Shasta's 9 Months

Shasta had her 9 month appointment today.  I can hardly believe I have a 9 month old. We've been given the go-ahead to feed her whatever we think she can handle which is pretty exciting. Any time I say we're not going to start giving her sweets the response I get is always, "good luck". I don't know if  there's any truth behind our theory, but we don't want her to only want snacks, so our goal is to avoid candy and sugary treats for as long as possible. Right now she'll eat anything I stick in front of her so I know we can avoid it for at least a little while. We'll see how long it lasts!

Here are her stats at 9 months:

Weight: 15lbs 8oz (4th %ile)
Length: 27.75 inches (58th %ile)
Head: 17.5 inches (66th %ile)

Over the last 3 months she moved from the 5th to the 4th percentile in weight, 23rd to 58th percentile in length, and 64th to 66th percentile in head circumference. Her Hendricks genes are apparently kicking in as far as height goes. Due to being a premie she'll probably always be petite, but now she's going to be tall and thin it appears! Nick couldn't be happier to have a future volleyball player in the family.

By 9 months:

Started army crawling.

She actually started on Christmas day and over the last month has really mastered it. She gets anywhere she wants to go.

Can go from laying down to sitting up.

Will crawl a few paces on her knees before switching back to army crawling.

But by the end of the month she started full on crawling. She still army crawls, but she does her hands and knees more.

Grew 5 teeth. First her canines started showing signs of coming in, then randomly a bottom front tooth came in, then her canines popped through, then another bottom front tooth, and now a top front tooth, with the other top front one not far behind. And actually, we thought it was her canines until the front tooth came through and now it seems to be the teeth between her canines and front teeth because they're too close together not to be.

It's not very nice of me to put this picture, but you can almost see the top front tooth.

She's been an amazing teether. I didn't even know she had bottom teeth until I stuck my finger in her mouth. She has her grumpy moments, but I link it more to just being a baby and not so much to teething.

Started pursing her lips, scrunching her nose, and breathing in and out really fast. I've been trying to get her to copy me doing this for probably a month and I about died from laughter when she finally started doing it. It's seriously the cutest thing!

I think these pictures are SO cute and yet it doesn't even do the face justice. Tells ya just how cute it is to see her do it! By the time the flash went off and the picture snapped she wasn't doing it as well.

I love her eyes the most in these pictures. They're such a pretty shape.

Started sleeping with her bum in the air. Seriously so cute. But then again everything she does is cute!

She has the longest hair on top and fairly short hair on the sides. I've always said she has reverse old man hair, bald on the sides with a toupee on top!

 She likes to sit like a little cheerleader. It's fitting with her poofy ponytail!

  
All of that long hair on top makes for some pretty crazy bedhead after she gets up from her naps!

 And of course one with her cow, Bree.

Just For Fun

Before we went to Arizona Wedge got his hair cut.

After:

So skinny.

His Christmas Eve pajamas!

Little pin head.

And Before:

He looks so fat!

His feet look super funny!

He looks so much older when he isn't shaved. It cracks me up to see the difference!

2011 Recap

January -

•  Found out we were having a girl.
• 3 years of living in Logan.

February -

• 5 months pregnant.
• 3 years at our jobs for both Nick and me.

March -

• Baby Shower in Arizona.
• Saw my brother for the first time in 2 1/2 years.
• Celebrated my 24th birthday.

April -

• Made ID cards for kids through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at Baby Animal Days.
• Had our Relay For Life Event. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
• Helped put together the Primary Easter Party.
• Spent Easter in the hospital having a baby.
• Shasta was born.
• Quit my job.
• Had a baby shower in Logan.

May -

• Spent every day at the NICU.
• Had a ward baby shower.
• Shasta came home from the NICU on May 19th.
• Celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary on May 20th.

June -

• Celebrated Nick's 33rd birthday.
• Shasta's due date was June 15th.
• I was released from the Primary Presidency.

July -

• I was called to serve on the Relief Society Activities Committee.
• Shasta continues to get bigger.

August -

• Shasta's baby blessing.
• Shasta and I went to Oregon with my family.
• Had our first outing at 2nd Dam with Shasta and Wedge.
• Had a family reunion in Idaho with Nick's family.
• Went to Mueller Park for a birthday party with Nick's family.

September -

• Wedge turned 2.
• Fall semester started.
• Started the Better Wives Club blog.

October -

• Celebrated Shasta's half birthday by piercing her ears.
• Went and visited my friend Alice in Eagle Mountain who is suffering from cancer and not expected to live much longer.
• Shasta started sleeping through the night.
• Had a bizarre missionary experience.
• Nick participated in his 24 hour video game marathon through Extra Life. All the proceeds went to a children's hospital of his choice.

November -

• Shasta and I went to Arizona (Shasta's first time).
• Had a new floor put in our kitchen.
• Nick was released from being the Ward Assistant Clerk in charge of Finances.
• He was also released from being a Ward Missionary.
• I was released from serving on the Relief Society Activities Committee.
• Nick and I were called to teach the Marriage and Family Relations Class (gulp)!
• Nick wrote a Christmas children's book that is amazing and will hopefully one day be published.

December -

• Taught our first Marriage and Family Relations class. Shasta was extra grumpy and I ended up having to leave about half way through to feed her. It's right during her morning nap, so it will be interesting to see how it goes. We've only taught the one time so far because of the holidays and being in a student ward, but we'll teach every other Sunday from now on.
• Went to Arizona for Christmas.
• Shasta turned 8 months old on Christmas day.
• Nick ate a chicken heart and cow tongue.
• Fall semester finally ended!!!

We had a really good year. It was filled with ups and downs and the unexpected, but I wouldn't go back and change any of our experiences. Everything we went through strengthened our testimonies of the gospel and helped us recognize the Lord's hand in our lives. It's bitter sweet to see 2011 end, but here's to an even better 2012!