Sam started crawling last Wednesday at Baby & Me choir. He crawls on his knees and also likes to do the bear crawl. With his newfound mobility he’s discovered the fireplace, the cats’ food, the stairs down to the laundry room and the bottom drawers in the bedrooms. I’m happy to report no accidents, bumps, or bruises so far!
P.S. There’s nothing creepy about Sam crawling, the title’s just a nod to the Halloween season!
Today you had your 9 month check up with Dr. Sanders.
Weight: 20 lbs (50th percentile)
Height: 29 in (75th percentile)
You got the first of two flu shots today. We have to go back next month for the second half because that’s just the way they do it for infants! I wasn’t expecting you to get any shots today, but you did. You cried for about two seconds, then quickly forgot about the pain.
You also had your finger pricked for an iron test. You didn’t seem to mind that at all. You were very compliant, letting the nurse catch your blood in a little vial. Afterwards, she put a cotton ball on your finger to stop the bleeding, then covered it with a band-aid.
The nurse warned me to take off the band-aid when we got to the car so Sam wouldn’t play with it.
The door had barely shut behind us as we were leaving the waiting room and I noticed the band-aid was gone. Yep, you had eaten it off your finger and were enjoying the nice cotton & plastic treat from the nurse!
Sam,
Once again, you have changed so much in one month! You are so close to crawling. You’ve taken a step forward once or twice, but not continuously. Scooting backwards and stretching are your primary means of getting something that’s out of your reach. You’re very good at transitioning from lying down to sitting up. You’re also beginning to pull yourself up on people, laundry baskets, in your crib, and on the fireplace!
No more toothless grin! Teeth #4 (top) and #5 (bottom) have emerged this month – and just in time! You’re eager to eat anything that’s put in front of you! We gave you finger foods and let you feed yourself bananas and bread last week, while in Minnesota. You did great and enjoyed the new foods. Last weekend you ate small pieces of green beans, broccoli, and apple.
Today you started waving at the doctor, during your checkup. It was so cute. You really like to show off for the doctor, ESPECIALLY after mom tells him that you’re haven’t reached a certain milestone! Ha! When you hear music or get really excited, you’ll clap your hands or move them up and down. Maybe that was a misunderstood wave!?! However, today’s gesture was different from what you’ve been doing the last few weeks – one arm moving up and down while looking right at the doctor!
Is this how a 9 month old naps? I didn’t read about this in my parenting books! When I peeked in your room to check on your during your morning nap, I couldn’t see you. You were doubled-over yourself in the corner of the crib by the door. I’m not sure if you slept like that for the whole hour or not! And were you holding your ear the whole time!?!
I love all your pictures, but the ones of you sleeping are oh-so-sweet. This was taken after I picked you up at Ron & Barbara’s house several weeks ago. You never woke up when I moved you to the car and then into your crib when we got home.
I bought you a new “toy” last week – a Johnny Jump Up! You weren’t sure about it at first, but then you figured it out! Your right leg is just along for the ride and it makes me laugh out loud every time I watch you jump!
Sam,
You are so close to being mobile. I know my days of watching you play on your blanket are numbered. You sit up most of the time now to play, but occasionally want to lay down and take it easy! You don’t stay on your back for long, though – you have mastered rolling over to your tummy. You can get up on your knees and rock back and forth, scoot backwards on your belly and do baby pushups – straightening your arms to lift yourself off the ground and pushing up with your toes. It’s really quite cute! It won’t be long until you figure out how to move yourself forward to get to everything that is off limits. Dad and I need to get busy baby-proofing the house.
Your third tooth is coming in, and maybe the 4th. Both on the top.
Your hair is growing thicker and longer, too. I think it is going to stay blonde for a while, although occasionally I see a glimpse of red in it! You’re still the cutest baby and I just can’t get enough of your sweet smiles!
Love you,
Mom
Happy Grandparent’s Day to Grandma and Grandpa Sproles, Mimi, and Grandpa Stawitz!
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| Click to play | Make your own Smilebox |
I’m a little late in writing your 7th month post. You’ve been keeping me busy at home, plus we’ve been traveling a lot.
You are learning so much each day and are changing right before our eyes. You’re rolling over a lot more, but only from your back to your tummy. We’ve had several sleepless nights because you’ll roll over onto your tummy, but haven’t figured out a comfortable way to sleep like that. You started sitting up unassisted this month too, right after 6 months. It’s so much fun to have you sitting next to us, instead of laying on the floor all the time. In the past week, you’ve started lunging for toys that are in front of you, while you’re seated. Sometimes you go all the way forward and end up on your belly. I’m afraid it won’t be long before you’re crawling. You really like to stand up, too, although you can’t do that alone. Sometimes when we try to sit you down, you will lock your legs so that you can stand and get a better look at the world around you, the television, or the cats across the room!
You’re quite the social guy! You will smile for almost everyone, whether it’s a friend that we see often or a stranger in the grocery store. People still comment on how cute you are every time we go out! Your smile is now accompanied by a scrunch of your nose. I’m not sure where you picked that up, but it sure is cute. You’re also occasionally giving out hugs to your grandmas, mom and dad. It is the sweetest thing. I wish I could capture that feeling of your little arms squeezing me tight. It’s usually accompanied by a little squeal (from you, not me!)
As far as eating goes, you love it! I’m feeding you baby food twice a day: cereal and half a jar of fruit in the mornings. In the evenings you get a whole jar of veggies! So far your favorites are sweet potatoes and bananas. You are nursing 4 times a day and have fallen into a pretty regular routine of when you wake, eat, and nap. You grabbed the spoon from me several times in an attempt to feed yourself. I don’t know why, but you always stick the wrong end of the spoon in your mouth, no matter which way I hand it you! I guess that’s just what makes sense to you! You always help me clean up afterwards by chewing and sucking on a washcloth. I love it when you stick your arms out as far as you can reach, as if to say “Look Mom! No hands!”
Your favorite games/songs are peek-a-boo, This Little Piggy, the walking song and tick tock. You love music and will start to dance, bounce around, and wave your arms wildly when you hear songs on the radio or from your toys. You love swinging at the park, either in the baby swings or on my lap in the big kid swings. You’re so happy outdoors and I can’t wait for cooler weather so we can spent more time outside each day.
Love, love, love you!
Mom
Your first 2 teeth started coming in at the very end of July, while we were in Maryland. I finally captured a picture of them yesterday.
You rolled over for the first time back in June, but you weren’t really interested in practicing your new skills until last week. Since then you’ve been rolling over a lot, mainly from your back to your tummy (and usually when we’re not watching)! This afternoon you rolled over in your crib after I put your down. Then a few minutes later, I heard you squealing with delight, instead of taking a nap! You were so cute that I grabbed the camera and turned on the lights, so I could capture some of your cuteness! You were so proud of yourself!
Last week we took you on your first plane ride and you were such a great traveler! You really enjoyed watching all the people at the airports. During the flight you were happy playing with your toys and would occasionally look out the window. We had to wake you up once to go through security, but you handled that well, too! 
We took you to visit your great-grandmother Sproles in Maryland for a few days. She was so excited to finally meet you and to get to hold you.
While in MD, we stayed with your great Aunt Laura and Uncle Edward. Their girls, Nicole and Christine, were so sweet to you and loved to play with you.
On the second day we were there, your great Aunt Mary came to visit and brought her children: Holly, Joseph and Rebekah. We let you stay at the house with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Sherry, great-Grandmother, and great Aunt Mary while dad and I took the other 5 kids to the mall! That was fun!
It was my first time to meet Laura, Edward, Mary and the children, too. We had a great time and hope to go back soon!
I caught you and dad snoozing on the plane ride home….
