Brenna is 9 Months Old!

Brenna turned 9 months old today!

Although no new teeth have emerged over the past month, this girl is on the move.  Brenna prefers to stand rather than sit and can stand without being held up both holding onto the couch or her play table, and just today, without holding onto anything for about 5 seconds.  She can also roll back and forth from her back to her tummy in both directions.  In just the past few days, she confidently crawls onto her tummy from sitting and can spin on her tummy to reach things around her.  Also just a couple days ago, she can walk holding on to both of our hands.  It won't be long until we have a walker!  

You know, I haven't talked about naps in many months, may be because there's not much to say, but Brenna takes 2 naps a day for about 20-40 minutes each.  Brenna's bedtime is about 7:30pm but she still wakes at least a couple times a night, usually 11:00pm - it's amazing how she wakes up just about the same time EVERY night - and probably a couple more times during the night. She wakes between 7:00-7:30am, but at least it's not earlier than that!  

She's also enjoying eating real food, her favorite being pizza - but before you gasp at a baby eating pizza, it's nothing more than a pizza crust with a bit of tomato sauce and a scattering of shredded mozzarella cheese.  She also loves most fruit, especially pears - you'll never see a pear disappear so fast! Grapes cut into fourths are another favorite.  Her pincer grip (thumb and index finger) is also improving, and she loves using it every morning on her Cheerios.  

Brenna waves her arms A LOT to communicate, sometimes it means she's excited, other times, it means she is frustrated and wants my attention.  If she's in her highchair and waves her arms, it means she wants out and wants nursed instead of real food.

Such a cutie.

(I wish this picture was better focused.)

Ellen at Rhythm Time

Ellen has participated in Rhythm Time weekly since she was 5 months old. Brenna began this term, too, and loves it. Ellen is now in the highest level, the preschool level, and is learning the basics about music for the first time.

In Ellen's class, the children are asked to conduct in front of the class to increase confidence, not necessarily to make them wave the baton to the beat of the music. Ellen didn't volunteer to conduct until a few weeks ago, and now every time the children are asked who wants to come to the front of the class, she jumps up for her turn.  I love to see the look on her face while she conducts... the tongue helps, too!

The past few classes the children have gone to the front to sing a verse of "Old McDonald" according to the puppet they've picked out.  Ellen has a sheep puppet on her hand this time.  Frank, the teacher, is impressed with the clarity of the words when she sings and how on key she is.  I'm very impressed, too!