NEUF

9 months! Woo hoo.. this little girl has had an awesome month! She is getting around like crazy! she crawls like a race car driver and she is standing on her own for a matter of seconds.  She loves to walk while I hold her hands (especially when Mila is watching.. she might be a little show-off).  She darts to the stairs when I forget to block them off and can get up them at super-sonic speed.  Last week she crawled up onto the couch while I wasn't looking and dove head first over the arm rest into my bowl of Queso.

She has sprouted her first 2 teeth (bottom middle).  I'm not sure she understands Jeff's humor... yet.  It is harder to make her laugh than it was with Mila at this age,  unless you tickle her; she is a lot more ticklish than Mila.   She is developing a deeper love for her big sister, they are becoming really good friends. I LOVE IT.  The other day I was driving and I heard them giggling in the back seat, when I looked back there I saw them holding hands across the back seat.

She has started saying a few more sounds; she will open and close her hands and make the "ak" sound when we "quack" like a duck.  She also says da-da when she sees Jeff.  She rolls her arms for "patty cakes" and loves to clap along to "If you're happy and you know it" She likes to make noise, and likes to get noticed. She will wave at people when I am out doing errands and if they notice and say Hi to her she gets so excited.  Mila on the other hand tries not to make eye contact with these people when they say hi to her, (but as soon as they turn around and walk away she will say bye really loud, ha ha).  Time has flown I know I say it all the time but I can't believe it has already been 9 months! 

Mila is still blooming as well she is talking more and more every day, and is showing more interest in what I am doing.  I have been trying to let her help me with whatever I am doing as much as I can. She loves helping with chores around the house.  She can load/unload the washer/dryer, and she is really good at putting silverware away when we unload the dishwasher.  She likes to help me sweep and vacuum the floors.

She is also learning some autonomy, she is loving to explore new things, and likes when I let her practice making choices.  She doesn't care for pants anymore and would love to run around in her diaper all day (can't say I blame her).  Our friends Josie and Rory Heward taught her to sing the song from the soundtrack of the movie Frozen: "Let it Go" and she loves when we play the music, she waits until the chorus and she belts "LET IT GO, LET IT GO!" then waits until it comes around again.  She is still just a tiny little thing (Eliza has just about caught up to her in size) not sure exact measurements but they are getting so close!  I have just started putting all of their clothes together because they pretty much fit in all of the same stuff!   Still loving life with my 2 little GIRLIES!

We did so many fun things this month! The first big event was "Thunder over Louisville" it is a big celebration that kicks off all of the events leading up to the Kentucky Derby.  All day long they had airplanes flying overhead in a really neat air show and they played fun music, they had carnival like rides, and activities and people hung out all along the river.  Then when it got dark they started the firework show. (The Largest Fireworks display in North America).  It was so fun we had a great time hanging out with friends, and the girls loved the airplanes and the fireworks!

The following week was Josie Heward's Birthday party (She turned 4! And she had a "Woodland Fairy" theme party) it was awesome! My friend Candace is so creative! The girls loved wearing their tu-tu's and fairy wings and making little fairy houses with the "big girls".  Can't even tell you how much we will miss getting to hang out with Josie and Rory (2 of the coolest kids in Kentucky), oh and the adult hewards!

 Easter Sunday we had dinner with the Hewards (the weather was beautiful, so we had a picnic in the front yard) then hunted for Easter eggs and played games.  It was perfect.

The employees of the "Maxwell Street" legal clinic where Jeff has been interning for the past 2 semesters are sad to see Jeff go.  They threw a "good-bye/Congratulations" party for him and his friend Spencer (who has also been interning at the clinic).  The party was held at the Lady's house who started the clinic.  It was out in the country here in Versailles, they own some beautiful property and a few beautiful horses.  Mila wanted to go right out in the pasture with the horses!  But she loved getting to feed them grass through the fence. 

It was a fun, relaxing night.  Being out in the country in the middle of Kentucky really made me reflect on the time we have spent here.  It has been amazing.  We have both grown so much and so has our family (literally! Our family has doubled in the 3 years we have been here, hopefully that's just one of those kentucky things, ha ha!)  I have met some truly incredible people that I will never forget.  Thanks to all of those who have helped us along our journey!