Nine

My sweet little L Monster, you have been nine months old for a few weeks now. Life continues to move at the speed of light for our little family. It is hard to keep up with the day to day chores, let alone your monthly photos and updates! But, I began this project intending to follow it through for your first year, so, better late than never...right peanut?

Your ninth month was filled with family time. We spent your first Father's Day with Daddy at Uncle J's new house, with Grandma & Grandpa and Great-Grandpa. You had a lot of fun crawling around on the big open floors that have yet to be filled with furniture.

A few weeks later, we headed to Cousin E's house to celebrate all of the June and July birthday's in Daddy's family. There are a lot of them for sure. E has a pool, so you got to go for your first real swim. You had so much fun in your float, laughing your head off at your cousin D who made it his mission to entertain you. You didn't even flinch when I brought you into the water, unlike your cousin A, who is just a few months older than you. His daddy had to take it really slow getting him into the water.

Before your first real swim, we practiced a lot in a jumbo sized wading pool that I bought for our back yard. It's big enough for me and Daddy to get in it with you, and has been quite refreshing during the heat wave we dealt with for a few weeks this summer. You seem to like it reasonably well, for about a half hour or so at least. I, of course, could sit in there all day!

Since I am a bit late in writing this, it's hard to remember exactly what new things you started doing between eight and nine months. But there is one exciting skill I know your picked up the week of the Fourth of July while Granny was visiting. We have a push/ride on toy that you love playing with. I held you up behind it in the push position, and you grabbed hold and walked your way across the living room...several times! We brought it with us to Uncle J's on the 4th, and you walked all around his house as well, with such a look of pride on your face. Oh, it's just so much fun to see you figure out how to do new things! Since then, you love to walk with us holding your hands, and you are getting quite speedy.

That week, while Granny was visiting, we also went to a sprinkler park a few minutes from our house. You seemed to really enjoy watching the water, and the other kids, but you had a very serious look on your face most of the time. Just taking it all in, trying to understand what the heck was going on all around you.

You are eating more and more these days. We've been trying to add more finger foods so that you can do more yourself. You can blow through a banana at warp speeds. Strawberries are another favorite. They are the perfect size for your hands right now. You've also learned to drink from your straw sippy cup, which is just about the cutest thing ever.

You are constantly on the go, needing to see and touch every new object that crosses your path. You always have something in your hand, which makes it quite comical when you refuse to put it down while trying to pull yourself up to stand. You've become quite interested in your toys as well, and can entertain yourself for long periods of time. One of your favorites is a lawn mower that makes a real mower sound and has balls that whir around in the middle.

You are more and more talkative every day. The "da da da dat" often seems to be expressing your opinion, usually of dissatisfaction! Yes, indeed, your personality is definitely becoming very noticeable. You are usually very happy, and content. But when you want something, you do not hesitate to make it known! Every once in awhile, you do let out a few "mmmmaa, mmam, mma" sounds. In fact, there was one night when I got home after you went to bed, and Daddy said you were looking for me while working on your ms. Little Man, I think you might just know my name!

My darling little peanut, I could go on and on, and on. Every day with you is a precious gift, and the delight of my day. You are becoming such an amazing little boy, and I continue to relish watching you grow, and learn and discover. It's the best adventure ever.