Atlie at 9 months (July 27)

It seems like there has been an explosion of development for you this month! You are so active and can do so many things, it can be hard to keep track of your accomplishments.

Your motor skills are really developing. You've started clapping, which you really like to do when you think you've done something praise-worthy. Of course, I join in with you! You've also starting to point with your finger and your pincer grasp is getting more accurate every day.

One of your biggest accomplishments this month is that you took your first step... and right now it seems to be your only one. I think I got over-excited about it and pushed you too much because now you refuse. As soon as you think I'm going to let you go, you get noodle legs and plop to the floor. But, you've gotten really confident with your pusher and can really get going!

You've also started signing a little bit this month. It's not all the time, but so far you've signed milk and more. I think by the time 10 months rolls around, you'll have gotten them down consistently.

Last month, I thought you were getting top 2 teeth, but actually it was 3! (front 2 and a canine) And as of today, you're getting the second canine. In just a few days, you'll have 6 teeth!

101 Reasons I love You

Recently, when Branna is describing something really big or really long, she'll say "it's one hundred and one". In her mind, that's a huge number. Each day, I look at her and realize how grown up she's getting. I know she's still just four years old, but I see more and more of a "kid" and less of a young child. I love watching her grow physically, mentally and spiritually. Somethings are trivial and some are profound, but they all make me love her more and more each day.

While I could write 101 lists with 101 reasons why I love Branna, I thought I'd share some highlights for this post.

I love:

your imagination

your innocent questions

your curiosity

the way you can tell it like you see it

how much you love Atlie

that you still talk about Saige

your made up Spanish words

that you still want me to hold you in my lap

Branna the bird hunter. Notice her outfit is complete with salt shaker net.

Branna the princely ant hunter. (The socks are on her hands, not her feet. She couldn't find her gloves and didn't want the ants to bite her.)

Branna is one-of-a-kind and I am so glad that God chose me to be her mom!

The Jury's Still Out

When Atlie was first born, I thought she looked completely different than Branna. As Atlie has gotten older, I think I see more similarities... but then I put there pictures side by side and I still don't know. They are definitely sisters, but I'm not sure it's quite the look-a-likes that some same sex siblings are.

Atlie is the top picture and Branna is the bottom picture.

It has been fun to do these comparison takes and I'm curious to see what traits they share and which will be different!