scarlett: 9 months old

This last month, specifically the last week, has been a game changer. Scarlett is crawling and curious! This stage can be so fun, but I forgot how much work it is. The other day at the library, Scarlett was so interested in a babe in his car seat. She crawled to him a million times, and I crawled to pick her up and sat further and further back each time. Lots of exercise at this stage, glad I'm ready for it!

The girls are part of the Help Me Grow program. It's free: you take surveys often on your child(ren)'s development and they offer suggestions to challenge them and flag you when it's appropriate. I got a phone call alerting me about Scarlett's tippy toes. When she stands and supports her own weight, she only stands on her tippy toes and never flat on her feet. Something I wouldn't have realized to be problematic until she attempted to walk and balance. My sister-in-law recommended an evaluation through Jordan District's early intervention. The therapist arrived and tested Scarlett different developmental areas- gross motor, fine motor, cognitive, problem solving, and maybe some others? When he flexed her feet, Scarlett resisted and cried, and he warned me against the tightness in her ankles and shortening of muscles affecting her ability to walk. I was instructed to stretch her ankles with every diaper change and balance her in a corner so she can stand with flat feet several times a day.

Scarlett is also a little behind in fine motor, and the therapist suggested letting her pick up more slippery foods to chase, or placing her food in an egg carton so it requires her to utilize just her thumb and index finger. While these suggestions are helpful and enlightening, they brought on so much mommy guilt. How do you give as much to your second child as you did your first? Scarlett's problem-solving skills are through the roof and keeps me entertained. I started placing her cheerios in a tiny container, but instead of strengthening her fine motor skills, she alternated dumping them out and pouring them straight into her mouth. My stubborn babe. :)

Scarlett had Hand, Foot and Mouth and cut two teeth in the same week. It was hard for all of us, but I can't imagine the pain she felt. I nursed her every two hours during the night for a solid week, her naps were sparse and I rocked her often. We snuggled lots, and she got better.

She started sleeping through the night last week. Read: no feedings whatsoever until she wakes up at 7. I believe she has done this ONCE in her entire life, so I was in shock. I'm not a huge fan of the "cry-it-out" method, so I'm grateful Scarlett mastered this "skill?" She still naps about 2 times a day, and is definitely ready for bed by 7:30. She nurses maybe 6 times a day? Morning and night, after meals and before naps. (Amelia has been so good about these special times, because she knows Mommy + Millie time comes next.)

In size 3 diapers, fits in 9-12 month clothing, hair is coming in light, crawls for anything and is pulling herself up like crazy, spits out food and throws it on the ground when she doesn't want to eat it, has a big opinion when big sis doesn't want to share. Am I forgetting anything else?

My two cheezers.
They have the same laugh and the same determined/stubborn streak in them. I love their sisterhood and their independence. They tease each other and share with each other and laugh with each other and it is wonderful. I love hearing them giggle in the backseat when we drive together, I love watching them talk to each other at breakfast time, I love watching Scarlett crawl after Amelia. They are the cutest best friends!