Now is the time!: 9 Month Update

We took Wesley in for his 9 month check-up at the beginning of March, and his weight was 21lbs (70^th percentile) and height was 29.75 inches (95^th percentile). He continues to be our long and lean boy! He also has 6 teeth now (4 on the top and 2 on the bottom), with more on the way. It’s amazing how much babies change and develop in 9 short months of life! I really find it hard to believe that just a few months ago I was holding a little baby in my arms for much of the day, and now we have a little boy who’s crawling everywhere and getting into anything and everything! Wesley is constantly on the move and won’t sit still for long. He pulls up on coffee tables, chairs, tables, the oven, you name it and he’s on it. I’ve quickly come to the realization that I can’t take my eyes off of him for 5 seconds, or he’s bound to be shredding rolls of toilet paper, trying to eat Scarlett’s toys, or pulling a coffee table down on top of him. How’s a girl supposed to get anything done anymore?! Nap time and bedtime are pretty much the only times when I’m able to accomplish anything these days. I need a way to contain this boy!

Though it’s exhausting chasing after him all the time, this stage is also a lot of fun! The smiles and coos were rewarding in those first months, but now the excitement he expresses when he sees me or says “dada!” and crawls towards the back door the second Bill walks in from work is just the best. He’s babbling, laughing, and engaging more than ever before. I just love it. He cuddles more than he ever used to, and the way he snuggles his sweet face into my chest after he wakes up in the morning melts my heart. He’s also had major separation anxiety when I try and leave him at daycare or mother’s day out. He clings to me, and the ladies have to pry him off while crying and screaming. He’s usually fine after a couple of minutes, but it’s always a little hard to leave him in such a state. However, I must admit that it does make me feel special to know he loves me and recognizes me as his momma.

Wesley continues to love pretty much any new food we give him. Anytime we are at home or eating out, we will give him bites of whatever we are eating, and he inhales it (much like his mom!). He especially liked the “gut pack” I shared with him at Vitek’s a couple of weeks ago. Who wouldn’t love that?! He’s still taking four 8oz. bottles a day (sometimes more), and he eats three meals. We put Wesley to bed around 7:15 or 7:30, and he’s been sleeping until about 6:30-45ish (thank goodness it’s not 5:30 anymore… knock on wood!). He naps around 9:45 and 2:45, and I put him down awake pretty much every time. He may cry or play for a few minutes but is usually pretty good about falling asleep after that.

Wesley still loves his Clifford stuffed animal and other stuffed animal “friends,” reading lots of books, crawling as fast as he can away from me while I chase him, playing with his toys, banging on everything, trying to play in Scarlett’s water bowl, attempting to unplug any cord he sees, and trying to get into anything he knows he shouldn’t (see why I have to watch him?!). He’s a ton of fun, and he is constantly making us laugh. He’s started making some new silly faces, and the more we laugh the more he does them. Bill and I comment daily on how much we love this little guy and would do anything for him! He’s almost 10 months old now, and I can’t believe we’ll be celebrating one year so very soon. It’s definitely a journey like no other in life, and I’m grateful to be along for the ride!