40 weeks

9 month pic in crib

and on the changing table (which he is quickly outgrowing)

Loving life!


Nathan is truly thriving in the new house. He loves all of the room to play and explore and he's discovering all kinds of new things to do.

We bought him a walker, even though I was die hard against it for 8.5 months, and oh my goodness, kid loves it. He makes laps around the downstairs and he's so fast you have to run to keep up with him. My mom had the idea to put foam around the bottom of it because he's already take the paint off several of the corners in the house. He loves to run in it and chases Bailey or anyone else who will run. It's absolutely hysterical to watch and I'll try to get it on video!

He's also climbing the stairs, and amazingly is doing very well. He hasn't made it to the top without turning to play with the rails or trying to dive down the stairs, but one day he will. He also enjoys playing at the spindles from the floor.


Nathan is crawling and is moving fast (no surprise there). He rarely ever scoots anymore and now crawls on his hands, one knee and usually a foot. It's really funny to watch.



He's also pulling up on EVERYTHING in sight. I thought it was hard to have a moments peace when he started scooting, but now he's into trouble within seconds. He's tipped so many things over while pulling up on them and requires constant close supervision. He's turned Bailey's water and food over a number of times and thinks it is so funny! He is also starting to cruise on the furniture, his toys, boxes, and the window sills. He is also starting to stand and only hold on with one hand. He has also let go a few times and stood on his own for a second or two.

When you hold his hands while he's "walking" he doesn't require much stabilization and that's a big change from a week ago. All of these are big changes, and they are happening so fast. We also have a climber on our hands. He's discovered how to open drawers and that if he opens the bottom one, it becomes a step to get to the next level. I've watched him (and been right behind him in case he fell) just to see what he would do and he's climbed halfway up his dresser, and has managed to pull out the drawer under the oven, climb up on it and hang from the oven door! Oh my goodness, he's 9 months old! What will he be like at a year? Maybe he'll be able to climb up on the roof and hang our Christmas lights!

I'm thinking this crib will not contain him for long!

We also had his 9 month check up this week... and had a great report. Nathan is 22 pounds, 12 ounces and is 28 inches tall. He's 80% for weight and 30% for height! He's got some growing to do to catch up with his belly! He loves to eat and the doc was impressed with all the foods he eats. She encouraged us to continue to try new things and keep up with his curiosity. Right now, his favorite finger foods are freshly cooked salmon, cheerios, sweet potato cubes, black beans, banana, pear, peach, pasta (although he has a hard time swallowing it), avocado, mandarin oranges, and blueberries.
(Funny blueberry faces while eating frozen pureed blueberries from the fruit feeder)



The doctor noted that his language seems to be advanced for his age (can you see me glowing!!!). We asked her about his busyness and eagerness to interact with the world, not necessarily with us while we're holding him. She attributed that to secure relationships with us and because of that security he's free to explore! I was happy to hear that! He still doesn't have any teeth, although I can see his gums swelling and what looks like two white bumps under the surface... so we're hoping for some pearly whites soon! Those of you who know Nathan know how strong he is, but the doc just confirmed it for us... she was trying to check his legs and hip joints and he was so strong that she had a hard time straightening his legs and manipulating them. She commented on just how strong he was as she said "whew".

Nathan is really doing well and is enjoying all the life in our cul-de-sac. There are about 14 kids between the 5 houses in the cul-de-sac and he loves to watch them play. They interact with he and Bailey quite a bit. Our neighbors are awesome and we already feel at home. We had some good neighbors in our old neighborhood, but this is just different. The kids in general are younger and there's a block party every afternoon and evening, complete with parents sitting out front. We have a few babysitters close by and one, Sydney, who has really taken to Nathan. Although Nathan will always have Lucy and Kendra in his life, it's nice to have a teenager right next door for the incidentals (like when Bailey runs through the mud and needs a bath before she can go inside and Chad's not due home for hours). We really love this new place and already it feels like home! Everyone is really friendly and people hang out together and do life together. Wednesday night while I was taking all the trash and a bazillion boxes to the curb, one of the kids from across the street (he's 15) came over just to help! What a servant's heart. People, it was 930pm and he decided to come help carry trash. Come to find out, he's on a worship team at his church and loves to play guitar. Like I said, great neighbors!!!! One more story... tonight, Nathan, Bailey, and I walked outside because Bailey had to pee. This involves a quarter mile trek to the commons area and I was not feeling it. Sydney runs over, grabs Nathan while I take Bailey to pee. When I come back, she and 9 other kids are surrounding Nathan playing peek a boo, showing him how to ride bikes, talking to him and watching him "walk". These kids range in age from 7 to 15. I let Bailey off her leash and the kids loved all over her. She laid down and soaked it up... until 2 more kids brought a puppy over. She went nuts and was so happy to run and play with this puppy (who was on a leash). She listened really well and came when I called her... until she found the soft mud. She ran in circles and dug and looked like a pup herself, and then went back to the kids. Oh my goodness. The kids are laughing, I'm laughing, and Nathan has been held by 4 or 5 different kids and is loving it! Our neighbor let me wash her in their yard and then they helped me get Nathan, Bailey, and a new toy (an awesome hand me down from their 4 kids) for Nathan inside. It was this pop up school bus and it's precious! He can crawl into it and look out the windows... Pictures coming soon! People, these neighbors are great and we feel so welcome! Okay, I could go on and on, but I must go to bed... we've got a long weekend ahead of us... more baby proofing, unpacking, hanging, sorting, and organizing! Happy Labor Day to you all!