Jordan is 9 Months

We are loving life. Jordan is becoming this fun, funny, amazing little person and it is such a pleasure to watch her personality develop. I know I say this a lot - but she is so HAPPY! Her laugh can instantly improve my mood - her giggle makes it seem like you have an inside joke. She is so interactive now - playing games or enjoying songs. She has also started "cuddling" while you hold her. She lays her little head on your shoulder - let me tell you - it melts our hearts.

Our little one has gained even more independence this month. Last month, she could crawl and cruise, but she always kept near and within eyesight of us. Now she loves to explore - but we do catch her looking behind her shoulder to make sure we are close behind.

We had a fun trip this month to go see friends in North Carolina and encountered our first daylight savings time. I read a very good article and it only took one day and we had Jordan back on schedule. All month, she has been sleeping 12 hours with no wake ups (7:30 PM- 7:30 AM). It is heaven.

Climbing Stairs
On one of Jordan's exploring trips inside the house - she found the stairs. She promptly starting climbing them - no practice round needed. Now it's a favorite activity - Mom also likes it because it makes baby J tired!

Letting Go (Standing)
We caught Jordan letting go while she was standing - sometimes up to 15 seconds. It is so hard to get a video or photo, because she never does it when she's trying. It seems to be when she's not paying attention! This was taken on the first day we caught her standing - we are desperately trying to get her to recreate it!

Peekaboo!
So much fun to start having Jordan interact with Peekaboo this month. She even starting moving the towel herself - so cute!

So Big!
We started this fun game this month and it's one of Jordan's favorites. We ask how big is Jordan and she raises up her arms like a touchdown.

Wagon Toy
I picked up this toy at a consignment sale and really hit the jackpot. Jordan uses it so many different ways. (1) She can stand behind it to play or push it around (kindof walking), (2) she can play with the blocks inside the stairs that open or (3) climb the stairs to the top to stand ---but this is probably her favorite.... (4) Beep Beep!

Doggie
Jordan loves her doggie. They love to share toys and play keep away. Additionally - Willie's kennel is Jordan's favorite toy right now. They are quite the pair.

Doors
Open. Close. Repeat. Jordan loves to open doors/cabinets. She doesn't love when her fingers get pinched, so we are trying to baby proof the main culprits.

Crab Crawling
Not sure if this is a technical term or if I just made it up. Jordan moves like lightening now - but one thing that has changed this month is she sometimes brings one leg up (sort of like a lunge). Probably nothing of note, except it looks a little funny. Oh, and she loves to hold a toy while she crawls - currently her favorite is a little dog toy that "barks" every time her hand comes down. So funny!

A few photo highlights from this month:

Chilling on the beach with Mom & Dad

Jordan loves the remote and keys. Of course.

Jordan & Willie are really helpful in the kitchen

Fun on Sullivans Island - with Parker's shovel

Willie! Stay!

Driving to Durham

Fun on the playground

Jordan's favorite snack this month (Besides Puffs, that she is getting so good at eating?) A raw green bean. She loves to gnaw on them.

But she also loves to share with her doggie.

9 Month Check Up

Jordan had a great 9 month well baby check up today. She weighs 16 lbs (10%), 26.5 inches (10-25%) and 45 cm head circumference (75%). That tiny baby has a big melon! Jordan showed off all of her new tricks for the doctor (peekaboo, So Big! and waving). The doctor seemed to think she is going to be an early walker.... hum. We might need more gates.

Future rock climber?

Happy Valentine's Day

We had fun celebrating Jordan's first Valentine's Day. She got flowers and a card from Dad, went to her first Kindermusik class and opened presents. We had so much fun!

Gimme the flowers Dad!

I love my book and swimming lessons, Grandma Ceil!

A red boat for more bath time fun!

You are my valentine

Baby's first Valentine's outfit - having fun at music class

Jordan is 8 Months

Valentines Day, Missouri trip, meeting Uncle Aaron & lots of new stuff for Jordan this month. Our little baby keeps proving that sometimes the best things can be found in little packages. Small but mighty - she continues to amaze us with her inquisitive mind and happy personality.

Our little girl had lots of opportunities to work on her socialization this month - we joined the gym at MUSC and Jordan spends time in the nursery while mom goes to yoga class two days a week. It's been a nice break for me and Jordan has done great in the nursery. The first time I came back to pick her up, she looked at me with a bored look and went right back to playing.

I also did a part-time, short-term, nanny job this month to help out a friend. Jordan spent a few weeks with two fantastic kids and I think it really helped her be more social and get into an even better nap schedule.Jordan & Jake

Here is what is going on with our 8 month old sweetness.

Getting Down- Early in the month, Jordan started getting so much better at getting down from standing. She began to understand that she needed to slowly lower herself (opposed to falling flat on her back) This is a great video to showcase this skill and the next...

Cruising - Jordan started cruising along the fireplace when we were at Grandma Ceil's house at the beginning of this month. She is getting better (and faster) everyday - turning corners and even moving from one piece of furniture to the next. She can also pull up on flat surfaces like walls or moving objects like doors.
Tongue Curl - Our new favorite trick - flipping our tongue over. It is sometimes accompanied by a squeal.

Climbing - Doug's mom told me that Doug was a climber and it seems Jordan inherited his proclivity for climbing. Jordan loves to play on our end tables, which have a shelf about 5 inches up. She has also started climbing into her toy basket - yikes!

Eating - Jordan starting feeding herself this month - starting with large rice cakes (Mum Mums) and working her way to Puffs. She is getting better and picking up the small puffs and somehow shoving them into her mouth.

Mom and Dad? (Talking!!)- Last few months with Jordan have been on the quiet side. Usually when she is doing lots of development - she doesn't "talk" as much. This month, we started to hear lots more sounds. She loves when you mimic what she is saying - thanks to Uncle Aaron. We hear a lot of m sounds (mum, mama) especially when she is upset. I have also heard her say more of dada - when she is happy and sort of singing. Not sure I would classify them as words quite yet, but she is getting close.

Waving- This month we have started to work on our waving. Usually saying goodbye to Daddy when he goes to work or Grandparents on the webcam. Some days are better than others - but it's so cute when she gets it! No good picture yet - but here she is holding hands with Willie. Which is just adorable. Other fun stuff this month:

We had a fun play date with Jordan's two cousins - with the little ones wearing their team's outfit. It was so much fun to see them all together and dressed up.

Sleeping - Jordan is currently sleeping 12 hours per night - sometimes getting up once to eat, but go right back to sleep. Towards the end of this month, she was sleeping straight through with no wake ups.

She loves to play Pat-A- Cake - especially with Dad. Her love of music should help out when she starts Kindermusik class next month.

Jordan took her second plane trip this month - back to Missouri with Mom and Dad. She was such a big girl. Even trying to read the safety card.

Jordan got to see her first big snowfall in Missouri this month - and a chance to wear her snowsuit :)
She is such a happy baby and such a blessing to our family. So much fun! See you next month!