby Caleb was born 2 days after Charlotte and is far too lazy to do all of the tricky things she is doing now. We need to start baby boot camp and whip this boy into shape.
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Amy - Can I take a minute and just say that I love love love Caleb’s name?! Caleb was on our if-the-baby-is-a-boy short list =)
That said, whatever Caleb’s doing (and I’m sure he’s doing things Charlotte isn’t, they all seem to go at their own pace, don’t they?), I know he’s just perfect as he is =)
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That is beautiful! She is one smart baby! My son will be nine months in a couple of weeks and he doesn’t know that many signs. I sign to him all the time but he only knows Mommy. He just laughs whenever I do any of the other signs to him. But he is cruising all over the place. I think boys are generally slower cognitively than girls. I enjoyed reading your beautiful letter. Thanks for stopping by Healthy Moms!
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Amy - don’t feel bad - my Eloise is 2 days younger and isn’t nearly as physically adventurous as Charlotte - each at their own pace!
Sarah - what fun that Charlotte is signing so well! - I need to pick it back up - I got milk out of Eloise but she would do it in relation to any food.
I can’t believe they are 9 months already.
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Fantastic photo! I think it captures the joy in your letter perfectly.
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I have just recently started to introduce a sign here or there to my little Finnley. Waving, being one. She uses her whole arm and slaps it up and down..sort of in a waving motion. Sort of. Mostly I made up a sign for “all done”, as in “Finnley is all done eating”. She smiles every time I do it. Hey, if all I get is a smile out of it…so be it!
We just entered real crawling vs. all our army crawling..and Finn is mastering pulling herself into a stand. That move alone causes me to not be able to leave her side for a second!!!! Let the games begin! I look forward to hitting the 9 month mark with her in about a week!
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Sarah - thanks! Gotta love those Old Testament Bible names. I remember you posting that you or Donald is Jewish and the other Christian so the OT names are perfect. :) Caleb will be just fine I’m sure. My older one was a little slow to crawl and walk but now at 2 1/2, he is tearing up the town and so difficult to contain so I’ll enjoy the time of immobility while it lasts.
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What a beautiful, funny, and perfectly detailed letter.
Do you have a favorite signing book that you recommend??
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Oh yes! Please do tell me about your signing adventures. My Bitzy is 5 months and I would love to begin signs with her.
I’m so thrilled to read about how much you adore your Charlotte. She’s a beauty!
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I love this pic of you two!
I voted for you -
Almost to page 1 on Top Baby Blogs!!!
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Hi, Just found your blog and I LOVE it. :)
Joanna -
Beautiful. The 9 month mark is so special, the whole out as long as in… What a lucky girl Charlotte is!
Just voted and you’re number 25 - woohoo page 1!
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Sarah, I found your blog a couple of days ago and have slowly been reading through your archives. I’m getting married in 3 months but we’ve decided to get a bit of a head start on baby making and are trying for our first. It was so cool to read all through your pregnancy and post-partum period, and I know that when I get pregnant I’ll be using your blog as a resource! You are such an awesome writer.
And I voted!
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There are lots of age markers that take your breath away, aren’t there? 9 months is definitely a biggie…
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Happy Nine Months!! I can’t believe how big she’s gotten. I stopped reading (not just your blog… all blogs) in January because of tax season and just started again. I didn’t recognize her!! So sweet!!
By Krista on April 21, 2010
Your letters always make me look in amazement at my little one who is two months younger than yours. It’s crazy to think abou how much is likely to change between 6.5 and 9 months.
When did you start signing with her? We’ve been thinking about that but haven’t started yet. Too late?