Lera is 9 Months Old!

I forgot to post Lera's 8 month picture last month, so here it is:


And this was taken on Sunday, at 9 months old:


In one short month, between the time these two pictures were taken, little Lera has accomplished a lot.


She started crawling,


climbing,


pulling up,


cruising along things,


turning on the water,


and sitting down easily from standing.


She got two teeth,


eats table food,


and pretty much thinks she's a big kid.

I did a little photo shoot to document her being 9 months old.

I can't believe ONE is right around the corner.

Lera has such a good sense of humor and I love her laugh. Chess makes her laugh a lot and she's pretty ticklish.

She's been "talking" a lot lately. Jared and I think we hear her repeating words we say all the time, and I heard her babbling "ma ma ma ma" the other day. Maybe we will have her first word soon?

She is starting to get picky about who she will smile at. When strangers talk to her in the grocery store, she gives them a pretty serious scowl lately.

This child will NOT lay still for a diaper change or clothing change of any sort. She is super-fast and squirmy. No distraction will keep her still very long, and she's so strong. She does this alligator roll (you know, when alligators are in water, and bite down on their pray, then they roll and roll, and there's no escape), anyway, she does this and crawls away before we can get a clean diaper on her bum.

Our sweet little girl is always on the move. You should see her in the bath tub. I can't keep her sitting on her bum for anything. She crawls circles around Chess! I have to dump water right on her head because she won't lean back for me to rinse her hair - she does the alligator roll (see above).

I'm so glad Lera is in my life. She snuggles up to me when she's tired and plays with my fingers when I'm feeding her. She gives us the biggest smiles and keeps us on our toes. Her breath is heavenly, and I kiss her as much as I can. I love my baby girl.

Wordless Wednesday

Fly-In Air Show

We recently went to a little airport for a fly-in air show, which means the planes are all there for you to look at, but there are no flying tricks to watch in the sky. Does that make sense? I've only ever been to one air show before, but Jared loves them, so I think I will see a lot more in the future. He used to go all the time as a kid. We had a fun time at this one.


The Black Hawk helicopter you could sit in.




It made Chess a little nervous.


Lera, on the other hand, was chewing on her hands because she was teething, not because she was nervous.


Then, when I took Chess out, she wanted back in.


What good is a runway if you can't run on it?


In front of the firetruck.


Chess did not want to sit in the firetruck.


Jared liked this little, orange airplane.


Lera, eating her breakfast.


Any event is better with a jump-house.


My favorite.

Independence Day

Chess helped me make this patriotic banner.


Yummy pancake breakfast with our ward (church) at the park on Saturday.


Lera, kicked back in the stroller.


Watching the kids' parade of bikes and scooters.


Lera was chewing on her thumb constantly for about a week b/c her first tooth was coming in.


Playing in her new 4th of July dress I made her.


Lera's 4th of July outfit. Chess wore the same one her first Independence Day. She was less than three months old, so it was a bit big on her.


My darling babies.


Walking to see the fireworks.


We've got a great spot.


Hello!


Our sister-in-law, Lorraine, with Lera.


Family shot.


Thanks for the glow-jewelry, Mimi!


Proud Poppy.


Awesome grandparents.


So happy.


First sparkler ever.


She held it still the whole time.


Self-portrait: watching the show. Lera enjoyed it, although she was exhausted.


Chess was startled at first and said, "Fireworks loud." Then, she got used to them and relaxed, so much that she almost fell asleep in her Daddy's lap. In the end, I think she liked the fireworks, because along with saying they were loud for days to come, she also said, "Fireworks pretty."