A day of first's

I really wanted to wait until you were a year before getting your first haircut, but I couldn't take your shagginess anymore.  So, last Friday I took you to "Pigtails and Crewcuts."  Your hair was halfway past your ears and had a lot of 6 inch long pieces and then 3 inch long pieces everywhere else.  I figured that over the holidays you would have a lot of pictures taken and I didn't want you to be the "scraggly kid" (you can thank me later).  I thought about doing it myself, but then decided I would let a professional (again, feel free to thank me). 

a 'before' shot (sorry it is blurry, but you don't really sit still)

(ignore your pink cheeks...Ill explain those later)

more of the 'before' shagginess

her face is a little concerning.  I'm glad i didn't notice it until later when i looked at the pictures

Snacks make anything more fun

The salon provided a picture and your hair.  I'm not sure what i will do with this, but i am glad i have it.

As sad as I am that you have already had a haircut, I think you look so handsome with your "big boy hair."  You have already received so many compliments. 

Your other first that I found out about that same day, is your first tooth!!  I had no idea that you were getting your tooth, especially since the doctor said you were still a long way from teething.  Now I know that your pink cheeks were a signal to me.  It is still barely poking through and you can't really see it, but if I put my finger in your mouth I can feel it.  Man, it is super sharp.

(it is that little spot on the bottom right side)

9 months old

So, this is way behind (again).  Time is flying by and I feel like sometimes I can't keep up time with how fast you are growing and how much you are changing every day.  You amaze me so much with all of the new things you are learning to do and with your sweet and charming personality.  You interact so much with everyone.  It is almost like you are talking with us, because your non-verbals are so good I feel like we are having conversations.  You have a ton of facial expressions that range from frustrated to happy.  You also like to throw in the "are you for real mom" face a lot. 

I am still staying at home with you most of the time and working about 5 hours a week.  On Mondays, you continue to go to mom's day out at the church.  They absolutely love you there.  We had to miss one time last week because you had your first ear infection and your teachers said they missed you so much.  I work at my office on Mondays when you are at mom's day out.  Tuesdays, we usually hang out together and run errands.  Sometimes, I have clients Tuesday evenings and you stay with your grandparents or a baby sitter.  One time you even got to go with dad to his "guy's night".  You had so much fun and they liked having you there.  Wednesdays, we go to a mommy and me gym class in the morning and then Madison comes over to watch you from 4:30-7:30 while I work.  The gym class is great and we learn lots of new things to practice at home.  You can do summer salts and roll on the balance beam (with help of course :) ).  Thursdays are play date days and Fridays we usually relax.  I know I say this all the time, but I am still so thankful to be home with you! 

We went for your 9 month check-up on the 6th.  You weigh 20.13 lbs (around 60th percentile) and are 27.5 inches long (around 25th percentile).  Your head circumference is like 96th percentile though, which you get from your dad.  You are developing and growing right on track.  I was a little worried that you hadn't gained weight in over 2 months, but your doctor said that is very normal for breastfed babies. 

You are eating 3 meals a day plus an afternoon snack and nursing 4 times a day.  For each meal you usually eat 8-12 oz of food.  We have started giving you finger foods, which you think is awesome!  You love to feed yourself carrots, apples, pears, peaches, green beans, peas, chicken, and anything else that you see me eating.  Even if you don't like something you still eat it all, which cracks me up because you make really funny faces the whole time. 

We still have the same bedtime routine and get you to bed about 7:20.  You will sleep through the night until about 7:30 or 8.  We will have breakfast and play for a couple of hours and then you take a nap.  Sometimes this nap lasts for 2 hours and gives me time to get things done around the house.  We will then play some more and eat lunch before your second nap.  This nap is usually around 1:00 and only lasts about an hour.  Then we eat a snack, play, and wait for dad to come home. 

New skills you can do:
-army crawl (crawling on your belly by pulling yourself along with your arms.  you are surprisingly fast at this)
-cruising along furniture
-lots of ah's and squeals, but no consistent babbling
-pulling yourself to a standing position
-recognize familiar faces
-recognize words

you tried my apple, but don't worry I didn't let you really eat it this way

some days I like to give you a mohawk...after nap time it usually looks like this

you are my e*trade baby :)...and now my shift button is gone so no more computer for you

I imagine that you are saying "i love you mommy"

morning play time.  I have to push the toy up against the couch, otherwise you push it around the room and I have to follow behind you.

Our November photo for your monthly pictures

playing in your room

We had a play date at Sam's for their Taste of Sam's menu.  I think Nora was more excited than you :)

You still LOVE bath time

You get pretty messy when you eat

We went to Chili's with G-mama.  I love that you have your mouth wide open in excitement.

You got to meet baby Addy and see your friend Amy again

You were being super silly...and this was right after we found out you had a cold and an ear infection

This is your "so what, I pulled off my bib after you told me not.  what are you going to do about it" face.

and then this is your "yay, i am so messy" face

 

(see above caption)

The best present ever!!

Spittin' Image

So, I don't think there is any question who the dad is...

I could go on and on, but I think I might save those for rainy days.  I thought it was supposed to be 50/50, but I am pretty sure that it is like 99.9/.1.  Oh well, at least I know he will grow up to be handsome :)

Thanksgiving 2011

Ok, so I'm  a little behind on my posting.  Things have been going so great lately and I have been doing the '"oh, I have to blog about this" but then forget about it thing...so here is my attempt to catch up :)

Marcus and I are fortunate to have our families live close by.  We are able to see the majority of our families on each holiday and, for the most part, avoid the "whose family to we have to leave out" conversations.  Typically, we go to my parent's house for a big lunch and then his family for dinner.  I normally try to get there early to help my mom cook, but this year we waited until after Walker's morning nap to leave, which meant we didn't get there until 12:00.  The food was delicious and I was so full.  I tried to allow Walker the experience of Thanksgiving food too by bringing Turkey and Cranberries, Sweet Potato, and even Pumpkin Apple baby food.  I also gave him some finger foods to try, which was a complete mess, but he loved them!  This also gave me time to enjoy my food.  My sister flew in from New York and was able to spend time with us too! 

He loved feeding himself

SO MESSY

Mommy's Little Turkey

Climbing on grandpa

Talking with Aunt 'Mila

Walker is in a stage right now where you can't eat or drink anything around him without him trying to get some.  He will loudly smack his lips and stare you down until you give in.  If he is close enough to you he will crawl to you and try to pull the food out of your hand.  I am thankful that he enjoys food so much, but find it sort of ridiculous that I have to hide behind things and eat in secrecy if I want to avoid an upset baby.

Anyway, after my family we drive about 40 minutes to the Necessary family gathering.  We indulged in another huge dinner (completely stuffing ourselves...thank goodness for leggings :) ) and then hung out and talked.  Baby Nora was also there so Walker had a play mate.  He was pretty tired by the end of the evening though so we headed home around 7. 

Cheered on the hogs Friday after Thanksgiving

Flirting with baby Addy later Friday evening

Marcus's mom came up Saturday to celebrate Thanksgiving and hang out.  We got together with her family (the Walker's) on Saturday and had 'brinner', which is breakfast for dinner.  It was so delicious and a great change from the Thanksgiving foods and leftovers.  Walker loved having his Nahna here to play with and cuddle.

He loved meeting his cousins Kaylee and Owen, but Owen was not so sure about Walker

All in all, I think we had a great first Thanksgiving as a family of 3.  We got to visit with family, eat great food, and relax.  I am reminded often about all the things I have to be thankful for, but in particular this year I thought a lot about how thankful I am that my mom is continuing to do well in her battle with cancer, my sister is able to come home for holidays, our health, and also our fortune to be able to have food to eat.