Merry Christmas from the Carsons!

Luke: 9 Months

Ya'll, we have a 9 month old.  An almost 3 year old and a 9 month old!  Seriously.  I think this growing thing happens way too fast!  Make it stop.

Luke, you are 9 months old big boy.  Your just rolls and rolls of sweetness.  Your smile will seriously turn the not-so-good-day into the best day ever.  Here is what you are up to three-forths of your way through your first year of life.

At 9 months you...

• are eating 8 oz at every feeding, 4 feedings a day.  We are down another bottle since last month and will remain here through your first birthday.  You have adjusted so well - Momma is very proud of you.
• Have a great routine/schedule.  Up by 8 am usually and we get off to school. Your first bottle is with breakfast (oatmeal/cereal) around 9 am.  You then have lunch around 12 noon...usually a veggie and a fruit.  Another bottle after lunch and then down for your nap.   You get a snack when you wake up with a sippy cup of water.  Puffs, mum-mums, or something of the sort.  You then have another bottle around 3:30 or 4.  You will have dinner around 6 o'clock in the evening.  Bathtime afterwards and we are starting your last bottle by 7:00 pm.  You are usually in your crib no later than 7:30.  Sometimes awake, sometimes asleep.  You have been so great about putting yourself to sleep at nap and even at bedtime.  

• Are a great napper at home but not so much at school.
• Are now on formula 100% of the time.  Room temperature water.  No more breastmilk or bottle warmer.  (sad mommy)
• wave hello and goodbye. Melt my heart.
• have 4 teeth!   Your top two have come through in the past month.  The top left was through for a good two weeks before the top right poked through.  You are turning into such a little toddler right before our eyes.  The teeth just make mommy's heart ache.  It takes away your baby-ness.   
• are currently on antibiotic again for a double ear infection.  The dreaded call from school came in on Thursday, "Your baby has fever, come get him."  I didn't waste any time and took you right in to the pediatrician that afternoon thinking it may have been your ears again and Mommy was right along with bronchitis.  We win!  3 for the price of 1. 

• still let me snuggle with you after your bottle most nights but have just in the past couple weeks been unsettled so I put you in your crib and you put yourself to sleep. Sigh.
• STILL have your umbilical hernia.  No change since last month.  You are our little Pillsbury Doughboy.
• are a champion army-crawler.  You haven't found a way to get that tummy up off the floor yet to all fours but that doesn't stop you at all. 

• are not attempting to pull-up yet and you do not attempt to get back to a sitting position from your tummy yet either.  I know it will happen overnight and am embracing your need for Mommy still.
• LOVE big sister's cozy coupe.  I promise we won't make you ride in the pink car for much longer.
• are bashful.  When anyone tells you hi or approaches you, you tuck your head into your belly or onto the person's shoulder holding you.  It is really the sweetest.
• are going to nursery at church and doing really well.  You fuss just for a minute when you are dropped off.
• go right to your teachers at school without any fussing at all.  Miss Maggie is our favorite.
• are going to be going to a new school at the end of March.  We are switching you and big sister to a school closer to home that is Christian-based and has a formal preschool for when you get bigger.  We will miss our Castle family very much but my Mommy gut tells me this is going to be a good change.

 

• are more and more into your wubbanubs.  It is something that will soothe you now on its own.  I am torn whether this was a good idea since you went 6 months without taking paci.  Ah well!
• are wearing mostly 18 month clothes, some 12 months. I know once you get moving you will thin up and we will be able to go more than a couple months without having to buy new clothes!
• are in size 4 diapers and size 5 night-timers. 
• size 3 shoe and not just any size 3 but ones with a lot of give and take.  You have the fattest feet just like your big sister did at your age.
• still have those baby blues.

We love you to the moon and back sweet boy.  To think about your first 4-5 months and then to think of the last 4 months, they are a night and day difference.   I am so thankful we are through the colicky, tummy-trouble stage because you are now the happiest, fluffiest, bundle of love we know.  I cannot wait to see what this 10th month brings little man.