Seven Hundred Twenty-Nine Day

729 = 9 cubed. Today is 729 Day for Ellie - she's 9 months old today, 9/9. Pretty cool if you ask me. Hard to believe that my little baby is not a little baby anymore...very much a bittersweet feeling. I thought I'd do my quarterly list of things I've learned from her, as I do learn more and more all the time.

1. Being chased up the stairs is the BEST.GAME.EVER. Or being chased around the kitchen. Or around the living room. Just being chased is the coolest. Being "dropped" is also fun, as is being dangled upside down for a few seconds.

2. Talking to inanimate objects is a great way to pass the time. I mean, someone's gotta engage the rattles and rings and stackers and stuffies in conversation, right? Bonus points for screaming or squealing at them before you stuff them into your mouth.

3. Crawling is the coolest...until you learn how to pull yourself to a standing position. And it's best to hold onto the sofa or table and then pound it with your hand until Mommy or Daddy looks at you, then give them your sweetest dimpled grin. Taking a few steps while holding onto these things is fun, but kinda scary too.

4. Dog is baby's best friend. Mostly because he's chaseable and just the right size. And his crate is a great climbing wall. But also because he likes to leave his chew bones laying around the house. They are even cooler than baby toys - especially because Mommy and Daddy don't approve of them as teethers.

5. Eating food is fun. If you don't get your food fast enough, just pound your hand on your highchair tray. Mommy or Daddy will get the hint and shovel another bite in your mouth, or set out more snacks to eat. Shouting between bites is effective too. Oh, and try everything...all food is delicious.

6. That funny looking black thing with a round piece that sticks out and flashes light at you is called a camera. It is important to make a funny face when Mommy or Daddy has it out and flashes the light at you. It makes them laugh and laugh.

7. Snuggling is optional at this point. Sometimes you just need alone time - well, alone with your lovies and your aquarium in your crib. Naps are good, because playing hard all day is downright exhausting. But it is good to snuggle with Mommy or Daddy sometimes, since they really like it.

8. If you learn something new and show Mommy or Daddy what you can do, they get REALLY excited and will clap and yell for you. Then you clap and yell and they get even more excited. Maybe they need a new hobby? Nah, it's cool to get all that attention. The more attention, the better. In fact, it's good to crawl wherever they are and yell the whole way until you reach the desired parent just to make sure they don't forget about you. They are old, after all.

9. Teething sucks. It really does. But if you get too fussy or upset, Mommy or Daddy will give you the magic purple stuff that tastes nice and sweet. It makes the pain go away pretty fast. Sometimes, they will give you some water that tastes a little funny because it has teething tablets dissolved into it. That stuff is good too, but the purple magic is the best.

10. Finally, don't get sad when Mommy looks at you and her eyes fill up with water. She's not really sad, she just can't believe how fast you are growing. Apparently, growing up into a big girl is very hard on the parents. It's so much fun, though, and every new day is full of excitement and new adventures!