Month NINE

My Dearest Belle,

Nine months… you are nine months old.

I blinked, and you were nine months old.

Taking these monthly photos of you are nearly impossible now. Your curiosity and tendency to grab, pull and taste everything means I need Papa’s help to take these photos. And even then, I had to take dozens of them to get one that’s useable. Here are a few of my favorites:

The day before you turned nine months, you said your first word. Papa swears you said “엄마”, but I’m more convinced that it was “맘마”. Papa thinks I’m being too critical, but I think it’s just his wishful thinking. After all, he’s been spending the past couple months repeating “엄마” to you constantly in the hopes that it would be your first word. And to do all that only to have your first word be “맘마”… well, I don’t think Papa would be able to handle it.

Then, the next day, on our very first Thanksgiving as a family of three, you did it. You clearly said, “엄마”. It was beautiful, and like everything new I encounter through you, it left me speechless and made my heart crumble a bit. 이모 할머니 thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill, so I had to film you as proof:

Your first Thanksgiving was really small - only your 친 할머니 & 할아버니 could make it. But it was your first time trying roasted potatoes, creamed spinach, creamed corn, popovers, and PRIME RIB! It was the first time in a LONG while that I put a whole meal together, and having you at the table to enjoy it with us just the PERFECT icing on the cake. Soon enough, I’m hoping you and I can start a tradition of cooking and baking for our family meals together. Out of so many of the things I’m looking forward to sharing with you, this is definitely at the top of the list.

Your nine-month check-up is coming up soon, but I have no doubt that you are healthy and hitting all your milestones. You are so, so loved, my little Peanut~!

Love always,
Mama