9 months

3/4 of a year has passed. It gets harder to remember what it was like before our family became three. I enjoy being with Matthew all day every day watching every development and being part of his growing and learning. I continually pray to be a selfless, patient, kind, loving and wise mother. I know only through Christ alone can I live up to the type of mother God calls me to be.


Sleep:
He sleeps 12 hours at night from 7pm to 7 am He has arrived at 2 long naps averaging 1 and a half to 2 hours each. Nap time is this little part of the day that's just mine. I use the first nap to have breakfast, clean, do laundry, unload the dishwasher etc. and the afternoon naps to have lunch, sew, work on projects, nap, have phone conversations, watch tv, check email and facebook or read

Clothes:
His pants are 6-9 months and his shirts and onesies are 12 months. Shoe size is 4. He does have sweet little pudgy feet so he needs wide width. Size 3 diapers. He's weighs 21.12 pounds which is in the 60th percentile and his height is 29.6 inches which is in the 90th percentile. His head circumference is 18 1/2 inches.

Food:
He eats five times a day. Meal one- 8 oz bottle. Meal two-rice and 8 oz bottle. Meal three- stage 3 veggie. 8 oz breast milk bottle. Meal four- stage 3 fruit with 8 oz bottle. Meal five- 8 oz bottle and rocked to sleep. He does finger foods much better. He really enjoys the baby mum mums. I've cut up a few fruits no bigger than the size of a cereal circle. He squints his eyes between bites, I'll have to upload the video, it's pretty funny to me. He has two teeth now. I've been feeding him bits of mushed up banana and blueberries cut in half.


Socially:
Very curious about everything. We are now well into 'no-no' land. He goes for what ever it is about 7 times with mommy and daddy turning him towards a toy or something else appropriate before he finally gives up, crying out of frustration that it's not going to happen for him. Saying no or tapping his hand only results in giggles so I just pick him up and head him toward something appropriate. He giggles at games like peek a boo, zerberting, being upside, carried sideways, being pumped like iron from daddy, being tickled. Matthew and I stand and wave/blow kisses to daddy when he leaves for work every morning. I've seen his hand open and close while I do this now. We spent our Monday mornings with some fabulous mommies and beautiful children and we are sad to not have that to look forward to anymore. We enjoyed the crafts, company, suggestion and bonding. We made some new friends, got to see old ones and got to know some existing friends better.



Developmentally:

I have noticed the sweet lines under my little guys eyes and thought he might not be getting enough sleep. I had become a nap drill Sargent making sure he got plenty of sleep. Turns out the bags are from allergies. Billy has had allergies since he was very small.
He REALLY enjoys crawling up the stairs. We have a gate now ( Thanks Jenn!) We do allow him to do it as long as one of us is right behind him. He can now get up all 15 stairs.
He has no idea how to climb down the stairs, it's pretty funny and scary at the same time.
He started clapping on his own
Cruises the furniture pretty fast independently.
Big boy crawls anywhere he wants to go. Pretty much permanent red knees these days
Tries to mimic our facial expression, sticking tongue out, etc...
Everything goes in the mouth
He'll have an occasional day here and there of the 'happy spitter' thing but it seems to definitely be tapering off.
Word recognition wise, when I say hungry ( as in asking him if he is), he stops crying. He's done this a few times.
He smiles and sits still for any finger play song game like patty cake, twinkle little star, abc's, Jesus Love Me, Wise Man, Father Abraham, Lord's Army, pretty much any song sung to him.
Babbles when he wants our attention and will get louder until we respond to him.


Mommy/ Daddy Highlights:
Mommy got 10 inches cut off her hair


I already have fun plans in mind for Matthew's first birthday. Baby dedication is coming up at church this next month. Matthew should go through the stored supply of breast milk by mid to late August and be on just formula for a couple of months. (Is it silly to be nervous about this?) After he turns a year we'll introduce cow's milk and ...holding my breath... gluten. I think food is just a thing for us in general, God will get us through no matter what happens.