nine months young

Time is flying by! My baby is already 9 months old! I don't even want to think about when she turns 1... boo... hoo... She is definitely our little buddy around here with such a personality! She's a bit of a menace and gets into EVERYTHING over and over and over and over again.

She...

*has TWO teeth - FINALLY

*waves hi and goodbye (without having to help her do it) as of a few days ago

*can walk while you hold just one of her hands (but super slow)

*tries to climb up onto anything - coffee table... couch... love sack

*pulls out our dvds and decorates our floor with them, sits, and stomps on them

*can stand without holding onto anything for a long time until she gets tired or feels unsure then she squats down to the floor

*does "bonka" where she gently (surprisingly gentle) bumps her forehead to yours when you say that word

*break dances... well she bobs her head and bum to music... but maybe one day...

*loves being tossed onto the love sack and to play pretty rough - but don't toss her into the air more than once or twice or she holds her breath, her eyes pop out, and she whines

*holds onto one ear when she drinks a bottle and flicks her own ears when she notices them

*loves any food that comes off of our plate, still lovin the really thick baby food (hates when it's runny or thin), has to be forced to drink enough milk in one day

*has been to: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana (Minnesota next weekend, Florida next month)

*is the most delightfully happy baby that we are quite obsessed with

the beehive state

Charlotte and I went to Utah a few weeks ago to visit Ben's family. It was nice to watch her surrounded by so much family that doesn't get to see her very often. She was a peach on the plane rides and met a few new friends that she insisted on hanging out with on their laps and not her Mama's - which was tooootally okay with me!

I stared at those mountains all week long... soaking them in.

Being cuddly and enjoying a book with Auntie Jenna.

Charlotte is pretty friendly. She always wants to be held by strangers and if they don't pay attention to her she'll hit them/stare/pull on their shirt until they do (like on the 'L' train (ew...)). This was the owner of a Thai restaurant we visited. After she was being held... she wasn't so sure she made the best decision... =) Doesn't she look a little worried?

Jumping on the trampoline.

Playing peek-a-boo and hiding in the pillows.

Pooped after a long morning of playing.

We were able to catch up with Alan and Jenny (friends/family) and meet their Maggie. Charlotte had just pinched her so she's a little upset, but is otherwise she's the most chill and contented baby.

Watching cartoons on Grandad's computer.

Okay... so I had our camera on a weird setting and couldn't figure out how to fix it... so these 'action' shots are the best I got with her and her Auntie Caitlin.

Taking naps in the cutest positions.

At the zoo with the whole family.

Sorry, I'm not one of those people that likes taking pictures of animals at a zoo. I may be one of few but really how many elephant pictures can you accumulate right? So I take pictures of people admiring the animals... =)

And the below video is of her adorable giggle while playing with Jack, their dog.

*Thank you, fam, for the visit! It was nice to have you put your lives on hold for a bit to hang out with us! Charlotte loved playing with all of you.

zoo time

I am playing major catch up with my posts. This was several weeks ago. Our neighbors have a zoo pass so Charlotte and I have gone a few times this summer with them. Of course one day we chose to go happened to be the hottest day on record. They (Theron and Charlotte... well us moms too...) were d-y-i-n-g from the heat, but they still had so much fun. After sharing some $7 water, ice cream, and popsicles we were all feeling much better.

These two are the cutest little friends. They light up when they see each other. Then steal each other's toys and tackle one another.

Yep, she's darling.

All tuckered out from the heat and fun.

last of washington shtuff

Here are the last few things I did in Washington before I headed back home last month.

We headed down to Portland for their Saturday Market which took four hours to walk through. It was awesome. As were these animal hats Charlotte tried on.

My favorite was the dinosaur.

We went to the zoo. She was ticked when Laura put her directly in the path of this water.

Emma is at the perfect age where she can carry/play with Charlotte really well and doesn't get tired of it... =)

Lotte looooved watching the fish and sharks swim by. This was definitely the first zoo visit where she paid attention to the animals.

Hanging out with her pal, Grandma. (sorry below picture is blurry)

Swung at parks.

Wore her first pair of sneakers.

My dream house in Port Townsend.

Went kayaking on the Sound... yeah , I'm dang hot... I know.

Went to La Push where the beach was b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l.

And of course dropped by Forks.

Hallie and my dad.

Just hanging out in Port Townsend.

Yeah, she's a bright one, eh?! =) Just kidding, she's secretly a genius...

My mom taught Charlotte how to clap on her own... they were practicing here.

THIS (below) was our backyard of our condo. Gorgeous right?! Here the tide is out. Late one night, Laura and I jumped off the end of that dock when the tide was in and it was deep... and freezing... and creepy... and dark... and we loved it. The next day she saw a huge humpback whale 20 yards off the dock... we didn't step foot in that water again.

We all had a great time in Washington. The temperature was always a perfect mid-70's... it was heaven.