9 Months

9 months! 3/4 of a year!  I know in several months I am going to be in shock that it is your first birthday with how fast this year has flown by.   This month was an especially eventful one for you and for our family in general.  One of my goals was to move back closer to "home" before you got older.  On September 10, we found out that I was able to transfer with Accenture to the Cincinnati office, which then started a whirlwind week where I started to pack up all of our rooms in preparation for moving down here full time.  In addition to all the changes in my job, you had a lot of changes as well.  Perhaps the hardest part of leaving Columbus was leaving Sunny Day Academy.  You had formed such as great bond with Nette Nette and Miss Brittany and they were very sad to hear that you were leaving.  Mom was also sad as well, mainly because you were happy there and had formed a bond with your teachers.  And then, on your last day of daycare, after I picked you up, we went home to continue cleaning and packing.  Much to my surprise, you started crawling that day! It was Friday, September 13. (not so unlucky, I guess)  I dragged a football across the carpet and you got on your hands and knees and started going after it!   It was so cute, and I'm glad to have captured it on video. 

Ever since that day I have not been able to keep you still.  You sit, crawl, squirm, grab, and do whatever to explore the world around you.  Ever since we have been staying with Grandma and Grandpa, you love climbing up on the most dangerous items in the living room, and even like crawling under the coffee tables.  Once you became mobile, I have to watch you like a hawk to make sure you don't hurt yourself.  However, you have already had a couple bumps and bruises already because you like to explore everything.  So, in about two weeks you were able to crawl and pull yourself up to standing while holding onto something. 

In other areas, on September 23 (and 24th), you started saying what I think to be ma ma.  Of course you only say it when you are whining about something, but it is so cute nonetheless.  Both Jeffrey and Grandpa Lucas witnessed it, so I have witnesses.  You started saying Dada a couple months ago and Dad was proud that you said his name first.  Well, I am still taking the prize as your first word that you actually meant.  In the sound department, you are OBSESSED with making the motorboat/motorcycle sound.  I seriously don't know how you do it, but everyone laughs at you when you start doing it anywhere and everywhere.

In other news, since we moved, you have had to start at a new daycare.  As of writing this update, you have been in a new place for about two weeks and you still aren't very happy with it.  I know that eventually you will get used to Sandy and her house, but it breaks my heart every morning when I have to leave you for work and you are crying. 

Overall Health

This has been another healthy month for you!  You had no times when we had to pick you up from daycare and haven't had any new trips to the doctor to talk about.

Clothes

You are still wearing most of your nine month clothes because the summer heat has been sticking around and all your shorts and shirt sleeved onesies are that size.  Once the colder weather starts, you will be living in 12 month clothing.  You have worn some 12 month clothing thus far and the pants are WAY too long.  I hope you haven't been cursed with your mom and dad's short gene.

Sleep

For a majority of the month, you have been waking up once in the middle of the night still to eat.  Even after we tried to let you cry for some time when you woke up in the middle of night, you definitely have staying power and would not stop crying for 3 hours.  Needless to say, we caved in and fed you and right back to sleep you went.  The best news I have to report is that starting the last week of this month, you slept straight from 11pm to 6am!! Dad was out of town for work and I was soo happy you decided to sleep so I could get some rest. 

Diet

I think this month was the first that you have tried just about everything except peanuts/peanut butter and honey.  On top of eating stage 2 and 3 purees, you have eaten birthday cake, cod, rolls, broccoli chicken casserole just to name a few.  You are very good with your pincher grasp and are able to feed yourself just about everything.  You especially use your grasp to grab puffs, which you loooove.    In terms of food, whenever you see someone else eating and you don't have anything, you start whining.  When we do feed you, you make funny noises to show your pleasure in eating.  Sometimes I wonder if you have a hole in your stomach because you will continue to eat and eat. 

Milestones

This was a huge month in every category of your milestones.  You crawled forward, pulled yourself up to standing on your crib, toys, mom, dad, just about everything, started babbling mama and dada and many other sounds, and have just started to mimic hand gestures.  You haven't officially waved bye bye, but I can see your mind thinking of doing it so I'm sure that will be coming soon.  You continue to smile at everyone(your smile lights up a room), and I love your belly laughs whenever you see someone do something silly. 

In event milestones, you attended your first family reunion and Reds game (they are in the playoffs this year!!)  You have been very lucky to be born in a year when both the Reds and Bengals are pretty good teams!

Statistics

You don't have a doctor's appointment again until one year, so not sure on these statistics right now.

This has been a great month for your overall.  You survived a move, you started moving EVERYWHERE, and your little personality continues to evolve and get cuter each day. 

Here is an overview of the past month in pictures.