The Seviers: Happy Valentine's Day to our 9 month old!

Well, we finally got our computer back from the shop! It's amazing how much I depend on it! I'd come in the office 10 times a day to get on before realizing it wasn't here. Now that I've had time to return a million emails, it's time to post an update about Ellie.

She turned 9 months old on Valentine's Day. She is getting more and more fun everyday! I'm a little partial, I know, but she is so freakin' smart! She's also adorable, precious, cute, silly, funny, beautiful, and FUN! She loves to play with her toys of course, but she also loves to play with us. She likes for us to crawl down the hall and wait around the corner for her to catch up. Then we crawl around the next corner and the fun continues! She also loves to play peek-a-boo and will do it with a blanket or even her own shirt. She also likes to stand in the office window and hide behind the curtains. Then she'll push the curtains aside and crack up when I say "peek-a-boo!"

She also loves to roll and throw balls. She loves to put objects in baskets or other toys. When she takes them back out she always hands them to us. She loves to share! She still loves her teapot that plays music. Now we pretend to pour tea and she'll pretend to drink it and say "num." She really loves to be outside. We're going to get her a swing set as her birthday present, but plan on getting it as soon as it gets nice outside. Right now, we go out and sit in the hammock and swing. She loves that.

Here are some other facts about Elliott at 9 months:

-She weighs 19 lbs. 6 oz. (75th %). She is 27.25 inches long (50th %). Her head circumference is 18 inches (90th %). She must have a lot of brains in there!

-She still wears some 9 months, but I'm mostly buying her 12 month clothes now. They fit well, but sometimes the pants are a little long (which makes since according to her height vs. weight). She still wears size 3 diapers.

-She cut her two bottom middle teeth within two weeks of each other.

-She rubs her pointer finger and thumb together when she's nervous or anxious.

-She's getting good at feeding herself with a spoon (one that's already loaded with food, that is). She always gives herself the last few bites of the meal. However, if she's still hungry she'll cry and refuse the spoon because she knows that means the meal's almost over!

-She shakes her head back and forth to say no. She does it when she doesn't want something, but mostly she does it when she knows she's not supposed to be doing something (like getting into the dogs' water bowl or putting something in her mouth). If we catch her doing something she's not supposed to, she'll shake her head "no" and hand us whatever she has in her hand.

-She gives fives and waves hi and bye.

-She holds toys to her ear and pretends to talk on the phone.

-She recognizes the words oatmeal, snack, and milk. When we say these words she gets excited and starts saying "num, num."

-She's really into imitating us. She'll use her washcloth to give me a bath by rubbing on my arm or face. She also blows out air when I blow on her oatmeal or blow her a kiss.

-She tried lots of new foods this month: scrambled eggs, blueberries, squash, diced cooked apples, diced carrots, chicken and turkey, and pretty much anything else we eat. She loves it all! She's a great eater. We've also switched her afternoon formula from a bottle to a sippy and she likes that!

Here are some pictures of our big girl!

With her Ellie-phant