Some MAJOR "firsts" for both Mercer and Isabella

Isabella's MAJOR "first:"  she began crawling last weekend!  She's flopping around a bit in this video, but almost a week later, she's really on the move... She can crawl out of her room and into the hallway! 

She also started to pull herself up / stand up in the crib!  She is pretty proud of herself.  That's pretty MAJOR too.  Todd had to lower the crib so she won't pull herself over!  Isabella is very strong!







(One of our neighbors, Sarah, took some fantastic photos of her which are enclosed here.)

Isabella had her 9 month appointment at the doctor's office this week. Her growth and development charted really well.

She's about 30% on weight and height -- consistent to where she's been tracking all along. She's now 18 lbs and 27 1/4" tall. She had an absolute melt-down at the doctor's... clawing and clinging to me the entire time. It seems that she may have remembered the last time she was there to get immunizations?  She has really ramped up her dislike for going to other people.  She used to be agreeable to go to anyone, but now it has to be Todd, me, or the lady at daycare.  (The doctor said this is a normal phase and she'll grow out of it.)

Other than that, this was the first appointment where we didn't have any questions for the doctor. She really seems to be doing great overall!

Mercer got to go to his first football game this week.  Todd donated blood a few weeks ago at a Red Cross event at the Georgia Dome.  For doing so, they gave him 2 tickets to a pre-season game!  Todd equates free seats as nose-bleed seats, but regardless, they had a good time.

Later in the week while Todd was at home tackling some projects, I took the kids downtown to keep them occupied & out of the house.  We met some friends at an annual parade that is held to kick off a conference held in Atlanta every year called Dragon Con.  It's a sci-fi based conference and the parade makes for some interesting people-watching!!  Mercer wore his Spider Man halloween costume for most of the parade - however the zipper broke as he was putting it on.  He got some recognition from other Marvel characters who were in the parade including fist-bumps from a Spider Man who was in the procession.  Here's an interesting shot... my camera "polarized" the Star Wars Storm Troopers (normally in white costumes) and polarized Mercer's left ear!  ; - )  We did several other things while in town as well, but this - by far - was the most unique.  It was both Mercer and my first time at the parade.  I think we'll go back because it was really entertaining!    

And, the MAJOR "first" for Mercer... last night... his first tooth fell out!  The one right next to it is loose as well... it's not far behind, but there goes that beautiful beautiful smile.  We'll be seeing variations of toothless smiles in the coming years, so this will be the new "norm."  Oh well.  Had to happen!  He did not get to see the tooth fairy he said, but, he did receive two gold coins in exchange for his pearly white~