Big, bad, and nine months old.

Originally I thought I'd be cute and tender and post these on THE day that Clara turns NINE months old, which is Monday. But then these turned out so dang fantastic that I couldn't contain my excitement, I threw tenderness to the wind and here we are. I've told you before—and I'm not sure anyone believed me—I'm a wild one, I am. (...Because I post nine-month pictures of Clara four days before she turns nine months. YEE-HAW!)

Here's the thing. A Utah January isn't really known for being beautiful. Mounds of brown, muddy snow scatter the horizon, most forms of vegetation are dead by now, and it's c-o-l-d. So for this impromptu photo shoot we camped out about 2 inches (I'm not exaggerating) away from our front door. It worked out swimmingly though, because our storage-unit cut-out sheltered us from the bitter wind. Still, it was c-o-l-d so we had to take a few breaks to warm up inside every now and then.

I don't know about anyone else, but my heart's a little puddle of goop by now. And for anyone that has read that Mormon Mommy Blogger article that is circulating the interwebs like hot cakes—I'd like to state that this darling girl is sportin' the likes of Old Navy—not Gap.

We'll call this one: "Seriously Mom—it's cold out here."

So we called it quits. And one more for good measure? (Because I'm a 9-month picture posting maniac these days.) This was during one of our warm-up breaks next to the toasty heater, and it ended up being one of my faves. If you're lucky, you might even spot her two little pearly whites that recently took up residence.

Now I'm off to have a good sit on the couch to determine which one of these lovelies to print. I'll need to devote all of my brain power at hand. And here ye, here ye grandmothers: I'm taking requests.