9 Month Stats

Ruthie Mackenzie had her 9 Month Appointment with her new Pediatricians at Centre Medical & Surgical. With my pediatrician as a matter-of-fact. :)

16 lbs 13 oz (5% in weight)
28 inches (65% in height)

The appointment went well. They were a little concerned about her weight loss so we have scheduled a 10 month appointment to follow-up and make sure she starts to gain some weight. I've also started to supplement :( some formula after feedings and Ruthie (with a little help of prune juice) has taken to it well. We use the Gentle Ease formula to help with her tummy. I have a feeling she can't handle dairy like her mommy. (Poor girl!)

Other than her weight loss-- she is doing very well and extremely healthy. We are going to schedule her an appointment with one of the pediatricians in the practice who specializes in hematology and have Ruthie tested for Von Willebrands in the next month or so. We just want to make sure that if she does have it-- we can be on top of it.

Ruthie is continuing to blossom day by day. Did I tell you I LOVE 9 MONTHS!! It is amazing to watch her learn new things every day. I am convinced she will be walking soon. She walks around furniture and really anything she can lean on. She still won't say dada but will say "rarara" when she see's Jon. :) - too cute! She is also saying "uh oh" :) -- adorable!!!

Ruthie-- mommy and daddy love you!

9 Great Things About Being 9 Months!!!

9 Great Things
about being 9 Months

9. Your personality has blossomed
8. You started crawling
7. You pull yourself up and walk around furniture
6. You can entertain yourself and others for hours
5. You LOVE to eat and eat, eat, eat!
4. You can dance
3. You talk and sing all the time
2. You wave hi and bye bye
1. You believe each song written has your name in it somewhere :)

Ruthie Mackenzie Stube-- I love you! As I said, your personality has blossomed so much in this last month. You are such a happy child and you love to sing and dance all the time. This morning, I was nursing you and I began to hum; all of a sudden you started wiggling to my tune as your ate your morning breakfast. :) I have enjoyed each stage of your life, but this one, by far, is my most favorite!!

Crawling: On August 30th 2008 the whole Marshall side of your family: Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Pinky, Uncle Epic, Uncle Evan, Aunt Natalie, Tia, Uncle Bag, and mommy (everyone but daddy :( ) were sitting down stairs visiting when you woke up from your long 2 1/2 hour nap. I fed you and then put you down on the floor to show off your new dancing trick. To my surprise (along with everyone elses) you got on all fours and crawled the length of the room. I placed you back where you started and you did it all over again!! My jaw dropped as I stared in amazement... my daughter just crawled and crawled in front of everyone to see!

Everyone who is around you comments that you probably won't really master your crawling technique because you LOVE to be on your feet and moving around. I almost believe them, but even in these last few days you've really got this crawling thing down and can move quickly from one side of the room to the other! The other day, Grandpa got home and peeked in your room. You did a complete 360 and crawled 6 feet over to him and pulled yourself up to have him pick you up! Lately, all we do together is you pull yourself up to the standing position on the couch, chair, and/or coffee table and I spot you as your walk around it. Mommy is exhausted of this new trick, but you love it. Every once in a while you'll let go and see how long you can hold yourself up! Mommy is not ready for a walker!!

As I've said, you can entertain yourself and others for hours. Everything fascinates you! Especially when we are outside and you can watch the wind tickle the trees or the grass under your toes! You entertain us best when you are eating. I didn't know a mouth could open so wide! And man, do you love to shove the food in as fast as you can. The only foods that slow you down are green beans and peaches. Green beans, by far, are your least favorite food.

We are a musical family! We love to sing and dance with you Ruthie, and you've picked up on some of the motions. You wiggle and rock when we sing to you. And you love your voice. Lala, and mama are your two vocal sounds! Daddy wants you so badly to say "dada". We love to watch you smile as you hear a fun song come on the radio or when daddy starts singing one of your favorite classics: You are my Ru shine, Snuggle Ruthie, Ruthie Ru, etc...

Just recently, you've started saying bye bye and hi (by waving) to everyone. Just this morning you started wiggling your fingers as your waved. Oh-- I just love how you learn something new every day! Sometimes, if you are tired, you get shy, and mommy has to help you get started... but once you get started, you wave wave wave! Looking forward to seeing how much you change by month 10!

And now a letter:

Dear Ruthie,

Thank you for your love for life. I can't get over how much happiness you bring to your mommy and daddy and everyone else who meets you. Your smile lights up a room. When you dance, you dance without a care in the world. Mommy and daddy are so proud to say we are your parents. You have really recently taken a step into more independence. You have learned that crawling gets you places and you love to explore. You also love to pick up object and of course, taste everything! You are such a blessing little girl. Know that your mommy and daddy love you so so very much and are so proud of you!
You have recently learned the word "no". You are not a fan of this two letter word, but when I say it- you listen. Sometime with a tear, but if I say it, you listen. It's so fascinating. You don't quite understand why I am saying it, but someday you will learn I was saying it because I love you and was trying to keep you from danger.

You are such a joy Ruthie. We love you!! I can't wait to see how much you've changed in the next month because each day you learn so much. Keep continuing to just find life fascinating. Keep smiling! Mommy and Daddy love you pumpkin!

Love, Mommy & Daddy