Happy 9 Months!

This is the 9 month post I wrote a while back (on July 22nd, about a week after he turned 9 months) and never got around to posting. I definitely need to write an updated post, but for now, here's a snapshot of Joshua @ 9 months.

 

--------------------------------------- 

You are growing so very fast. I can't believe all the things you are learning every day.

You are crawling on all fours now, rather than the "army crawl" of last month. Every other move forward, you kind of "push off" with your right foot. It's pretty funny looking, but I guess it gets you where you need to go! You are not a fan of me leaving the room or area you are in, and you will immediately crawl after me all the while telling me all about how unhappy you are. I do want you to be able to play independently and not need mommy around, but since I see you so little during the week, I can't help but humor you. On the other hand, if we're playing in a room and YOU decide to follow the cat or go exploring, you are just fine leaving me behind.

You love your walker, but we had to put it outside so it didn't scratch the floors. You figured out how to back up and turn (sort of) and are pretty speedy with that thing unless you run off the patio into the grass.

You don't seem to like stroller walks as much, though you still love being outside and exploring. Your eyes seems a little sensitive to the sun, I think because they are so blue.

You still love food of all kinds. You really haven't rejected anything we've given you. You make really funny sounds when you eat "mmmm, mmm, mmm" is kind of what it sound s like. Despite the fact that you put all your toys in your mouth, you refuse to feed yourself  food. I can't quite figure that one out.

New foods:

Arborio rice ("risotto")
Millet
Zucchini
Peaches
Sweet potato "puffs"
Green beans
Pears
Ground turkey

You pull up on almost anything, and you love walking assisted (holding our hands) all around the room. You even someone figured out the concept of kicking a soccer ball already! We're working on rolling/throwing the ball back and forth. I think you understand how it works, because when we roll the ball to you, you grasp it when it reaches you and just laugh. You can't really roll it back with any sort of accuracy though. :-)

Speaking of laughing, I love discovering the things that randomly "crack you up." The other night I imitated you saying "bah bah bah, bah bah bah" in a sing-songy voice. You laughed, so I kept doing it, and you got so tickled! Daddy thinks I was telling jokes in baby language. You also laugh and laugh when we tickle you. It's kind of become part of our bedtime routine to wear you out with a tickle attack.

If you could reach the doors, I've no doubt you could open them. You also know how to turn on the water in the sink and would no doubt turn the shower on if it wasn't covered with a soft spout cover.

Your favorite toys continue to be things that you can bang and shake, like rattles and empty bowls or boxes. You also like your blocks, banging them and knocking them over after we stack them. You still like playing at your standing table and with your "work and play" bench. On your work and play bench, there are three "pegs" that light up as the music plays. We caught you the other day actually pounding the one that was lit up in order to make the music continue. Of course we tried to get it on video but you were "over it" by that point.

Mommy went on her first overnight trip away from you! I was gone on a work trip to North Carolina for two nights, but Daddy had you for bedtime routine for 3 nights. You guys all did SO well! I missed you bunches though! You had a little bit of a tough time going to sleep the first night, but the next nights went much better. The day I left Jenny brought Ellyette with her, which was a huge blessing. You love playing with Ellyette and were totally distracted as I left, instead of crying (you've been a little more clingy in the mornings lately). I wanted to skype with you and Daddy but we were worried it might upset you too much. :-( I miss seeing your smiling face. Jenny sent me a few cute pictures. In one, you were listening to a kids' concert at the library and she said you were "captivated."

 

-----------------------------

 

I'm wrote the above post while I was on the plane back from my business trip. I feel like there was more I should have added, but I'll leave it as-is, so I don't get confused about stuff he's doing now. :-)