GIRLIE is 9 MONTHS OLD TODAY!

And all 8.9 kilos of her is so GROWN UP.  She's a moving, grooving, chatty little person who wants to be on the ground, exploring, and free to do as she pleases.  I suppose this is what makes our two-second, morning snuggles so extra-special.  Once she's AWAKE-AWAKE, it's all OVER!

Playing the coffee table drum!

She's officially a super-crawler and can get over anything that gets in her way.  We used to be able to build a "Kuwait Wall" in the living room (construction materials:  blankets + pillows) which was semi-effective at keeping her in somewhat of an assigned area.  Well, times are a changin' and this strategy is no longer as effective as it once was ;)  She's a big fan of couch/coffee table cruising and loves to be in a standing position as much as possible.  Sometimes I wonder how her little legs keep up with all of the up-and-down motion that happens throughout the day. 

She has started to wave "bye-bye" which is a real heart breaker in the morning.  Leaving for work is THE WORST.  But coming home is awesome.  She knows the routine: we come home, she crawls over to us as fast as possible, asks to be picked up and then waves goodbye to Kumari.  That part feels nice - like she misses us.

She has also started to do this thing where we practice "relaxing".  I put pillows down and then I lay my head on one of them and say "I'm just relaxing."  Nory smiles, comes over to the pillows, lays her head down and "relaxes" too.  This game has gone on for at least 20 minutes at its peak!  It's super fun.  And it gives me moments where hugging and kissing her are possible.  

The calculator - another favourite :)

Of course, she continues to LOVE remote controls, computer cords, my mobile, etc.  The other day I left her for only a few seconds and I returned to the living room to find her surfing People.com on my laptop.  And my laptop was at the very back of the couch!  Phil uses this evidence as a sure sign she's my daughter.  Can't live without the interweb ;)  

Screaming in the hallway - where it echoes - is another fun past time of hers.  Anytime we take her out, you can bet she's woken up all 13 floors of the apartment building.  Is this an appropriate time to thank her Grandpa for teaching her that trick?  THANKS GRANDPA (from all of the tenants in our building).    

At the hospital waiting for her appointment.  Acting like she OWNS the place ;)

She is such a HAPPY WEE THING - so smiley and "too much happy joking" as Shani and Kumari put it.   She still goes to all kinds of different people - students, neighbours, maids, cashiers, friends, etc.  At her last pediatrician appointment (Saturday night), the doctor was SURE she would cry with the nurses and then with himself, but she just kept smiling and tried to steal the various tools that were brought near her (good luck using that stethoscope, Doc!).  I wonder if/when the stranger anxiety will kick in....

Discovering circles :)

Today we got her two new books from the KG book fair at school.  One of them is Hello Kitty and it teaches different shapes.  The other is called "That's not my polar bear..." and it teaches textures.  Both were a BIG HIT after school today and we read through each one multiple times before the boredom kicked in.  I love reading to her.  This is one of the rare instances when she sits in my lap and somewhat snuggles.  She's also starting to get the hang of turning the pages!  YAHOO!

Every day just gets more and more fun with Nory around.  Tonight Phil and I looked at each other in disbelief at HOW MUCH we love this little girl of ours.  It is truly unexplainable, as I'm sure all you parents know ;)  I can't wait to watch her grow some more this month!

Family picture in the posh part of the mall :)

HAPPY 9 MONTHS, Our Darling.  WE LOVE YOU SO, SO MUCH!

XOXO