The nine month mark is always a big deal to us mamas because we now officially have a baby that has spent just as much time outside the womb, aka "baby house," as they did inside.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all know that by that dreaded ninth month in pregnancy we were SO ready to get that baby out. Just thinking about that time (although honestly, I think I've blocked most of it out - isn't that how we are supposed to want more kids?) makes me uncomfortable.
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE this age much more than the newborn days, but like anything else, there are some downsides too....
G refuses to lay still on his back while I change his diaper, and 99.9% of the time he flops and flails while I am attempting to change the stinkiest and nastiest poop of them all. This usually prompts a quick bath, so you can't fault us for lack of cleanliness and hygiene in our house.
I have been using a few signs (as in sign language) with G, but he thus far has not signed anything back. Instead, he yells and grunts when he wants "more" or anything really. He is very vocal. Ha! I guess it's his way of informing me of what he thinks about signing and he would just rather "talk."
He is always into EVERYTHING and he particularly enjoys things he is not supposed to have or touch, i.e. the entertainment system, laptop, any cord or breakable item, etc.
The upside though?
This boy.
He is funny and makes me laugh constantly. He is also easy TO make laugh. His preferred method of transportation these days is still the tried and true crawl, although he will pull up on anything and cruise along like nobody's business.
He has also developed a lovely (cringe) clingy phase right now and wants to be held often. This is not easy to do when I am watching the sweet little 2 month old, but we are adjusting and learning to cope.
He has a pretty good and consistent daily routine that I *try* to stick to as best as possible.
He is still, thankfully, super easy to get to bed when he is ready. He goes down between 7 and 7:30 at night, occasionally earlier and occasionally later. He is up almost always at 7:00 in the morning, standing up in his crib with a big smile on his face. He is also a great napper at home (wasn't so much at daycare) and takes 2-3 naps that range anywhere from 1-3 hours each.
He eats three meals a day, plus has 1-2 snack times. Level 3 foods finally don't induce his gag reflex, so we are working on adding more texture to his meals. Still rockin' the pureed foods, although he does greatly enjoy munchin' on puffs, yogurt melts, and mum mums. If he sees them, he will give you the very successful, "Stare and holler," until you satisfy his desire (and appetite). I swear that he eats non-stop, it seems, but at his 9 month well check he was only at the 50th percentile in weight. He must burn those calories fast with his constant on-the-go activity. Hmmmm... maybe he's on to something? Hehe.
This month I tricked him (I know, bad mama) into eating AND enjoying those dreadful peas. I found a great organic pouch mix of spinach, pears, and peas that took no convincing for him to chow down. He also tried his first "table" food this past month - scrambled eggs and toast. He didn't hate it but didn't beg for more.
He takes anywhere from 24-32 ounces of formula during the day. R says he will be glad when he's not paying for formula anymore since G consumes, on average, a pouch of Enfamil a week. Not so easy on the bank account, but we are in the final home stretch of our formula days.
He is still wearing size 3 diapers and a mix of 6-12 month and 12-18 month clothes, depending on the brand.
Nine Month Stats:
weight - 21 pounds - 50th%
height - 29 inches - 75th%
head circumference - 95th%+ (big head, big brain? ... or so we can hope)
Things he loves: sleeping with his paci and bunny blanket, playing with his daddy, giving hugs, pulling up and banging on anything, dumping his toys out of their containers, looking at animals, going for walks, watching older kids play, "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" song
Things he does NOT love: being told "no," riding in the car longer than 20 minutes, eating peas, not getting his way (doesn't everyone hate that though?)
Dear G,
You are quickly becoming my little boy instead of my little baby. In fact, I no longer sign cards to people with "Baby G," because I don't think of you that way. Whenever we take care of Baby J, I always point him out as "baby" and have to remind myself that you are still, in fact, a baby.
This past month we braved through your worst sickness yet only to find out your fever had morphed into an ear infection. Mama is so glad for antibiotics! It was hectic to be at home with you and not at work, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.
You still love crawling over to me just to pull yourself up, throw your arms tightly around me, and put your head on my shoulder. I love that so much. One of my hopes for you is that you are always a kind hearted, sweet boy.
Your dada and I have affectionately started calling you, "Little Bruiser," because you play HARD. You have had your first couple of falls bonking your head, and even though they didn't leave actual bruises, I know they won't be the last. Such is the life of a boy, I suppose.
I love you to the moon and back, my little man.
Love,
Mama
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