Dear Emma

Today you are almost nine months old. You have two bottom teeth. You just started working on your consonant sounds. I love to hear you babble. Lately you've been working on your yoga moves, doing "Downward Facing Dog" quite a bit.  You are on the move. You crawl like a soldier, pulling with your elbows and pushing with your feet, but you usually only get moving when you see something of particular interest, like a toy you haven't seen in a while, Daddy's open laptop, the t.v. remote, or one of our dogs, Fabian or Daisy. Otherwise, you're quite happy where you are, on your back playing with your feet or one of your toys. You don't get into much trouble at all. You usually don't go after all of the dangerous wires and cords that Ethan is such a fan of. I love watching you sit up and dig through your toy box.
You are the happiest baby I've ever met. When you first learned to smile, it was over for me. You melt my heart. You smile so brightly anytime someone smiles at you. Every morning when I come to get you out of your crib, you turn over and give me that million dollar smile. All I have to do is get the camera out and you know it's time to work it! Even if you're crying, I can get the camera out and you start laughing and smiling. You know you're on. :) I love it!
You like sleeping on your belly. Sometimes you curl your knees under your body. When we first brought you home, you slept on your back, but when you learned to turn over, you slept no other way, side or belly, just like your momma.
You hardly ever get fussy. When you were about two or three months old, you had "fussy hours" where you would cry inconsolably for several hours. I would hold you and sing to you until you finally felt better. I walked you around the house, patted your back and tried to exude calmness. We did this every evening  for a while, from about 6:00-8:00 (See your 1st Christmas photo). You look so cute even when you are crying. You can really get loud and shrill. Your top lip comes to a point and your little bottom lip quivers. It's so cute.
You are a fantastic eater! You hardly ever make a yucky face when you try new foods. You are inspiring me to eat better too. You make me want to be healthy and strong so I can live long enough to watch you grow into a little girl, a young lady, and a woman. I wonder what you'll do and who you'll be.
You love to take naps with your daddy and your daddy loves taking naps with you.
We call you by your first and middle name most of the time, Emma Lynn. Some of your nick names are Em-Lynn, Emma Lynny-Lou, or just Lynny.
I like to sing to you. To the tune of Skip to my Lou, "Lou-Lou, Emma Lynny Lou, Lou-Lou, Emma Lynny Lou, Lou-Lou, Emma Lynny Lou, Emma Lynny Lou my darlin'!"
I rock you to sleep every night. Sometimes you cry just a little before you fall asleep or you talk quietly to yourself, practicing your English. I think you might be an expressive and highly verbal communicator someday. Keep practicing. :)
Love,
Mommy