9 months of Knowing Heaven On Earth - RPC

 N I N E months, one of those milestones that makes a mama want to stop time.  I'll be dragging my feet for the next 3 months, hoping to slow down your last days of being a baby; immobile, nonverbal, and still entirely dependent upon us.  

You officially have 8 teeth and really enjoy chewing on toys, especially your silver baby rattle.  Something about that cold metal on your teeth makes you happy and it is awful cute to watch.  

9 Months brought us: 

16.13lb & 28 Inches tall

Loves- playing with a ball, having it rolled to you, and boy are you great at catching grounders!  Playing catch is a game you make out of any toy, (aka throw the toy down and watch someone else pick it up) and your thoroughly entertained every time.  Chasing your brother and sister makes you squeal in our arms with delight.  Chewing on your toys and fingers is a favorite of late as you work on cutting the rest of your teeth. You have enjoyed being at the pool and chilling in the water.   

Sleep: eczema and teething, nuff said.  Usually your asleep around 7:30-8:00 and then wake back up around 10:30, 2ish, 5ish, 7ish.  Some nights it's more and sometimes it's less but I just keep telling myself some day you'll be sleeping till noon, driving a car, and growing chest hair so I'll keep looking on the sunny sleepless side.

Feeding: You still love to nurse every 3hrs around the clock.  After meeting with a food therapist we learned that your gagging and tongue thrust are a choice.  Nothing is physically stopping you from eating, you are interested in food but just not interested in actually putting it in your mouth and chewing it up.  We were instructed to use small pieces of food and push it into the back corner of your mouth to get you to chew, which as it turns out you know how to do.  So we have tried a few foods that way but we still aren't getting very far before you are unhappy.  So We shall try, try, and try again with a new food every couple of days.  To date you have tried banana, potato, sweet potato, and watermelon. 

Awake: Your play time is different now that you sit up independently.  You love to chew on and feel different toys we stack up around you and have learned to throw toys for us to get as well.  We graduated you to the highchair for our meal time practice and that makes ya feel big.  

You love to babble dadadada, and blow bubbles with your tongue, bob, and squeal, we have heard an occasional mmmmmaaamaa but they are few and far between.  You still love to laugh randomly at things and no one can get your giggle box going like your brother and sister.

Dislikes: eating food, sleep, being rocked, being tired and honestly not much else.  You're a pretty content little dude.

Size: Physically your face is starting to change and it makes this mama kinda sad.  I know you're still a baby but I'm getting glimpses of what your little boy self will look like.  You weigh 16.13lbs and are getting noticeably heavier to hold all the time.  :)

Milestones: Teething with tooth number 8 popping all the way through, Catching a ball that is rolled to you, sitting in the high chair, visible toothy grin, swinging outdoors, beginning to learn how to drink from a sippy, learning to chew food. 

Eczema update- Flare ups are still being managed with BeautyCounter lotions and we still have to apply 3-4 times a day.  We have stopped the 30min daily bath soaks and Zyrtec but still give Benadryl at night.  It doesn't make you drowsy but it helps to keep your little hands from scratching your body all night.  We had another allergy appt where we were told to up the Zyrtec and you are just having outdoor allergies.  While you may have outdoor allergies this mama ain't buying that it's the only cause, I'm convinced it is related to your gut and food.  Though you barely ingested a Tbsp of any food yet, that tiny amount of watermelon had your skin looking as if you'd been burned within an hour.  I'm hoping to find relief and answers for you soon.  

My sweet smiley boy, I love your cuddly need to be held personality.  As you grow stronger and more squirmy, and watch your brother and sister run I can see your desire to run with them.  I'm savoring the fact that I rarely have two hands to get anything done.    

6 months of knowing Heaven on Earth - RPC

Well this milestone makes me swallow a little harder, squeeze you a little tighter, and stare at you a tad bit longer than usual.  Half a year has passed since you made our world a better place and I just can't believe what the calendar is saying.  I've soaked up every second of you I possibly could, cuddled instead of cleaned, fed and rocked you instead of letting you scream, and enjoyed the slowness of a morning with you and your siblings instead of rushing to get the checklist done.  I have no regrets over this time with you that has been so well spent and I'm thankful for every moment we've been given to love you.

You are happy down to the deepest depths of your soul.  It shows in your smile that so easily spreads across your sweet face, the authentic giggles you generate, and your ability to be pleased as punch even when you're dog tired.

Loves: Chewing on fingers, swaddle, Sophie the Giraffe, wooden KY, exersaucer, jumper, standing and prefers that over any position, car seat naps, ergo carrier, bath time, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, (big sister started it and now it's your calm song).

Dislikes: night time diaper changes, sleeping, dry skin rashes :(

Eating:  Boy do you ever!  STILL wanting to eat every 3hrs and honestly sometimes it's 2.5 though I have managed a few 4hr stretches from you lately.  We started introducing solids this week with avocado, and though you are still figuring it all out you are pleased enough with it that you keep opening your  mouth for more.  :)  Nursing habits lately include holding my hand tightly and squeezing off and on while you eat, eating quickly.

Size:  6mo - 6-9mo clothing depending on the brand, size 2 diapers,

Sleep:  You are another energizer baby that just won't stop and require little sleep.  Your cat naps persist and yet you still wake every 2-4 hrs depending on the night.  I've wondered if you were getting a tooth but then again I've blamed little sleep and slobber on that for two months.  :)

Milestones:  Lots of sounds and jabbering have escaped your lips lately, especially "BBBBbbb".  You love to exercise your voice loudly and enjoy having your sounds mimicked as if we are holding conversation in a foreign language, starting solids with avocado as food #1.  You aren't quite sure what to think about the process and sometimes spit out more than you swallow but it's all just fun and games at this point anyway.  Grabbing and holding toys on your own is a fun new way for your to play.  Those little grabby hands make it difficult for me to hold you and take a drink or bite these days too.  You have started pushing up and straightening your arms out completely when having tummy time, so I'm holding you as much as possible to keep you from learning to become mobile.  (kidding....kinda) :)

Noteworthy:  My happy boy you melt my heart in a multitude of ways but nothing compares to you falling asleep laughing.  After nursing and stories I stood to rock you one evening until those eyelids fluttered and I could lay you down.  As I stood there staring at you I watched a huge grin stretch across your perfect cheeks, it lingered as we locked eyes.  Then you began to giggle, and I kissed your cheek overflowing with love for you, I told you how much I adored you as we continued our cheeky grins.  That sweet little exchange repeated itself for several minutes and then again on several occasions after that.  To say I'm oozing with love for you is quite an understatement.

Disclaimer: This is by far the worst cake I have ever made.  My most sincere apologies sweet Ford, but this is what happens when your mama is inpatient with letting a cake cool.

What a joy it is for those sweet hands to reach for me with excitement and joy.  You are a continued blessing to our lives sweet boy and the perfect compliment to your siblings personalities.  Ford you adored.

The Gender Scoop on Cooper Bebe Tres

 One might think that we could have waited to find out what we were having this time, seeing how we have one of each already....but we just aren't that patient.  On top of it we are so over the moon excited for this baby that we couldn't wait to know what it was going to be.  We went for an early reveal at 16 weeks and Bebe Tres was showing off in every way possible.  We decided the night before we were going to invite a few friends and family to come celebrate with us.  I wasn't quite sure if we should make it a big thing or not since it IS our third baby, but a reason to get together and rejoice over this little blessing seemed like a good decision.  

We met at Graeter's, I whipped up a chalk sign, and had everyone choose pink or blue sprinkles to place their guess in their ice cream bowl.  

Henry and Mallie Lynn decided over the past week to switch teams as Henry rooted on a baby brother and Mallie Lynn wanted a sister.  So Mr. H was beyond thrilled to have "won" and guessed he was having a baby brother, and Mallie Lynn was just excited to have an ice cream cone.  (She would later ask me where the girl was?)  :)

We are so excited to be welcoming a baby boy to our family and know that everything about this plan for our family is perfect.  Henry can't wait to teach him how to throw and catch a ball and Mallie Lynn can't wait to help feed him!  This little man is so loved already and sure has a lot of people talking to him in the womb.  God is so good!