Getting to be fun

Not that he wasn't always fun, but I admit, this parenting thing is getting to be a blast! He responds now, he signs when he wants something (hit or miss - we are still working on it) he is starting to understand his world and I am itching to show him everything. I show him that everything in the world has a name and a sign. We are like the first people on earth, naming everything. Leaf, tree, squirrel, tomato, bug! We play music. Sometimes I am on drums, he is on the xylophone, then we switch. We like to dance, he likes to run in my arms, and he has just learned to climb stairs - up and down.

He is my little man. Every day is an adventure to see what will happen next. He is unlike all other babies. No open handed wave for my guy, nope! He prefers to make a fist and roll it around in the air like he is conducting a band. When he is really excited to see you, he will use BOTH fists. During our walks he cheese grins at neighbors, chats with squirrels and yells at scarecrows. He points out flowers that I may not have seen and gently pats the blooms.

He moves so fast now! He has the crawling thing down - much to our cats chagrin - and will pull up and walk around anything he is given. He is everywhere. He opens doors, he shuts doors, he opens doors, he shuts doors. Very intelligent!

Oh, and did I mention he is walking now!?

New blog to check out!

http://theclothdiaperwhisperer.blogspot.com/

Now, go check it out!!

My kid is boring

We had our 9 month check-up yesterday! At 20lbs, 28 inches he is in the 50th percentile all the way around. His iron levels were perfect, and he didn't even flinch when they stuck him for the blood test! Don't let the pearls fool you, he is pretty much the strongest boy in the world. When the doctor came in to tell us all of his stats it seemed like all she could do just to keep from yawning. Healthy, uninteresting and dare I say...perfect?

Example of how I talk to the doctor (Italics are to myself):
Doctor: Is he still breastfed?
Me: Yes
Doctor: Good for you! How often are you breastfeeding? 3-4 times a day?
Me: Yes. Usually more, sometimes much more
Doctor: Are you still giving him vitamins?
Me: Yes. Through breastmilk and whole foods, not that liquid vitamil crap.
Doctor: Is he switching things from hand to hand? Scooting? Able to bear weight with help?
Me: Yes. And much much MUCH more.

Other than a really embarrassing incident where I yelled at the doctor for forcibly retracting his foreskin. Well, it DID look like that is what she was doing...how was I to know that she was just checking his testicle placement?! I feel any hands on his junk other than his is a threat given our culture. Luckily she totally understood, she has sons herself!

MELTDOWN!!!

We tried to meet-up with some friends today. Key word being TRIED. Apparently, 9 months is the exact age at which they learn the intricacies of a real, honest to god tantrum. We have had crying before, we have even had throwing himself backwards out of our arms before, but never have we had it this bad.

It all started with it being a Monday. You see, Oliver ALWAYS has a case of the Mondays. CT believes it is because Oliver misses him after having him home all weekend, and I believe it is CT's fault for throwing the schedule off all weekend. Tomato, tomahto! Then, after not one, not two but three failed attempts at a nap, I decide that even if he is a bit cranky, we still need to go to the meet-up because I set it up. Well, I set it up a month ago, having no insight as to how he was going to behave this particular day.

We had just sat down, and I was just about to order an iced coffee, when he decided that all he wanted to do was to eat napkins. I, being the great and perfect mother I am, said no. This was NOT acceptable to him. He flew back, tossing his head, kicking his legs and screeching at the top of his lungs. And I was the crazy, stupid lady who brought a baby to a coffee shop. I was also the lady who marched her baby out of the coffee shop. I really thought I was going to have at least another three months before he became a complete brat. Oh well...

The House Oliver Built

This weekend Oliver helped with Hands on Housing for the second time in his little life. Third, depending on when you believe life begins. This is a community outreach project that we do with the church twice a year. A family in need is chosen and we arrive at their house to do whatever we can to make their homes more safe, clean and beautiful. Sort of like a poor man's (no pun intended) Habitat for Humanity.

Oliver, not having full use of his thumbs, helped boost moral. Every time someone would get tired, they would grab some water and come snuggle or play with him! I think I freaked some people out by letting him crawl around in the grass, but it was nice grass, not weed-grass that we have.

Then came time to nap. So I walked him, and I wore him and I fed him and I walked him again. For two hours. And then, FINALLY when it was time to go, I handed him to CT while I packed up the car. 5 seconds later: sound asleep. Nice.

Also, GO HORNS!!!

Sweeps!

So when a TV show hits it's 100th episode, there is usually some kind of Very Special Episode. Either someone gets pregnant, someone dies or a young girl learns a Very Important Lesson about her relationship with food. Well today marks the 100th post and it just so happens to also be the little one's "In/Out day" (when he has been outside the womb for as long as he was in). So in honor of these two momentous occasions, I give you, Oliver. Liam. Goss!!! A life in photographs. *Crowds Cheering*


Getting ready to go home!


Clearly mommy is afraid of the crying baby. First smile! Or just more gas.

He's officially a Texan!!
And he never wore sunglasses again...

Sometimes you are too busy for pants.

This is what 5am looks like.

It is a little known fact that pumpkins enjoy little boy pie...

This is quite possibly the most annoying video I have taken. About two seconds after the video stopped, the baby fell, as is his way.

Culinary Delights

Everything is tasty as a baby. I have a theory that there is no bad or good taste when you are 9 months old, there is only "new". Now, I am not a normal first time mom. If it isn't sharp, metal, or poison, my bet is it won't kill him if he ingests it. However, because of choking fears, I am constantly fishing things out of this kid's mouth. My baby has become a connoisseur of such delicacies as tissue paper, carpet bits, a license plate, and a surfer. Oh wait, sorry, those last two were found in the belly of the shark from Jaws. Those of you who have small children, I bet you didn't even notice.

I believe he eats the non-food products mostly for texture but the kid is not afraid of new and exciting food flavors. He has eaten spaghetti and veggie marinara sauce, well, not so much eaten as much as wore. He stole a triscuit from a toddler at our playgroup, garlic flavored no less! And yesterday he had Hummus for the first time. He LOVED it! Though, I am not sure if his tastes are to be trusted as he also loved the dog food he ate last night. Yes, this is true. My baby's first meat, after trying to delay his carnivorous ways until after a year, was chicken and beef byproduct in cheap dog food. I am really such an awesome parent.

At least he is getting his fiber...(table in photo has seen three generations of babies through teething).