Strong willed.

I swear this kid. He is the most stubborn, strong willed child. He has been army crawling for what seems like forever. He refuses to get up on hi hands and knees. It's not even that he can't. It's that he WON'T! Tonight I somehow convinced him to do it though. It took tears and lots of encouragement and praise (and Momma looking like an idiot and acting like one too) but he finally did it! I'm sure it won't be a forever thing and that he will go right back to his preferred method of getting around. But it was exciting to see!

I can't believe how big he is getting. I gave him a "fork" with his noodles tonight. He got the right end into his mouth. He even had noodles on it. I was told by an acquaintance that I shouldn't give him tableware until he was much older. I figure he is reaching for it, why not? It's plastic and has no sharp edges. It's not like he can do any real damage with it. So we are starting that I guess. He isn't a master with silverware but he is showing an interest do I know he will get there. He's a smart boy and a quick learner.

Anyway. Not much else to report. He is still working on those top teeth. So far all we can see are swollen gums. He sure doesn't want you to look at them or touch them. He's funny that way.

Well until the next update, here's an adorable picture or two!

9 month check up!

Well yesterday was quite an eventful day! I woke up to the noises of a very happy baby on the monitor. I went to get Talent and he was STANDING in his bed! He had this huge smile in his face. He was so proud if himself! He's been pulling up from a sitting position for months but never from laying down. It was a big start to our busy day.

We got up and got ready to go to his 9 month check up. And when we saw the doc he basically said that Talent is perfect! Yeah, I know, like we didn't already know that, right? Anyway, he has lost a pound so he was 19 lbs an almost 29 inches long. Dr Herndon said he was one of the most beautiful babies he's ever seen. And he also said he just couldn't believe just how happy he is. He told me that I'm doing a great job. That's always so great to hear.

So we don't go back for 3 more months and hopefully by then this ornery kid will be walking! He sure wants to!

Dada!

Well for the last three days Talent has been babbling a new word....DADA! I've been trying to capture it on video or voice recording but the little monkey is so ornery he shuts up when he notices the phone. It's like he can hear me push the button (that makes absolutely NO noise at all) on my iPhone! I've even tried to be sneaky and put it on the floor and just record while he's in the tub. No dice. He's a smart little guy. So I'm still trying to get it on tape. I may go crazy trying. It's his new favorite sound. And it's adorable. Honestly I don't think there's much about this kid that I don't find adorable.

He's getting around really good. He's still army crawling but he CAN get on his hands and knees he just doesn't like to. He has also discovered he can pull himself up onto his knees and sit and play while sitting on his knees. And last night I saw him hiding his toys from me. He was hiding them under his dresser. When I would get close to where he "hid" them he would crawl over and lay in front of them. It was cute. He's a sneak, that kid of mine.

Talent has a favorite book. We've read Goodnight Moon until I have it memorized. Ugh. And he received this set of Dr Suess books for Christmas from his Aunt Boo. It has about 5 or 6 books in it. We've read Cat in the Hat and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. But his absolute favorite is Green Eggs and Ham. Every time we pull it out he gets SO excited. He hits the pages and looks up at me and smiles and laughs as I read it to him. He loves this book. I love reading it to him. Seeing his reaction just makes my heart melt. It's just the most fun thing reading to him. I hope that by reading to him now he will love to read when he's bigger.

Anyway that's probably enough of an update from us for today. Here's a few pics to tide you over until next time!

Hit the breaks!

The last couple of weeks have been so busy. Talent and I have spent a lot of time with Seth. We've really enjoyed our time as a family. We took Talent to the park last week and let him try out the swings and the slide. He liked them both.

Talent has been trying some "real" food. He has discovered he LOVES noodles. I've given him plain spaghetti noodles and ramen. Then he's also eaten spaghetti o's. He loves pasta. He isn't sure about mashed potatoes or fruit yet but he does love pasta. I'm just happy he's trying new foods.

Things seem to be just speeding by to his first birthday. We are just three months away from it. It will be here like tomorrow it seems.

Today we were all in his room playing. Talent likes to use me as his own personal jungle gym so I was laying in the floor. He crawled over to me and crawled up into my back till he was kind if on his knees. Then he pushed himself up to his feet and stood still holding on to my shirt for a minute. Then suddenly he let go and stood all the way up. My kid was standing up all by himself! He stood there and did his little growl thing at his daddy and then decided that was enough and got back down on his knees. It's the first time he has been brave enough to push himself all the way up to standing. It was exciting! But at the same time I wish time could slow down a little but. I love this baby. I love being a mom more than I could have ever imagined. He is just this amazing little person. The most perfect combination on my husband and me. He's cute and funny. He's smart and silly. He's just such an awesome kid. I hope I do a good job being his mom.

9 months!

Wow! Time is going by so quick! This past Thursday Talent turned 9 months old. For me it brings such a mix of emotions. I'm so excited to see him growing and watch all of his new developments. But at the same time I just want to stomp on the brakes! It seems like yesterday we were finding out about him. I can still feel the little flutters of him moving inside my body. It just is a bittersweet feeling watching him grow. I love it and hate it all at the same time.

This week we've spent a lot of time together as a family. Just doing stuff with each other. We've played toys and gone to the park. We have tried our dangdest to get the kid to do something other than belly crawl. He's a stubborn little cuss. He comes by that honestly. (If you know his patents you know I'm not joking.) he finally got up off his tummy tonight.....when Seth had to go back to work. Luckily I captured it for him with my phone and was able to send it to him.

In other news, Talent has been feeding himself finger foods. He loves noodles and oranges. Froot Loops are a pretty big hit too. He loves exploring his little high chair world and tasting new things. It's fun to watch.

The last 9 months have been great. Being a parent is awesome. Knowing that this little person loves you so much.....well it's a great feeling. Right now one of my very favorite things his when I get up with him to feed at night and I'm rocking him back to sleep he will put his hand up and touch my face very softly just before he drifts off as if to say "just checking if you're still there" and then he falls asleep. It's the little things that mean so much. Gosh I love this kid. Anyway here is a picture I took of the three of us Thursday. Here's to the next few months!

Yuck!

Mommy's baby is not feeling well! Talent has been feeling bad since just after Christmas. I had taken him in an they said he had an ear infection. After he was seen for that he broke out in hives and had to been taken to urgent med for that. Ugh! His ears are still bothering him so I'm taking him in again today and hoping he feels better soon. I hate that he feels so bad. So I am guessing we will see what the doc says today.