Adventures of the Roberts Family: 9 months ... If tomorrow never comes

We have made it to 9 months. How are we three quarters of the way to Miss K's first birthday? It seems like each day travels even faster than the previous. Kherington weighs 18 lbs 7 oz and is 28.25 inches long!

I'm always such a happy girl!

The title of this post I came up with earlier this week, although not as fitting now that I'm two days late updating the blog, it had double meaning. One was for the joke that because of the Mayan calendar that the world was supposed to end yesterday. So I was going to update the blog, just in case the world was going to end, there wouldn't be another day to do so. The second was in seriousness in reverence for the Sandy Hook Elementary school mass shooting that took place a week ago in Newtown, CT, killing 20 innocent young souls and 6 adults who were trying to protect those children. I still can not even begin to imagine what those parents went through and will continue to go through. I cannot watch the media coverage, as it makes me sick to try and put myself in those parents shoes. Please dear Lord help all those innocent souls make to to Heaven and also keep our little Kherington safe. As much as I would like to put Kherington in a bubble, I trust that God has a plan. But I will do everything in my power to keep her as protected as possible.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. (Psalm 127:3)

Anyways, back to happy thoughts. This has been an exciting and ever changing month in the world of K. Kherington got to experience her first Thanksgiving. She partook in her first turkey and yogurt. She also had some mashed potatoes.

Thank you, thank you very much!
Kherington practicing Elvis in her turkey outfit

Kherington and Tonya

Loving on cousin Seth

Kherington with Great Aunt Jan and Great Uncle Phillip

Uncle Brad helping K learn to crawl

Cassie and Kherington

It was also exciting as Kherington got to take her first flights. It was just Kherington and I that flew from Indianapolis to Atlanta to Harrisburg. We spent about five days in PA for the last time as resident of the state. I had to travel back to ride with the sales rep that took over my territory, so since I was going to be there over a weekend, and Jared could watch K while I worked, I took advantage of the lap child policy. Although challenging to travel with a 8 month old by yourself, it was not near as bad as I was expecting. She did great on the flights overall and really liked sitting in the seats next to me by herself when she could. Such a big girl! She also liked petting the nice gentlemen next to me, on the flight from Harrisburg to Detroit. He had a bright yellow shirt with blue strips on the sleeves. Luckily he had two children and didn't mind being touched. Luckily we tested negative for whooping cough the week before we left for PA, even though a baby in the Fabulous Firetrucks room had had it that week. We just had a cough and cold.

Big girl on her first flight

Anything to keep her entertained

Mama and K - don't mind the runny nose
we were getting over a cold

Sleepy girl at the end of flight one

After pacing at the airport for an hour we took a nap

Sleepy girl

Look at me shaking my head!!

Hanging out in the recliner in Mount Joy

We also made a surprise visit to our old school in PA while we were visiting. It was so good to see everyone, especially Ms. Elizabeth. It was amazing how much all of the babies have changed, although they thought the same about Kherington.

Ms. Elizabeth and sneezy Kherington

Forever friends

We had our first parent teacher conference on Monday. Ms. Leslie provided a report for us and also some suggestions for K. The evaluation was for 6-12 month olds, so she should be doing about half of the things, based on her age. Ms. Leslie said based on their opinion she is above where she should be developmentally. There were categories based on creative art, motor skills, music/movement, self-help/life skills, language arts, sensory stimulation, and cognitive development. Here is what the comments section said, "Kherington has only been with us for a short while, but she has been such a pleasure to have in the Cuddly Coupes! She loves to choose her own toys to play with and interact with friends. We always catch her holding other babies' hands or reaching out for hugs! So cute! Lately, she has been attempting to get into the crawling position by herself. We look forward to watching Kherington grow and hit even more milestones in her first year!"

Kherington trying to hold cousin Madie's hand

Kherington wearing the sweater that was
Grandma Penny's and Mommy's

Little did Ms. Leslie know, Kherington took her first crawl last Sunday. I actually was able to capture it on video, as she took off across Grandma and Pops living room floor after a Christmas gift bag. She has been practicing all week and has got it down! And man are we in trouble. She is getting into everything, which she was able to before with her scooting, but she is just able to do it quicker now.

Nothing is safe anymore!

We discovered a great baby snack, which is more manageable than Cheerios, as she tries to be a chipmunk, when Mom is trying to get stuff done. They are Baby Mum Mums. Which as simply a flavored rice cracker. What a great invention!!

Yum Mum Mums!

It'll fit!

Water to wash it down!!

"I want more"

I also had a mass baby making food session, which spanned about 3 days because I didn't have enough containers to freeze items in. We made about 230 ounces of baby food! And by we, I mean I. :) I made individual and combos including the following: mangos, bananas, strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, quinoa, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatos, acorn squash, gold beets, pears, apples, spinach, peas, and pineapple. We should be set for quite a while. Especially since little bit is eating more table food.

Bath time at Grandma and Pops

Riding the horsey (Nana)

Nana and K are buddies

During our parent teacher conversation Ms. Leslie suggested we do more table food at school as well. I asked if she meant chunks of carrots, or something else. She asked me if I would be interested in K eating lunch at school. Goddard provides lunch and two healthy snacks for the big kids. I told her that would be fine. So on Tuesday, Kherington had meatballs, bananas, and peas. On Wednesday, she had pizza, peaches, and green beans. And on Thursday, she had french toast sticks for a morning snack, and then chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, and applesauce for lunch.

Kherington at school - the table for eating and crafts
It has seats for 4 babies

Grabbing Sally's (Nana's dog) tail

Kherington and LuLu

This face says it all - Berlin is in trouble now that K is mobile

Kherington thinks everything is clap worthy these days. Too cute! She especially likes to take her socks off and clap with them.

Socks are SO overrated!

K also increased her vocabulary this month. We say "bye-bye", "ga-ga" (not sure what this is), and "mama"!!!!!!! I was able to capture "mama" on camera as well. We were sitting at the table eating and she kept saying "mmmmm" so I hoped that mama was coming next. Luckily my phone was close, so I just hit record. Those two little syllables just melted my heart, even more.

This sums up our 9 month photoshoot.

Somber Sally

Getting angry at Mr. Bear

Daddy made her laugh

Just like her Dad - cannot sit still for 2 seconds!!

"I'm over this sitting by my bear stuff"

"I'm going to get the lens Mom"

Ta-da!

Mr. Bear is a midget these days

I just wanted one good picture.

Slouching next to her bear

Cheese!

Fingers are interesting things

Showing off her toothies

Concentrating

Focusing on something

Playing her new "piano"

Headbands make great toys

And we got the flowers off

Meltdown with crocodile tears ended the photoshoot

Here are some other pictures from throughout the month:

Merry Christmas

Nana and K - nightly ritual of touching the tree

Kherington loves to feel all the ornaments

Grandma and a squeaky clean K

Kherington was scheming to help Berlin
open her present early

Kherington and her first doll baby

Checking her out

Mesmerized

Chelaxing in her jumperoo

Singing

Showing off her flexibility

Daddy and K

Boxes make fun toys

Giving Daddy some love

Daddy pretends to get mad, but truth is she has him
wrapped around her finger

Meltdown!!

Cousin Paige liked her present from K
It doubled as a chair

Kherington unwrapping her first Chrismas present

Kherington is our present this year

K and her doll baby

Uncle Derek put her right to sleep

Hugs between K and Paige

Pretty baby with Aunt Ang

"I don't like my coat!"

Its still a little big
Reminds me of Ralphy (A Christmas Story)

~~~~~
Our house is coming along nicely. We close February 8th! They have all the framing, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and drywall finished. The outside is primed. They are working on the stone. They still have the brick to complete and paint the outside.