9 Months Old!

Dear Lucas,

You turned 9 months old on Christmas! We can't believe you're already 9 months. You are 19 lbs 9 oz (50th %), 29" tall (62nd %) and your head is 18" around (88th %). You are now just average on your weight. You still look a bit chunky but your midsection has thinned out quite a bit. It makes us kind of sad that you are not our fat little monster anymore but you are still one healthy baby!

You are eating solids three times a day but we would like it if you ate a little more at each sitting.

You love all foods but you seem to get over it quickly. We finally felt comfortable enough to give you finger foods and you LOVE this! You think you are such a big boy. This has also helped with meals because you will sit and eat for 1/2 an hour without a peep if there is still food in front of you for you to grab. The first time we did this, you had soft carrots, we were so proud, you just gobbled every bit up! Or so we thought. Once we took you out of your highchair about 90% of the carrots were on your lap or chair:)

During the day you nurse every 3 hours. You are still waking up twice a night to eat but now that you are 9 months old you are a big boy and you should only have to eat once at night so the next few weeks are going to be a rough transition but hopefully you catch on fast…I'm rooting for you! You are back to taking three naps a day, about an hour each nap. You celebrated your first Thanksgiving this past month.

You did so well with all of the family around. After two days though you were over it. We tried taking you to a friend's party and you said no way! I need my space! This started your time of really just wanting to be with your parents. You became very clingy and not really wanting other people to hold you but this is completely normal for your age. If I am holding you and we are out people always comment on what a happy baby you are. And you really are. You always give everyone a smile and they love it.

We did have a play date with one of mommy's friends from high school and her beautiful daughter but I forgot to take any pictures. We just had too much fun! We went to a Gymboree class and you did like all the things you could play on.  Two days later was my birthday and you started a pretty nasty cough. (I blame Gymboree.)

Wonderful first time parents that we are we didn't realize you were sick until we got to the freezing cold city but you were a champ. You loved looking at all the lights and decorations that were around and you let mommy celebrate her day with a fabulous dinner. The same week that you were sick your top teeth started to break through. Your top left one broke through the gums on Dec. 10 but your right didn't break through until the 25th.

This was one tough teething month. It was very painful! You are continuing your swim lessons. For the most part you still enjoy this but you are not too fond of your teaching holding you right now. You would prefer to just stay in my arms.

We also go to story time at the library once a week and you are so fascinated by all the kids and love listening to all the stories and songs.

You still won't crawl.

You get on your arms while on your stomach and then pull your feet up like an A and try to inch worm places. You would so prefer to stand and walk. You can move all over the place if you have something to hold on to.

Your favorite thing right now is to hold our fingers and walk all over the house. You get so excited. It is adorable! You can stand on your own for about 10-20 seconds and then you'll look for our hand to hold or you just sit down. Your doctor thinks you will be walking by 10 months. We shall see! You love to bite Daddy's toes when he is wearing socks. You're an odd one but we still love you;)

You met Santa! And you didn't cry! It all happened really fast but we got our picture:)

I didn't know that we would be seeing Santa so you weren't exactly dressed the way I would have imagined for your first meeting but what are you going to do?

You also celebrated your first Christmas. It was so much fun to have a little one around. Everything excited you and we know that you are going to love Christmas as much as Mama does!

We had to get a Christmas family pic but you are on the move now and getting you to stay still in our arms for a picture is hard. We did it though!

We love you so much and every day you seem to show us something new. Thank you for bringing such light into our life!
Love,
Mommy and Daddy