All I'm Saying there's a joke in here somewhere

Holy crow, peanut! You're nine months old today! We celebrated by going out and voting in the mid-term elections. This is actually your second go-round with voting: you were there for the primary, too. Way to go, little patriot!

You are the proverbial barrel of fun right now. You've started waving at people--in fact, you'll wave at anyone. I had you in the mall a couple of weeks ago, and I could see your little pudgy hand sticking out the side of the stroller, just waving away. You don't have that little baby finger wiggle--you've got a full fledged elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist beauty queen wave down. You've also started giving high fives. Our next parlor trick will hopefully be to get you to blow kisses.

We had you at the pediatrician for your regular check-up the other day and you are squarely in the 50th percentile for growth and expansion. It is plain for all to see that you are a genius.

You're still breastfeeding for most of you calories and you're still sleeping in bed with Daddy and I. I hope that we can continue that for a while longer, since I love having you so close to me. You're *this close* to crawling, and you can pull yourself up to standing by holding on to anything that will bear your weight. You can also circumnavigate said objects.

Finally, you've still got three teeth, but I think you've got a couple more coming in soon. You've been a teensy bit crabby lately and you're whacking yourself on the left side of the head with your open palm repetitively. I can tell something is bugging you there.

Thank you for all the joy you've given us already, sweetheart. You're so loved.
Love,
Mommy

Just taken as I was typing this entry--fresh Freya photo!