Little Clara at 9ish months

Oh, we sure love this spunky little one! I have this fear that I will forget her entire babyhood, simply because it's been so easy. Here are some reminders:

18 lbs 3 oz., 28 inches at the doctor's 2 weeks ago for her first ear infection. She's tall and thin.  I wonder where she gets that from?  She also has my same exact toes. Every little curve and nail. 

She's a perfect little balance of her 2 siblings. She's active, busy, aware, and so curious like Madeline, but sweet and cuddly and funny like Benson. 

I celebrated her 9 month birthday by going for a run for the first time since the beginning of my pregnancy. I made it like 2 blocks. I also read her a book for possibly the first time. Two things I'm totally ashamed about. 

She hasn't eaten baby food in over 2 months. She completely refuses it. She didn't eat solid food for like a week, until I finally figured out she just wanted to eat some dang chicken like the rest of us!  I suppose table food is the end goal, but it does complicate the eating of things like applesauce and yogurt. 

And this is what dinner looks like.

She just started pulling herself up to a stand last week. What drove her to try this? The toilet bowl, of course!

She's the only child of mine to talk with meaning before a year. She says "dada" and knows it means her dad. When he claps, she'll clap too and say his name.  She looks for him first thing every morning, "dada? Dada?". And, boy is he eating her up. 

She's busy, busy, busy. She crawls all over the house getting into various things all day long. She can entertain herself pretty well and doesn't follow me around the house whining very often. But, she'll still let me rock her and sing to her while she snuggles into me.

She pinches for comfort. Probably her greatest flaw to date.

She sleeps at night about like she did as a newborn, which was really awesome for a newborn, but not so awesome for a 9 month old.

She's the best car rider ever!!! She doesn't make a peep during all of our errands, and travels really, really well to Logan.

Her hair is wild and crazy. I'm trying to do something with it everyday to keep it out of her eyes and in hopes she'll get used to it so she won't cry about having it combed everyday before kindergarten.  Not that I know anything about that...

She's seriously so fun and sweet. I hope I won't forget.

Antics at grandma's

We've spent some good time at my parents' house this month, with a wedding and all. The kids have loved every second of it.  They've also done some pretty funny things while we were visiting.

One morning I noticed the toilet paper was out in one of the bathrooms.  Later that day I brought a new roll in and noticed this:

Mr. Independent had taken matters into his own hands. Luckily, no one had tried to use it yet!

Benson did really well with his potty training at grandma's, and I think we've finally turned a corner to consistent success!  Madeline said to me while we were running errands with my mom, "Mom, I know you're not going to want to hear this, but I think Benson loves grandma more because he goes potty at her house".  Where does she come up with this stuff?