Dear Doster - 9 Months

Dear Doster,

The days are going by so quickly!  I can’t believe you are already 9 months old.  You still feel so new to me, but in a way it seems like we have been connected forever.

We had a fun month and got to spend extra time together during ANOTHER snow day! This doesn't usually happen in South Carolina, buddy.  That allowed us to spend extra time making some cute Valentines for your class.  I felt like such creative mom for once!

This month also marked my first work trip that caused me to miss a day of your life!  I was gone Wednesday through Friday.  I missed you like crazy, but I must say, I enjoyed some pure sleep.  A big shout out to GranD for holding down the fort, and cleaning it top to bottom!   You were very good at facetime!  I think you actually understood that it was me!

Now some stats:

Size:

 

During your everlasting ear infection doctor’s visit yesterday, you clocked in at 19lbs 14 ounces.  I just bought your first pack of size four diapers to give you a little more breathing room.  You wear either 6-9 or 9-12 month clothes.

Feeding:

You are still my good eater! Not too much has changed as far as volume of food (still doing 4 bottles and 3 food sessions), but you've tried a lot of new foods!  You’ll eat whatever we put in front you of.  I love that!  We are still on level 2 foods, but I’m ready to move up to level 3.  You are hesitant about new textures, so we’ll see how that goes.

I’m almost completely done pumping, sorry kiddo! I’m happy to be phasing it out, though I realize how emotionally attached I became to giving you something that comes from me.

Sleeping:

This month has been a little rocky due to some ear infections and teething.  You usually wake up once during the night and cry for a few minutes.  Luckily, you go back to sleep pretty easily.   It makes me realize how good we've had it all these months!  Hopefully, once these ears of yours clear up, we’ll be rocking 12 hours again!

Personality:

I LOVE YOUR PERSONALITY! You are so much fun and you really light up the room with your smile.  You have opinions about things now and you love to express them.

You occasionally do a fake cry, which is adorable.  It’s your little way of telling us when you are ready for some new scenery I guess.

You also have a few bouts of stranger anxiety.  Your teacher at school was the first one to point this out to me.  I've witnessed it a few times, but from what I read it is pretty normal. 

  I can be pretty introverted myself, so I can’t say I blame you.

Development:

You are an expert sitter, roller, grabber and clapper.  You pivot, turn, tumble, push and even army crawl a little.  I think you’ll be crawling “for real” any day now.

You are also a big “talker”.  When you are in the mood to do it, you babble and babble.  It’s my favorite.

Just recently, you starting pulling up to your knees in your crib, which means that we need to get moving on the mattress lowering!

You are really good at the “Where’s Doster?” game and you can also place the big rubber rings on my finger.

You are master of sharing!  You are good at handing us anything we ask for-- you even fork over your paci!

Thank you for being such a good, sweet, happy baby. I am so lucky to be your mom.