Wita is 9 months old, y’all. 9 months! According to my highly scientific calculations (counting on my fingers), this means she will be one year old in less than three months. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR.
Wita, Wita, Wita. This girl is a mystery, I tell ya. Such the opposite of Wito, in so many ways.
Since day one, Wito has worn his heart on his sleeve. (Very animatedly, I might add.) He’s Just! So! Excited! About! LIFE! Jumping around, flapping his arms with wild abandon, introducing himself to every stranger we pass on the street. He tells me everything he’s thinking and feeling, he craves appreciation and acceptance, and can put on one hell of a show.
He was that baby who basked in the coos and “oohs and ahhs” from strangers at the grocery store. When people would smile and engage with him, he would totally light up. He would tilt his head to the side, give them a precious baby smile and it was showtime. Every time. “Give ’em what they want!,” must have been his personal mantra.
Wita, on the other hand, could not be more different. She’s my little poker face. Also a content baby, but not nearly the open book that her brother is. Dear random strangers in public places, don’t waste your goofy faces. Last week, while we were in line at Costco, several people behind us starting doing the whole goo goo gaa gaa, silly smile thing at her. Her response? A stone-faced stare with a raised eyebrow to boot. After about 5 minutes, we were all laughing hysterically (except for her, of course) because NO ONE could break her! How it’s possible that a 9-month-old can make an adult feel like a total asshole, I will never understand. But this girl can do it.
Wita: The Great Mystery.
However, three major things have started to happen around the 9-month marker. Sitting up (finally), pseudo crawling and ah, screaming.
As of this week, Wita could not sit up unassisted. Period. We’re talking maybe 5 seconds on a good day. I wasn’t too concerned at her 6-month well check, since it was an emerging skill for most babies, but then the 7-month mark passed. And the 8-month mark passed, AND at 9 months, we still weren’t any closer to sitting. We couldn’t even place her in a highchair at restaurants because she would just slither to the side like a rag doll. So, I wasn’t too surprised when our pediatrician recommended that we start physical therapy with her earlier this week, since things weren’t progressing at all.
I drove Wita home, put her down on the loft rug, called the physical therapist to set up and appointment, walked out and saw this.
Yep. Sitting up on her own. And has been sitting up unassisted all week for 30+ minutes at a time since. This girl, I swear!
Wita: The Great Mystery.
Otherwise, there’s been a lot of scooting, screaming, and gumming every object known to man over here.
It’s so interesting watching both of these kids’ personalities develop over time. What about your kids? Do they have totally different personalities or are they totally cut from the same cloth?
Sarah
April 8, 2011 at 10:11 pmWita totally looks like she’s doing the worm! The Worm: it’s the new crawling!
Sherri
April 9, 2011 at 6:44 amI have a son who is 23 and a daughter who is 20. They are opposite. My son is quiet and shy and very science and math minded. He just got accepted to graduate school to get his PhD in Neuroscience. My daughter is outgoing and friendly to everyone and is very artistic (painting, drawing and photography). She is getting a degree in Deaf Interpretive Services (she was a fine arts major, but thought she’d end up a “starving artist lol. It’s funny in that my son cannot draw, or do artwork at all and my daughter has a difficult time with math and science. One is shy and one is outgoing and at this age they still remain close. Very opposite and I love it :)
Newmom
April 9, 2011 at 7:37 amOmg she is soooo cute!! You’d better watch out. It looks like she is totally going to take off one of these days!
My 3.5 yr old son was very much like Wita. He was very serious and it was pretty much impossible to get him to crack a smile. Now he’s the happiest, most social kid I know (of course as the mum I’m slightly biased!). His personality changed at about the one year mark. My six month old daughter seems to be quite different. She is very chill and eats up the smiles from strangers around. Hopefully this lasts!
Your kids are beautiful.
Torrie @ a place to share...
April 9, 2011 at 9:17 amHappy 9 month birthday to Wita!!
I am fascinated with the differences of each child’s personality. I have 2 children, and they share certain similarities, but are incredibly different. It’s like the each took 1/2 of my personality (my poor husband… has to deal with “3” of me).
Michelle Baxter
April 10, 2011 at 2:15 pmShe is so cute…and I love how the music went along with her scoots at the end of the video! It seems like we worry about our kids so much, when really they’ve got it all worked out, and will do it when they’re ready (I know where you’re coming from though!). You’re a great mom, and they are such lucky kiddos!
Michelle : )
JoAnn
April 11, 2011 at 5:56 amMan does that girl have the power to ratchet up some serious baby fever!
My son reminds me a ton of your description of Wito. And I know that this might sound terrible, but I find myself hoping slightly that should I be blessed enough to have another child, that he/she be way more reserved. Not because I don’t highly enjoy and love William’s jubilant personality, because I adore it with every ounce of my being! I just dont’ know that I can handle the exhaustion of having TWO like him!
Ninabi
April 11, 2011 at 8:07 pmWith child number one, her behavior was so good my husband and I should have written parenting manuals.
With child number two, we were encouraged to read parenting manuals.
From studious/serious to birthing a stand up comic the second time around- if you take my kids and divide by two, my parenting grade would be “C”.
Courtney
April 12, 2011 at 6:40 amMy youngest will be 9 months on the 17th. He is so chill compared to big brother! I’m not sure if it’s the age difference or what, but sit Arthur in front of his big brother instead of a cartoon and he’ll be content sucking the entertainment out of the 2.5 year old’s tantrums, shrieks, laughing, running, and naked-potty-training activities!
Your kids are cuties!
Sarah Buttenwieser
April 12, 2011 at 7:07 pmThey do come out so differently from each other (i have four). I’m curious whether you’ll follow up with the PT. Even if she’s sitting, it might be a good & reassuring thing.
am'ti b
April 13, 2011 at 1:52 pmlove seeing her in the dress!
3e???
April 14, 2011 at 10:56 am????????????!
Mary
April 21, 2011 at 1:41 pmI h ave two boys who are now 17 and almost 20 (yes i was young when I had my kids). My older son, Sam wanted me around when it was time to do homework, and was a little bit of an attention seeker and drama queen (sorry son). My younger one, however was more independent, more mellow but a big lover, very touchy and lovey. He would come home from school and do his homework, put it back neatly in his backpack and have it ready by the door for the next day. His older brother wanted me to sit with him to give him “company” while he did his. Now one’s a junior in high school and the other a sophomore in college – both do their homework now on their own thank goodness =) I’m a proud mom.
Mel
May 4, 2011 at 9:44 pmYep, Silvie is our lil’ miss serious girl too. But when she smiles and laughs, oh how sweet it is. :)