Layla is officially nine months old (as of May 30)!

Weight: 18.8 lbs (55%), Height: 27.5 in. (45%)

Eating: I don’t think it’s a secret that my girl loves to eat. We’re having so much fun introducing new foods to her. Lately she’s been loving yogurt, watermelon, blueberries, and chicken. She’s eating three meals a day along with two snacks of plain cheerios (AND MILK!). I think half of our day is spent eating. 😉 She’s become more discerning lately too and will pick out which foods she prefers if they’re on her tray.

Sleep: No change with nighttime sleep (11.5 – 12 hours). We’ve dropped a nap, so now she’s only taking two (8:30ish, 12:30ish), but she’s sleeping longer, which is really nice!

Clothes: She’s still wearing mostly 6 month onesies, but her outfits and sleepers are 9 months.

Mood: Just as happy as can be (unless she’s hangry or tired!). She loves making me laugh and constantly performs little tricks like silly faces, noises, or claps and waves. She’s such a wiggle monster these days that sneaking snuggles is getting tricky, but she knows how to give kisses and will occasionally come in for a quick hug. Stranger danger seems to have picked up a little again, and since it’s one of the only times she clings and cuddles me, I’m not complaining. Once she gets comfortable in an unfamiliar place, she’s back to her old antics.

Layla’s favorites:

• peek-a-boo pocket ladybug (“Bug”)
• lovey bunny
• books (especially Go, Dog. Go!)
• clapping / waving
• binky
• talking and babbling
• going upside down
• dogs
• being in the water (pool or tubby!)
• stacking ring toy
• alligator xylophone
• being on the move
• other babies (or photos/videos of babies)

Dislikes:

• being hungry or tired
• super loud noises or voices
• being left alone

Nicknames: Punkin, Puntin, Layla Belle, L Belle, Dulcita, Princesa, Boogs, Boog-Boog, Booga

It is truly amazing how much Layla knows and understands. Outside of simple words, she now understands short phrases like “stand up”, “go outside”, “can I have a kiss?” and plenty more. She’s also started saying words. Her first was “that,” and she loves pointing out things that she wants and telling me “that!” She also is saying dog, although is sounds more like “daw-d”. Those g’s must be tricky. 😉 Now if we could only get her to say “mama?”

She’s still not crawling forwards, but does some crab-crawling sideways, pushes herself backwards, and rolls to get around. She’s also pulling herself up, so I’m guessing cruising along furniture is in the near future.

Layla LOVES the water. Most days we head to the pool for about an hour or two to play, and she still gets excited about bath time! We’ve got ourselves a water baby.