The bad and the good (in that order)

As most of you already know, Piper had her first trip to the ER last Saturday. She took a tumble from the kitchen table (my watch, and I thought I was watching, but turns out I wasn't). Don't worry - she's fine. She came through the experience with a little shiner under her left eye and a better understanding that, when you go to the ER and they say the doctor will be with you shortly, they don't actually mean it.

Needless to say it was a horrible experience for all, and although Piper seems to have forgotten about it her mother most definitely has not.

The doctors at the ER didn't do much for her - they didn't want to scan her unnecessarily and she seemed to be fine (which might explain why, after we were immediately triaged, we then went on to become the last people sitting in the waiting room two hours later). She was a real trooper throughout the entire ordeal. We just had her follow-up visit with the pediatrician yesterday and she's as good as new.

So we're eternally grateful that the situation wasn't any worse, and appropriately humbled by the realization of just how fast an accident can happen and the fact that you can never be off your game even for a second.

On to more pleasant topics, Piper's really having fun experimenting with finger foods! She likes shredded cheddar cheese, peas, and ham. She doesn't (yet) like broccoli, yellow squash or ground turkey.

Part of the problem with preparing vegetables for Piper is that everything needs to be steamed to beyond lifeless and soggy since she has no teeth to chew. And who wants vegetables that are dead and fall apart when you touch them? I figure at this point we're not going for nutritional value since much of that is likely leeched away despite my diligence in the steaming process. We're more so aiming to help her develop a taste for healthy eating.

We have also started sitting Piper up in her stroller rather than plugging the car seat into the travel system. What this means is that Piper can see things as we stroll! She loves this newest development - it makes going everywhere much more interesting. :)

All in all, Piper seems to be thinking that it's good to be a 9 month old. She's more fun and interactive every day, and still she's the easiest part of our hectic lives. There's no other explanation for it: we've been given an angel.