Seven (and a half) months!

Dear Katie Beth,

It's been a busy few weeks...as noted by the delinquency of this letter!

And not just for the calendar either - you have been a'growing and a'changing by the day.

First there was the unassisted sitting.

You just keep getting better and better and now you are sitting up like a champ, and barely need the boppy as backup behind you anymore. It is so neat how your world instantly grew once you gained a little stability...and a whole lotta toys!

"what do I do with all this stuff?!"

Then there was the haircut.
Those wings had to go.

And that mullet!

You did very well for the less than 3-minute ordeal and I wish I'd done it sooner!

We spent a whole week in Nashville for Thanksgiving visiting Grandma and Grandpa,

and smothering these two with your cuteness.

The Little Sisters' Club

And now we're getting excited for your first Christmas!

no...really excited.

yep...

we're pretty pumped!

In other news, we've been taking this solid-foods thing seriously, and you're doing great! Sweet potatoes, potatoes, butternut and acorn squash, avocado, apple, banana, green beans, peas...although I do have to tread lightly with those last two as they seem to trigger a gag reflex pretty easily!

This self-feeder thing has bought me some time while I get your food ready. It's a bear to clean and makes a mess everywhere, but you really suck down some banana from it!

You're trying to set new records in the jumperoo,

and are having so much fun experimenting with all of Ben's new toys. I mean, who even needs Christmas with all these hand-me-downs?!

Oh yeah, we do. Can't wait!

You are starting to jabber a lot - dadadada, babababa, papapa, etc. and you have the most sweetest talking voice in the world, so soft and dainty. Your screaming voice, however, is neither of those, and you definitely know how to use it if I walk away before you're done with my presence.

I mean, break my heart why don't you?

(Camera down, Katie Beth up, pronto.)

Hmm, I thought you were only supposed to have Daddy wrapped around your finger?! And that you do by the way; I wish you could hear how he swoons over you. He loves his little girl, no doubt.

And from sitting to rocking - look at you now! You just started this little game where you sometimes get stuck trying to reach the object of your affection.

On all fours already? Sister, I am not ready for a crawler!

We had an appointment with a GI doctor this week, just to make sure there is nothing more serious going on with your tummy other than reflux. Turns out we're doing everything just right and the magic medicine is...more time. So, armed with burp cloths, bibs and the swiffer mop, we'll continue to fight this spit-up battle for a few more months. As long as you are sleeping and eating ok, I consider us victorious! (So, when the doctor commented you had the biggest thighs of the day, I took it as a compliment for you.)

Some stats: you currently weigh 15 pounds, 15 ounces and are 27 inches long (if I remember correctly...and that's big "if"). You're wearing size 2-3 diapers, 6 month or 6-9 clothes. You sleep from about 7:30 or 8 until 6 or 7 in the morning, needing your paci readjusted at least once most nights. And you are a good napper - usually still a morning, noon and late afternooner...although that midday one is usually in the carseat with the ambient noise of Walmart or the aquarium to lull you to sleep.

Katie Beth, I am so excited about your new developments and all that is to come...and while I certainly don't want you to grow up too fast, I am so humbly thankful that you are growing and thriving and just continuing to light up the room and our hearts with that sweet smile every day.

I love you,

Mommy