all done

Bella was 9 months old today! She's growing up fast and is so much fun to be around. She gets from point A to point B with ease by crawling either lizard-style or up on her knees, depending on the floor and its slipperyness. She's a great sleeper and eater! We hear that kids are either one or the other so we're blessed to have both! She goes to bed, after "brushing" her four, tiny, crooked teeth around 7 pm. She wakes up at 5:30 am for some water (sometimes) and then for good around 6:30 am to play in bed with us. She tries any food we give her. We're really trying to get away from all the store bought baby food, not that she doesn't like it, but because it's getting pricey and she can tolerate much more chunky food now. We have a small food processor so we put in our leftovers and voila! she has her own dinner. For instance, tonight she had steak, green beans and tortelinni with a bit of fruit for dessert. Matt likes to mix her food, but I think she likes her food separately, just like her mom. I hate it when my food touches, unless it's supposed to be touching (as in burrito in a bowl, eggplant parm or a veggie sandwich).

This morning, I saddly declared that it was Bella's last breastfeeding day. For the last couple of months she nursed mornings and nights. Nights slowly disappeared for one reason or another. Either I was out or Bella was too tired or she just refused. Each time she went to bed without it and slept through the night so it seemed okay. Very recently, morning nursing has turned into a game. Bella loves to stick her tongue out and blow raspberries at you. It's a reciprocal game that her dad taught her...and happens to be really cute, at this age. Now when you're close by, she loves to lean on you and blow raspberries - she's really good at it too! She leans to your arm, blows, "pppaffth" then looks at you and giggles. Well, as you can imagine, she thinks it's fun to do this while nursing. Slowly morning nursing has become a raspberry blowing, giggling and wiggling event. She really is just interested in playing with us! ...so that's what it's going to be from now on!

I really wanted to try to nurse her for her first year, but I think she has given us enough signs to say that she's okay without it. I'm sure if I was more determined I could do it by pumping at work again (she gets 3 four ounce bottles of formula at daycare) and insisting that mornings and evenings were successful, but I'm just not up for it. I think in the scheme of things that it won't matter and that 9 months (vs. 1 year) is close enough. All Done!