Emerson Marie - 9 Months

The day Emerson turned nine months the countdown app in my phone alerted me...three months till she turns one! I paused and stared at it for a minute. I have been counting up so excited for each milestone that she hit that I didn't take a moment to realize that meant she was getting closer to one, to not being a baby. Where has time gone!?!?

At eight months Emerson was a sitter, but she took some good tumbles reaching or trying to look back. Now at nine months she is sitting and reaching to a rocking position on all fours. She reaches again, gets to her tummy and tries to inch forward. She most always opts out of trying to army crawl and instead resorts to rolling each and every way to try and get where she wants. She definitely is never in the same spot as you left her any more.  I don't think it will be long before she is crawling because she is certainly very frustrated with being still. I also think she will be way happier once she can figure out how to go from laying to sitting. I don't think her brother is ready for her to do either of these though!!

She is a curious, active little one who is not taking to naps very well. She loves to laugh at her brother and play with all his Legos. The most mad I have seen her is when I take away a Lego from her that is too small or has separate pieces that she was so proud for just grabbing. I don't recall Jackson screaming with such anger so early when I took things away that he couldn't have. 

Emerson has loosened her strong desire to be held by Mommy all the time. Still, almost every morning that my parents come to watch her and J she smiles at them but when my mom or dad reach out to her while in my arms she reaches quick to grab me. After burying her head in my shoulder for a moment she looks up at them and smiles big. 

One look I never want to forget, and always hope to keep from her, is this complete look of awe that she has for me when I first come home or just finish getting ready for the day and pick her up. Propped up on my left hip she leans back so she can get a better angle to see me. Her eyes filled with wonder and joy, she doesn't release contact till I turn and talk to her. She sometimes grabs at my hair, always has a small smile. 

We love you Emmer!