Camila: 9 months

To my little Camila,

You are now 9 months. Who are we kidding...you're going on 10 months soon but mommy hasn't had time to write you a blog. I'm sorry for that. What can I possibly say to describe your little personality so that you can understand who you were when we look back at this together. You are so sweet, first and foremost. I will carry you in my arms and you just stare at my face and smile. It melts my heart every time. You are strong. You can definitely keep up with your sister. You can bump your head or Abbie will throw something and it will hit your head...and you take it. You are pulling yourself up and when you fall, you simply shake it off and pull yourself right back up. I love that about you. The falls don't seem to phase you at all. You are teaching me lessons about life in general without you even knowing it. I thank God that you haven't gotten sick at all. You're a little tank! You are feisty...and passionate. Oh boy are you feisty! You will be happy one minute and then the next all hell breaks loose. And you know how to let us know you are upset. You scream, you cry, your face gets beet red, you grunt and you throw anything that we try to soothe you with. Thinking of it now makes me smile because you still look so cute doing it but during one of your tantrums, it's not so fun. If this is an indication of what we have in store in the years to come, I'm going to need lots of wine. Oh my little Cami. You are our little crybaby. You are going through the same phase right now that your sister went through. You are attached to mommy. As soon as mommy gets to Mom's house to pick you up at the end of the day, you will immediately crawl over and sit in front of me until I pick you up. Then once I do, all is right with the world. If someone else is holding you, you're great. Until you see me. Then you just want me to hold you. I'm not complaining by any means. I will take it for as long as I can. I know it won't last forever.

You have 3 teeth. You are still madly obsessed with your sister. In fact, I hope you're ok on the days when your sister will be at school. I know you will feel her absence. But just know that you will always be reunited at the end of the day. You are eating new foods like a champ. You are clapping and starting to stand for longer periods of time. I feel like you will be walk a lot sooner than Abbie did but you never know. If you do, we are in trouble! You say mama and dada. I've been trying to teach you to say Abbie. We enrolled you and Abbie for swimming at the YMCA. It was 5 classes and unlike Abbie at your age, you were a little more unsure about it, holding onto me for dear life at every class. But for the most part, you enjoyed it.

On July 19th, you were baptized. What a beautiful day it was. We were honored to have Auntie Jane and Uncle John stand by us as your Godparents. They love you both so much Cami. The weather that day was so odd...very hot and muggy and then there was a bit of a rain storm for a bit during your reception at the restaurant. Sort of like your personality. It is a day we will always remember.

Just like Abbie, you adore Mom and Abuelo. But what completely melts my heart is that Mom tells me that you take a 3 hour nap with Abuelo almost every day. Do you know how special that is to me, Cami? To think that you both need a nap during the day so you take it together. Mom and Abuelo are getting older and the thought of both of them not in your lives just makes me want to become a sobbing mess. I get so emotional at the thought so I hope you are both making memories with both sets of grandparents that will last you a lifetime. That's almost why I want to fast forward time to make you and Abbie a little older...so you could both

actually remember these moments in time. But don't worry, I will remember them forever.

Your daddy is...well, he's amazing. I get emotional at that thought too. We are so lucky to be his girls...to have him by our side every single day in this roller coaster of a life. We love him so much and he loves us right back so very much. Our little family of four...it's beautiful, it's a blessing and it's perfect.

Your birthday is right around the corner. Mommy has already started planning for it. You will have your own first birthday party this year. How can you be almost 1?! Well, let's slow down here...you're not even 10 months yet. :)

Oh Camila...my sweet, sweet Cami. You complete our family in ways I can't even describe. We love you, we adore you, we would do anything for you both. Until the next time my sweet, feisty, strong baby girl.