Gavin: 9 Months

Nine months - what. in. the. world! My little helpless baby is growing up to be independent, fun-loving, and full of life! It seems like a lot has happened this past month to be excited about! Gavin graduated from physical therapy which is very exciting! His first tooth erupted last night, just in time for his nine month birthday! Let's see, what else is going on.....

• Gavin's personality is really starting to break through. Smiles are given a little more freely these days which is wonderful. The biggest laughs and smiles are reserved for big brother who is watched like a hawk : ) At the same time, Gavin is not shy about letting you know when something is bothering him. His favorite toy is my cell phone and when it's taken away, I get quite the rebuttal!
• Gavin loves massages, especially on his neck and head. This has been a routine part of physical therapy, but he loves to get massages from Daddy at home
• Gavin is very attentive, even to small details. He always notices my little stud earring and even little specks of dirt on the floor (yes, between 3 males and two dogs, this house can hardly stay clean!)
• Food- I'm still nursing him 4-6 times a day (and one of these feedings occurs before 7 am). Thank goodness for nursing, otherwise I would never get cuddle time with this one! He's doing OK on baby food, but he truly prefers to feed himself. So, we've done cheese cubes, beans, waffle, peas, banana, and pasta. I was looking back at an old post of Blane at this age, and it's amazing what I had Blane eating! You'd think Mom would be more cautious the FIRST time around.....ha!
• Gavin has mastered the art of clapping as you will see in the video below! Yea!
• So, while Blane was running across the room holding onto the walker at this age, little Gavin is just now rocking back and forth on all 4's. This sweet little baby is much more laid back, and very content to just watch from the sidelines. Love it!
• Funny what you (or your toddler) will find in the dark corners of the master closet. Neither of my kids took paci's, but we always had some lying around from showers and such. A couple of weeks ago, Blane stumbled across one of these paci's somewhere in the depths of my closet and gave it to Gavin to play with. It is now a favorite toy and a great teether!
• It's a tab bit more challenging to grocery shop with two, especially when grabby graberson Gavin is pulling things into the cart that we have no intention of buying : )
• Gavin is ALWAYS in bed at 6:30, 6:45 at the very latest. There were a couple of nights in a row where he slept 12 hours without eating (what a tease!) but more consistently he will wake around 5 or so to eat. Even though this causes Mommy a little lack of sleep, it's still one of my favorite times of day.
• You know how most babies will nurse and nod off contently in their mother's arms? Not mine. No, those days are long behind us. Now, I am pretty much a human balancing beam and/or trampoline during "cuddle time"

So, for some 9 month stats: weight 18 lbs 12 oz (this puts him in the 10th percentile, which means that we have to increase his calories, and revisit our wonderful doctor for a weight check, I can't help but think this is so hilarious!) height 28 3/4", head circumference 43 3/4 cm.

I mention this with every post but just have to say it again: I am so thankful for every single day that God gives me with my husband and kids. He doesn't promise us family, health, wealth...but he does promise us Jesus!