Vivian 9 Months + 2 Weeks

Vivian has officially been out in the world longer than she was in my belly. What a though that is. She is growing up so quickly and learning so much and I am one proud mamma (and a little sad to see my baby grow up).

**PLAYING & LEARNING
**Vivian is now able to put things in a container and take them out again. She also enjoys toys with moving parts (things like, knobs, buttons, switches, doors). If I happen to take a toy away from her and she wasn’t finished yet she will voice her displeasure. Usually a loud angry scream. She really seems to enjoy my sunglasses these days.

**VACATION
**We went to visit my cousin in California. (hence why the blog is late once again.) I was really worried about traveling with Vivian. My main concerns were feeding her and keeping her entertained during the 4 hour flight out there. Also, there were many hours worrying about going through security, the time change, how she would sleep, changing her diaper on the plane… and the list goes on.
We flew Southwest and they were amazing. Unfortunately both of our flights were FULL so there wasn’t really any room to spread out. Other than that she did AWESOME. We were on the 10:30AM flight out there and she slept the first hour and forty-five minutes. When she woke up she ate, and played and spent a lot of time looking out the window and playing with the seat tray. The trip back was a bit more work. *Someone *(me) booked a 6:00AM (pacific time) flight back… Ugh. She was cranky for a bit of the flight but we made it through without any major meltdowns.
We had so much fun while we were out there. We went to Santa Cruz and played in to ocean and walked on the boardwalk, and we spent the majority of time in the San Francisco area! So much FUN!!!!

I am no longer afraid of traveling with Vivi!!! Next Vacation??? Maybe Disney next year!!!!!!!!!!!!

MILESTONES
Her babble is slowly (I think) becoming words…

V definitely knows who Ben and I are. Ben is Dadada and so am I. Sometimes when she is upset and I am not near I hear MAMAMAMA??? From the kitchen, but if she is looking at me I am Dadada. She says Giggy/Geeee (kitty) when she sees Java and Snickers. She also is forming sentences with her babble. And some of them end in a question.

She is also able to change pitch when she is squealing. It just keeps getting higher in pitch; Ruby’s ears are getting a workout for sure.

These days Vivian is also able to exaggerate her moods. And this usually happens when she is upset. She goes from “I’m kind of sad” to “OMG WHY ARENT YOU HOLDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHHHHHHHHHH” And this normally happens at bedtime.

So many cute baby snuggles! I get hugs now and if I ask I get a kiss (if she is in the mood)

We have a mammas girl on our hands. These days it seems like she wants me and only me. Ben will do if I am not around. And I hate to say this but I am mentally and physically exhausted by this.

She scoots.

No crawling or walking yet.

She has 2 TEETH!

**FOOD
**Still doing purees. We are slowly introducing new foods. She loves Puffs, Yogurt Bites, Baby Cheetos (that’s what I call them…), French Fries (with lots of potato filling), Strawberries and Chocolate Custard (and some others that I’m not remembering). We will be starting to introduce some meat into her diet soon!

**DAYCARE
**Vivi moved up to Infant II this morning. She is in the same room as before but on the other side. Her teachers now are Miss. Debbie, Miss. Linda, and Miss. Kaylee (I think that’s how you spell it). I’m excited and sad at the same time. She is getting too big.

THE WONDER WEEKS
So after I went back to work a friend introduced me to the Wonder Weeks App. The basis of the app is to help you understand when your baby is going through a “developmental leap.”  There are a total of 10 leaps that babies go through.
Right now she has finished the Categories Leap. She is investigates the world around her and categorize things. Now that  the leap is over some skills she might have gained are:

• Showing that she knows some words
• Makes it clear that she finds something dirty (maybe by sniffing)
• Imitates adults
• Recognizes herself in a mirror
• Can exaggerate her moods
• Play peek-a-boo by herself
• Challenges others to play a game
• Calls for a song, for example, by clapping her hands.
• Begins to practice crawling