Nine Months with Sammy!

Wowza, how did we get here so quick!

Another month of you on the move means the quality of your monthly shots continues to go down hill.  I may have to change this to monthly videos to better capture your cuteness. 

Sometimes, the outtakes are better anyways:

Sammy, you truly light up my life.  The way your smile lights up your face mirrors how my heart swells with love for you each and every day.  There is nothing better than holding you, touching your soft skin, placing my cheek on your soft hair and listening to you breathe.  Your giggles which happen so frequently now are the best sound.  I am doing absolutely everything I can to soak all of you in.  I know each day with you is a gift and I treasure them.  I have a feeling within this next month you will be walking and a whole new adventure is going to begin for you.  You will still need me, but not in the way you do now and I am grateful life changes in steps, so that I can gradually watch you grow from a tiny newborn, to a fun infant, to a vivacious toddler.

 We had so much fun this month.  Most months so far have gone by in a whirlwind, leaving me to wonder how time could move so fast.  While it is hard to believe you are now living outside of me longer than you lived in me, your 8th month of life was incredibly full.  We made each day matter, and had so much fun with family coming in and out of town.  You have now met almost all of your cousins and loved it.  I did my best to get you out of the house at least once a day.  We either went for a playdate, to the library, to grandmas, to the pool, out to eat, shopping or for a walk.  The weather was miserably hot for much of the last month, so unfortunately walking which was our normal daily outing came to a screeching halt when we suffered through 11 straight days of 95 degrees or above.

At the library for your first story time

The biggest change this month for you is that now you are crawling and walking with your walker!  This morning when I was watching you play, I was in awe watching you race and climb and enjoy life.  Last month, I had this sense of knowing that my days of leaving you in one place were numbered.  Today, I watched as you zoomed from place to place becoming engulfed in whatever your mind wanted to let you do.  I am truly enjoying this stage in your life as your Mom.  It is amazing to watch as you experience for yourself all that there is to offer in your world.  I have a feeling you'll take your first unassisted steps this month.  God help me, I'm already on 24/7 suicide watch with you getting into everything I never knew existed.

 You started doing great finally with your naps and bedtime sleep.  Ironically, since you are napper better, you seem to have a radar for when to take long naps (whenever we have someplace to be).  you've now slept through 3 weeks of mommy group and today's lunch date with my friends!  You still wake up twice to eat, but I can handle that and also know that it is a fleeting habit which I'm sure soon enough will fade away.  No amount of sleep training seems to be getting rid of your need for a 3 am chow session so I wave the white flag of surrender.

Some fun things you are doing now:
Standing on your own

 

Getting back down is still a bit daunting to you, which gives a good chuckle for us, not so much for you.  You've sorta got that figured out now, but it results in an ambivalent plop with a sigh of relief at the end.

You found your toy bucket.  Now I need to teach you how to clean up after yourself!

Eating like a champ.  The other day when we went out to eat at the Clifton cafe you ate SO much.  I couldn't believe that you could eat a hand sized piece of cod, zucchini strips, portabella mushrooms, 1/4 of my smoothie, 7 ounces of milk.  You were like a bottomless pit!  I think that may have been part of your 9 month growth spurt, but it was hilarious.  Everyone was seriously impressed with your baby led weaning skills.  We also took you to fanfare with the family and your love for burgers outside of my belly was confirmed.  This along with watermelon was your all time fav when I was pregnant.

You've figured out my camelbak.  I'm a bit surprised, but I guess I shouldn't be.

You were dedicated on father's day which was such a blessing.

 You swim all the time, and love your backyard (patio) pool

You've become head over heels in love with Bailey (I think you may have always been, but now you can show it)

Both of you two waiting for something to eat.  I think you know what that means too.

No words yet, but you understand a lot.  If I ask for a kiss I get one and you can do high fives which is really cool!  You wave hello and goodbye which melts my heart and If I say, where is Daddy, where is Bailey, you look for them.  I have started to hear the syllables for mama, and dada and baba in your mumblings so hopefully soon I'll hear the word I've been waiting so anxiously for, mama. 

After I asked you where is Daddy. 

Life with an 8th month old is not dull.  Baby Proofing is a MUST as you can see below.  You are hilarious Sammy.  Thanks for doing all these funny faces.  Keep up the good work kiddo, you are Loved beyond measure.

Praying God gives us another healthy happy month together, Sammy my love