Graham at 9 months

Happy 9 months my sweet baby boy.

Where has the time gone?

You are thriving, learning, experiencing, and growing. 

This past month has been quite a challenge with you.  Where did my quiet boy go?  You have developed eczema and now have us visiting an allergist to discover what the red, bumpy rash on your body is from.  You would think I would be a seasoned veteran of this 9 month age group, but you have me on my toes and scratching my head....and in tears a time or two (it's probably five hours of sleep a night).  Is it your teeth?  Your central incisors have now made an appearance-that makes 6 teeth in all. 

 Or is it the itchy rash?  We should have that under control now with the prescribed cream.  I'm adjusting my diet and yours hoping to find out what is bothering you. 

 Or are you just cranky because your mind is ahead of your body?  Maybe you want to crawl and move around more but you just don't know how yet.  I can't turn my back on you without you crying.  You have developed a set of lungs like no other-the kind that turns several heads in public.  The funny thing is, if you are handed a new "object" or picked up, you seem to calm right down. Seriously, you can go from quiet to screaming in a fraction of a second, without any "working up to it". 

Here's a rundown of your latest accomplishments.

You are up on all fours rocking back and forth.  You haven't discovered how to move yet. I'm curious, will you "army crawl" for months (like your brother) or go the more "classic" route?

You laugh hysterically when we stand you up next to the couch with your hands on it for support.  I think you like the new vantage point.

You have mastered feeding yourself.  In fact, the boy that once enjoyed being spoon fed will cry when given mashed avocado on a spoon but loves the same avocado, in chunks, on his tray.

You love your teething biscuits.

You will have nothing to do with a bottle. 

You will have nothing to do with pumped milk-in a bottle, sippy cup, glass, or otherwise.

You are really loving your voice and making new sounds.  "Ma" is the newest.  In fact, I now run around the house saying "mama" to you all the time.  I'm determined that one of my kids will speak my name first.  In the meantime, handy husband is certain he'll be three for three.  Yesterday, you said, "ma......ma".  I'll take that but your dad say's it doesn't count.

You still think sleep is overrated.  You are napping twice a day-if I'm lucky.  It's a bit of a crapshoot. You might sleep an hour and a half, you might sleep 15 minutes.  You've been getting up once a night to eat.  Lately, it's been twice.  I come to you when you cry at night these past few days because I'm not certain if your itchy or uncomfortable from the rash or your teeth.  We're all giving you the benefit of the doubt but the moment we figure this thing out, it's time for some schooling.

You love to "grunt".  You're dad taught you this.  You do it to him, he does it back to you, and so it begins. 

Your favorite toy is anything with wheels.  You love to spin them around.

You love your food. Blueberries are your new favorite indulgence. You also love your morning "porridge"-a mixture of oatmeal, flax, amaranth, and kamut topped off with yogurt and fruit.

We're all crazy about you.

xoxo

(PS: I took your bassinet of our room today.  Sniff Sniff.)