Grumkin

At nine months old, Darwin’s pointer fingers are doing a lot of work. They touch, they scratch, they manipulate. She’s not so much on the pincer grip, but tell you what, those pointers can grab stuff. 

She has started scooting backwards on her tummy. 

She won’t roll over deliberately, but she’ll roll when she sees something to one side that she wants. 

Darwin is a talker! She loves blowing through her lips, saying Buu buu buu, and basically just making noise. She often exhales loudly, especially if she’s just accomplished something. 

She nurses 4-5 times a day, once when she wakes up and her dad brings her into bed with us, once before she goes down for her morning nap, and then in the evening when I put her down for the night, and then the dream feed. Sometimes in the afternoon if we’ve been away from each other all day, she wants to nurse when she sees me. But it’s mostly bottles and solids. I don’t pump at all any more, so we give her formula during the day. And I’m fine with that. I really like having my boobs back (mostly), and not worrying when they’re too full or not full enough. 

I make most of her solid food, having fun following baby food cookbook recipes. A recent hit was white fish with broccoli, peas, and zucchini. She liked the mango soup we made, and enjoys apple sauce, sweet potatoes, and hummus. Plus Mom feeds her bites of dip, whipped cream, cupcake icing, and sips of juice, all the bad stuff, when I’m not looking. Darwin pretty much eats everything. 

She hasn’t cut any teeth yet, but I think the bottom ones are about to pop through.

She weighs 20 lbs! Our 9 month appointment is next week and I’m looking forward to seeing her new measurements. Someone at work commented, “That kid isn’t missing any meals,” which is true…But to me, she’s still so little! 

She sleeps all night. I love it. 

Love you Littles. 

Tom took D to Boston to visit his parents on Thursday night. They won’t be back til Tuesday night. That’s six whole days apart! I am simultaneously stoked and depressed. 

Stoked:

Staying up late. 

Sleeping in.

Drinking like a fish. 

Maybe I’ll even smoke a little pot!

Going to a party on a boat tomorrow evening. 

Had a long hike with my sister, her bf, and our dad today, then had a beer at Alice’s restaurant, and didn’t worry what time we got home or how late it was. 

Alone time! What???

Sad:

I skyped with Tom and Darwin today. Darwin kept lunging for the screen and looking behind it, as if the Real Mommy was behind there. I couldn’t handle it, had to hang up right away. I was okay til I saw her big eyes and that expression of excitement at my voice. Tom said she cries for a long time in the morning when she remembers I’m not there. Also that her diaper rash is bad and that she’s been sleeping for many hours a day. It’s very sad for me, makes me feel guilty that I’m not there to take care of her and make sure she’s getting boobie and enough Nudie Bootie time. And snugs. And cuddles. And someone needs to nuzzle her neck, and smell her, and kiss her feet, and give her raspberries, and play peek-a-boo. Okay, so I know her Daddy can do these things. But does he? Isn’t there something about a mom that you just can’t get anywhere else?

I just miss her little smushie face.  

Only three more days til she comes home.