9 months

Month 9 is coming to an end and 10 months is just around the corner!!

You are a fast moving baby!  I have been going to the YMCA almost every week day and Carla tells me almost every day that you like to play with the big kids.  Today she had to keep you "fenced" off because there were too many big kids where you usually like to hang out, crawl and just check things out.

You are babbling and babbling every day.  On our car rides, dropping off H & E and Daddy to work... you just babble and babble.  The most common sounds for a while were, "ga-li, ga-li, ga-li..."  You say it really fast.  The sounds like how we say "curry" in Chinese.

Our daily routine goes something like this.  You wake up about 6am.  For the past week, I've been bringing you into bed with me.  Daddy actually has been getting you because he has a really hard time listening to you cry, so he gets up much faster to go get you.  When he brings you into our dark room, your legs are kicking and you're doing your cough, cough sounds eager for some milk.  I usually dose off rubbing my cheek next to your soft soft hair.  ... when I touch your hair, whether with my face or my hands, it sends a calm feeling down my back.  I love you so much.  I cannot seem to remember what it was like before you came along.

Then Hannah & Elijah join us all in our bed and we have a snuggle time.  Everyone gets dressed while you have a play time in your crib listening to "Steve Green's, Hide 'em in your heart."  The longest time you've been happy in your crib has so far been about 45 minutes!!  Amazing!  You will usually stay happy for about 30 minutes before I come in and greet you with your first diaper change of the day.

I've decided to change your diaper after your playtime because I usually find a "treasure" after playtime anyway.

Then we go downstairs for breakfast.  These days it's been oatmeal, apple sauce and plain yoghurt.  You eat a really large bowl.  About the same amount as Hannah & Elijah.

At 8:30, it's snowsuits on and out the garage we go.  It's daddy to work and Hannah to school.  And sometimes Elijah to school too.  When we walk past other moms and dads, we almost always get a smile looking at your little face peeking from the pink bundle that's wedged into the navy stroller seat.  Elijah is almost always towering behind standing on his little step on the back.

We get home about 9:10 and it's right away to nap.  I hold your head on my shoulder as I slowly walk upstairs.  It's about the only time of day you will lay your head flat and nuzzle in.  (this was a little tip I got from Nana when she was putting you to bed often.)  With the blinds drawn, I lay you down on your stomach and you almost never fight it.  I click on "waterfall" on the white noise and the door is shut while I have some time with Elijah.

By about 11:00 you wake up for some milk and lunch.  And we are off to the Y where you play and cruise around.  We  come home and it's nap time again.  Elijah and I have been learning chess or playing at this time.  Then once you're up, another nursing time and we are off to get Hannah.

After Hannah gets home, it's cheerios in the high chair and down on the floor crawling and up in Mama's arms, or wherever you're most comfortable until 5:00.  Then it's supper time for you and 6pm is bed time.

You love having a good bath, but it's been tricky to get a bath for you while the rest of us are eating at about 6.  But it's working out ok for you to have a good night's rest, that your little bottom is just doing ok without the nightly bath.

About a week ago, when Auntie Vanessa was here in the evening.  You had cried out at 9pm.  Since you are over 9 months old, I knew it was time to skip that "dream feed."  So with her support, she said, "she's ok."  And I was able to endure about an hour of your crying.  You went back to sleep and you have been just fine with the exception of a few evenings where I stepped in and just fed you.

And that is the busy schedule as the baby of a family of 5.  Your life revolves around all of us, and somehow, we all get to play with you, interact with you and just love on you.. and sometimes a little "too much love" from your brother and sister.  But that's for another day.