March 29, 2008
Tabitha - 9 months
Dear Tabby
9 months old - you've been out in this big wide world for the same amount of time as you were growing inside my tummy!
A quick comment on this photograph - the cardigan you are wearing was crocheted for me by your great-great-grandmother. How amazing is that?
This month you've really started to develop this wonderful little personality. You're cute, smiley, happy, demanding, and very vocal! Your face has changed, you have 4 very visible teeth now with 2 more on the way andyou have this adorable impish grin which is very 'little girl' as opposed to baby. While we are on the subject of teeth - please stop biting me while you eat. It hurts. A lot.
We took you to the Pediatrician yesterday for your 9 month checkup. You weigh in at 18lb and 10oz and you're 27.5 inches long. 50th percentile for both height and weight. Your head - still massive :-)
Of course you have also decided to celebrate becoming 9 months old with another ear infection - this will be the 3rd in the last month or so. We have yet another round of antibiotics for you so we're in for yet another 10 days of upset tummy :-( The DR says that if you get another ear infection he will have to refer you for tubes to be put into your ears. As much as I'm terrified of the thought of you having surgery, I don't want to put you through any more pain and discomfort with these infections. It actually breaks my heart that you've been through so much since birth, it feels like you have never for one day had a respite from something hurting. For the first few months it was your tummy, then RSV, now back to back ear infections and upset tummies as a result..... my poor little brave girl I wish you could know what it is like to be without something causing you pain. I hope that it will not have any long term psychological effects! You're such a game little fighter despite all these obstacles, always ready with a smile and so delightfully cute.
On the subject of upset tummies, the diet thing is definitely working so well. I am pleased to report you have had 2 months of normal poo (antibiotics aside) and no gas. Yay!
On the solids front, you're still not particularly interested. You love "Gerber Puffs" which are these little sweet potato puffed rice things. You will eat these by the gazillion (if allowed) and you go mad when you so much as see the package. You will eat jarred orange vegetables and you'll eat oatmeal cereal mixed with formula....... some days you eat once a day, sometimes twice, depends on your mood. I'm going to establish this 'baby led weaning' thing which is to allow you to feed yourself with chopped up 'real' foods as the purees clearly don't interest you. It's a little challenging with the dairy & soy issues but I will give it a go.
Sleep wise nothing is much changed other than you are sleeping for a far longer stretch if you're in bed snuggled up with us, so we let you :-) It's cute. Except when you lie diagonally and take up all of my space AND your father is snoring at the same time. Those nights are not great!!
You learned to wave this month, you will wave to EVERYONE. It is the cutest thing, you are so happy to have this skill! You also say DADADA a lot and HIYA (while waving). You are very verbal with your brothers and shout to them constantly - big loud shouts with a purpose!
I bought you a bath toy this week which seems to be the best thing since sliced bread. It blows bubbles all around the bath.... and you LOVE it sooooo much. You giggle and try to catch and pop them, so adorable that we've already run out of the bubble mix and had to order new!
The other big news this month is that we finally moved you into your new bedroom - opposite the hall from us. Moved in the loosest sense of the word - you only spend a couple or three hours there before coming in with us -but it's this gorgeous pink palace and you smile every time you go in & want to play with the chandelier and the butterflies.
You are very bored very quickly by toys, you need serious stimulation to keep your interest.... no better than me, Daddy or one of your brothers. Harry can leap around making you laugh for 20 mins at a time whereas a toy will only occupy you for 20 seconds!
Anyway little angel - I must go and feed you and get you ready for bed. I love you my sweet girl, & I really hope your ears feel better soon!
Mummy
xxxx