Nine Months...

Dearest One,

Mashallah, you are NINE months old! Where does the time go??!!
We had a busy month. You are trying to get SIX teeth out all at once. You visited with your great aunt, khalti Lina, my grandparents, your tete and your jiddo (first time meeting face-to-face) and your second cousins.

You are eating three solid meals. You get a bottle at night still. If we are home, you get breastfed. If baba is home with us, you get a bottle in the morning and another in the afternoon. You enjoy cuddling with baba and spending time with him, alhamdellah. You have lost some weight though, as your appetite  seems to have been affected by your teeth coming on. But, you are still growing like a weed, mashallah. Most of your clothes are too small now. Even stuff that are sized for 12 month Olds can be too small on you now, mashallah.
You don't seem interested in crawling at all. The minute your belly is touching the ground, you flip yourself over onto your back with ease mashallah. But, you like walking. All anyone has to do is to grab a hold of your arms and you are putting one foot in front of the other mashallah. While we were visiting the family in New Jersey, we picked up a walker. You weren't sure at first, and it looked like you might not be interested. But it didn't take long for you to get the hang of it and run after us all!

Mashallah, mashallah, mashallah! You are an amazing traveler! The plane rides over to NJ and back, did not seem to bother you. You made friends easily with fellow travelers and flight attendants. The only issue was always keeping you entertained. But, all in all, for a first time travelor at almost nine months old, is an accomplishment. Not to mention that your great grandparents,  my tete and jiddo, are huge fans of yours and love you to bits and pieces. The whole family was very happy to have you visiting with them and were enjoying your antics and words. You are more vocal now and try to copy as many sounds as you can hear. One thing that you have done since day one and is the cutest thing ever, is that you hold your right hand's three middle fingers straught and flick them up and down on things. It is charming and cute. Your jiddo, my baba, thinks it's the most beautiful  thing ever and was the only one to notice it outside of myself and your baba.
I am attaching a picture of our electronic ticket to NJ, as a momento for this month,  since it was your first time traveling on an airplane, the first time you met your jiddo face-to-face, the first time I was alone with you and we were away from baba for an extended period of time, the first time you met your great grandparents. It was a lot of firsts for us both and it was wonderful.  I just wish your baba was there too. Inshallah next time. Also, this month, all three of us prayed together! inshallah we continue to pray together and you keep on top of it for your own sake.

I am sorry for the long post. I love you with all my heart, my darling.  May Allah always keep you healthy,  safe and happy. May you always be guided to the right path, and may you always use Muhammad PBUH to guide your life and actions.

All my love,
Mama