Week 41-January 26-February 1-Hi Baby! We went to Vegas to visit Babulia and Dadulia for their 40th anniversary. It was fun, but not really a place for babies. There is so much smoke everywhere, even on the non-smoking floors of hotels. You were an angel the entire drive, 5 hours, out there. Papa's folks were so excited to see you, they hugged and kissed and giggled with you the entire time. You stayed up late, and loved all of the blinking lights that the city has to offer. As much as we tried to keep you on a schedule, it never is the same as when we are home living our routine. So you stayed up late late late. We were only there four days, but by the second day, you were over-stimulated and worn out. Thursday night, the night we arrived, we all went to dinner to celebrate. Friday night, Papa, you and I went out to dinner with my cousin Howie and his wife, Sonila. Baba and Dada went to go see a show. It was a little late for you and so I ended up taking you out to the car to nurse and you fell asleep in the dark peacefulness of the night. On Saturday night, Papa and I went to see a show and Baba and Dada watched you. It was so much fun to be out in a city like Vegas. We walked around, talked, ate and took in all the sights. We finally got home at one in the morning and went to pick you up. You were out like a light in Baba's arms. Very sweet to see. I know it lit up her whole trip. We went to a breakfast buffet and Papa fed you lots of yummy food, which you happily gobbled up. You are a great eater. You will eat whatever we are eating! While we were there, you perfected your first word. Da Da Da! You have said other sounds repeatedly before, but this is the first time you will repeat it, if we say it, which makes it officially your first word. Most babies first word is "No", but yours is yes. Such a positive, beautiful angel girl we have. We really couldn't have gotten any luckier. You are absolutely perfect, and charming! It was a fun, whirlwind trip, and then we went home. You slept most of the way, which made the drive easier for your father and I to have some time to connect with each other. You are so pleasant to be around and to travel with honey, you are truly the perfect child. I love love love you!

Week 40-January 19-25th-Hi Baby! I cannot believe you have been around for forty weeks. You have been out longer than I was pregnant with you. You are changing every day! Now you find things funny. If something is out of place, or I use a silly voice, you laugh. You understand what is ordinary, and what is not. If I wear sunglasses, you think it is funny, or if I place one of your toys in a different spot, you will smile.

You have been making music! You rub your hand against your mouth and use your voice to make music. It is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard!

We had a playdate with Gabriela and you shared your toys with her. You handed her my car/house keys and then promptly took them back. I was so proud of you. You will hand me toys sometimes too, and food. It is very sweet. You have been standing up all by yourself and then you fall down, sometimes hard. Most of the time, you just get up again, sometimes you fall a little too hard and need a cuddle and a few kisses to make the hurt go away. You are also crawling so fast. I will put you down and walk into the next room and the next thing I know, you are in the room with me! I love you so much, honey! You are my heart and my soul!

Week 39-January 12-18th-NINE MONTHS! Hi, my baby! You now are saying "AI, AI, AI" all the time and you love to crawl after your little rolling balls. Every Wednesday, we go to Mommy and Me at Aish. This week, some little girl pulled your hair and hit your head because you were interested in her toy. You didn't bat an eyelash, although her mommy was horrified. You love to eat books and lately you have been nursing while kneeling. Kneeling is the latest action! You kneel in front of boxes in order to pull whatever is on the inside out.

You love to sit on my father's lap and throw the ball to his dogs, Rudy and Abby. You laugh and laugh so hard. It makes us all laugh! Your favorite songs right now that I sing to you are Doe, a Deer, This Old Man, I'm a Little Teapot, and ABC's.

We went to Mammoth with our friend, Ben and while we were there, you climbed up your very first set of stairs. I am very proud of you, and you were proud of you too! We went to several restaurants, in which you were perfectly behaved. You ate peas for the first time and played in the snow. I actually went snowboarding while you and Papa went off to play in the wilderness. Papa got some great shots of you in the snow. In the condo, we stayed, there was a pine cone with sharp needles on it. This is the only thing I have ever seen you scared of. You didn't even touch it, to know that it was prickly, but you didn't want to. It is almost as though you had a sixth sense about this cone. Papa went around collecting every pine cone he could find for you, but you still didn't want to touch it even though you were interested in them.

While I was in the shower, you were playing in the bathroom. I looked down to check on you and you were standing at the shower, looking up at me! I was so shocked I started laughing and you laughed too, your little face getting wet from the spray! I had never seen you do that before. You are pulling yourself up and standing. Great big girl of mine! You like Ben and he likes you. He asks to hold you and you let him. I love you my angel! You make my world better!!!