Happy Birthday, Darling Girl.

Dear Savannah,

Today is your 3rd birthday! 3 years ago, I was standing in my kitchen making lunch, when my water broke and you surprised us all arriving 7 short hours later, and you've been surprising us ever since!

You are one spicy and fiery little thing, and it's what I love most about you! You are so intelligent and observant. You absorb new information like a sponge and the things that you say are funny, imaginative and heartfelt.

It's been a big year for you! You have reached many milestones, the hardest one being potty training, which took us almost a year to get down. But you finally made it! Congrats baby girl! 

You also became a big sister, a roll that you have loved and have become an expert at. You are such a big helper! You like to help me feed, bathe, diaper and snuggle Deagan. Every morning, the first thing you do when you wake up is go climb into his crib and snuggle him for a while. He adores you and loves to play with you all day long. Thank you for being the best big sister ever!

I am most proud of your incredible imagination. You like to tell stories, and you have a wide array of imaginary friends, and even your own language! You see the world in a very different way than anyone else I have ever met, and I think your ability to think critically and creatively will be what makes you successful in all aspects of your life.

You are very friendly and you make friends easily. You are fearless and adventurous and so you have no difficulty in being comfortable in new situations and are never shy. 

I love that I get to spend every day with you! Thank you for being such an amazing little girl.

Happy birthday princess! (or pirate, or ninja, whichever you decide to be today!)

9 Month Update!

I can't believe my handsome boy is already 9 months old! He's officially been out as long as he was in!

We had his check-up earlier this month and he's doing so good! He's right on track with everything, and is ahead of the walking schedule. While we were waiting for the doctor to come in, he was getting fussy and wiggly, so I set him down on the ground and let him crawl around. He doesn't crawl a whole lot, he just likes to crawl to the nearest object and pull himself up to stand, then hangs onto stuff to walk around. At the office, he pulled himself up to the stool, then walked himself around the drawers. As soon as the doctor walked in, he said "How long has he been doing that?" When I asked if he meant pulling himself up to stand, he said "No, I mean walking while hanging onto things. I never see babies his age do that! I usually see that more in 12 month olds who are just about ready to walk." He told me that he was really impressed about 5 different times during the appointment, and he told me he thinks he will most likely be an early walker. At first I thought "nooo, he's too young, the doctor is just making me feel like I have the smartest baby ever." But these last 2 weeks, DJ has been standing on his own, without holding on to anything for a few seconds! Then, we were on the floor in his room playing and he was holding onto the rocking chair, looked at me and let go, then took 2 full steps towards me! I was so proud, and so excited I started screaming and Savannah freaked out because she thought I was hurt. Do I sound like I'm bragging? Because I think I am. Sorry. ;-)

He took a look at both of the kids and diagnosed them with eczema. Poor kiddos inherited my skin. But I've been doing everything I can think of to help it and they both seem to be clearing up. The doctor told me that if it flares up again and gets to be too much to handle, that he would prescribe them something stronger.

I'm loving this 9 month old stage! He's getting so active and fun! The other day I was having a blast "wrestling" with him. He kept head-butting me in the stomach while I was sitting on the floor, and I would fall over and he would laugh and laugh and laugh. Then I would sit up and he'd do it again!

One of my favorite times during the day is after his afternoon nap, and both kids play in Savannah's room. He's so active and curious, and loves to pull everything out. He especially loves playing with the play kitchen because he likes all the drawers and play-food.

He's finally starting to sleep through the night! I think asking the boys downstairs not to get up and play video games loudly at 4 or 5 in the morning has really helped a ton. Every great once in a while, he will wake up and cry for a bit, and I just let him cry it out for 5 minutes. I finally decided that it was worth dealing with the renters downstairs complaints about him crying for 5 minutes than getting up with him and making us both grumpy and tired the next day. Also, remember how they are up in the early hours of the morning playing video games loudly? Yeah I don't feel bad anymore.

I've lost DJ's paper with his stats for this month, but I do remember that he was 19 1/2lbs and around 50% for everything. The doctor was impressed with how much he's chunked up in the last 3 months, and I contribute it to him not spitting up every single meal he had, and he eats solids like a champ!

He's got 5 teeth now. 3 on top all came in within this last month, but all of them are different sizes because they all came through at different times, so when he smiles, he looks like a hillbilly. It's adorable.

He can say "mama" and "dada" now too, and he waves and climbs up stairs.

He is just the sweetest little boy ever! Can I order 3 more of him please?