Two Steppin'

You took two unassisted steps today. You are getting to be such a big girl. The only thing is, you will only take a step when you are preoccupied with something else. Then you get kind of freaked out that you are walking without help and you drop to your hands and knees to crawl. I try to call to you so that you'll walk to me, and you do come, but you know that you can crawl there faster.

You went and saw your doc yesterday for your 9 month check up and he said that 9 months is early for a girl to walk. He also informed me that you are still in the 5th percentile for your weight. Over the 50th for your length. I don't know where you are putting all that food, because you eat like a horse. You weighed all of 16 pounds.

You also got a flu shot and you didn't even cry. I was so proud of you. Not that I blame you for crying. But, you just watched the nurse administer it, then you scrunched up your eyes like you were considering letting out a wail and changed your mind. Brave girl. I love you.

Baby Einstein

My little genius. I'm pretty sure every mom thinks their baby is a future genius. Only in this case, it's true.

We stayed with your Grandma Connie last weekend and she showed you "Patty Cake." I don't know if it's Pat-A-Cake or Patty Cake, but you learned it Patty Cake. We were only there for a day and you learned it straight away. So, now when you are eating you love to clap your hands together. And, if anyone says Patty Cake to you, you immediately start doing it. It's so stinkin' cute. I think pretty much everything you do is pretty darn cute (except for that whole not sleeping through the night thing).

Latest & Greatest

Haven, your latest new thing is to bite my chin with your two little teeth. Usually it doesn't hurt, unless Daddy tells you to bite harder and then somehow you seem to understand what that means. After you bite my chin, you give me your finger to chomp on. And, then you laugh and crunch your nose up. I hope you always scrunch your nose up. It's a signature Haven face. You look so ornery when you do that. I love it.

You were so cute today, Haven. I was watching a movie and you had just woken up and wanted to sit on my lap. It so happened that in the movie a woman was giving birth and the baby she'd had started crying. You heard that baby cry and didn't take your eyes off the screen. When they showed the baby you reached out a hand to it like you wanted to touch it. It was so cute. I got a picture of you staring at the movie, but I didn't have my camera on me when you were reaching out. Darn it. Look how intent you are watching that baby.

The Youngest Base Jumper...and Dad's First Gray Hair

Oh, my little Haven. There is a good chance you significantly contributed to my first gray hair tonight. Today was an eventful day, as days go around here. From what your mother says, you refused to let her put you down for a nap today at all, couldn’t decide if you loved or hated the snow (most people are like that I guess), had your first snow ice cream (one of my favorites and apparently one of yours as well), and not ten minutes ago had your first unassisted base jump from your crib. That’s right, despite the fact that your mother and I lowered the crib to the deepest setting you found a way to hold the top rail, wedge your short little legs against the slats, and up and over you went. Mom and I had just finished talking about how you were trying to climb everything including; the couch, your mother, the tv cabinet, and the bath tub and that was just since I got home from work. I was amazed watching you. I am so in love with you and every moment I only fall for you more than the last. This is why I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I went into your room to rock you to sleep after Mom failed on the first go round just in time to see you come over the railing. I still don’t know how you did it but instead of coming head first which could have been catastrophic, you held onto the rail with all your might, came over the rail (enter dad) and swung down until your grip broke and down you came on your little skinny butt and back. I ran to scoop you up cussing the whole while (you will learn that is what daddy does when he is upset or scared in this case). I was almost in tears but in truth you didn’t really even cry all that much. You were scared and had a hard time catching your breath a few moments but your mother quickly had you against her chest and I don’t think you knew the difference. Twenty minutes later now and you are asleep and I am not sure I will for a week. Between your mother and I we have 61 years of life under our belt and 4 college degrees, you are nine months old can’t even speak yet (although you communicate well) and already a step ahead. I have a feeling this is not going to be my first gray hair moment. Love you little monkey. See you tomorrow. Dad.