It feels like I just sat down to write your seven month post. Time continues to fly by and you continue to grow and change right before our eyes.
Your height is a bit of a guess since we won't have another doctor's appointment until your 9 month check-up:
Height: 28 inches
Weight: 20 lbs. (according to the scale at urgent care :( )
Diaper Size: Size 3
Clothing Size: 9 month, 9-12 month and some 12 month clothes
As usual, you have been a busy boy this last month; here are a few of the things you have been up to:
You haven't exactly been feeling the best for a good part of this month. Earlier in the month, you had a lot of congestion and stuffiness due to your top two teeth coming in. Once they finally broke through, you had a few days where you seemed to be feeling better, but soon developed a cough and cold. After about a week's time, just when I thought you were starting to get over your cold, you seemed to come down with another one, which lasted for another week. By the time the 18th rolled around, you had a fever when mommy picked you up from daycare, so instead of heading to Wichita for the weekend to hang out with Grammy and Grandpa, you and mommy went to Children's Mercy Urgent Care to find out you had your very first ear infection. Poor guy can't seem to catch a break this month. We got you hooked up with some amoxicillin and Motrin, which seemed to help pretty quickly break your fever and provide you some comfort.
You road tripped to Manhattan this month for your second K-State game. Luckily it was not nearly as hot as the first game you went to, which made the whole experience more enjoyable for everyone. We went for the Baylor game (sorry buddy, you still haven't witnessed your first K-State football win) which also happened to be Harley day. You do NOT like the Harley's. We tried to put swimming ear plugs in, but they just didn't stay in very well, so you had a bit of a freak out when the motorcycles went around the stadium. Other than that, you did pretty well, and you even managed to catch a quick nap during the game.
We finished up swimming lessons this month! Each week you seemed to get more and more comfortable in the water. Towards then end you would even let mommy dunk you a couple of times without even crying! We still can't figure out how to get you to close your mouth before going under. That pool water must taste good!
You are starting to show your temperamental, stubborn side (I wonder where you get it from??). There was a stretch during the month where you would eat well from every one else but mommy (tear*). Mommy felt a little better though after talking to Kelly at daycare as it seems that this is pretty normal. By the end of thie month, you seem to have gotten over it though, so I am grateful that it was short lived!
You tried a few more flavor combos this month, and I'm happy to report you don't mind meats as much as you used to hate them! You've tried both chicken and turkey now, as well as some other veggies and fruits. You still aren't a fan of the blueberry/quinoa/brussel sprout combo (I wonder why???), but you have warmed up to the pear/pea/spinach combo! I am determined that you will like your veggies! You also tried some steamed apples with cinnamon this month, so maybe we will try adding some more spices to your food.
We started letting you have puffs and cheerios, as you are getting really good at chewing your food and feeding yourself! I think in the next month or two we will probably be able to switch you to table food, but in the mean time we can take baby steps! I'm thinking some egg yolk and pasta to start with and then we can go from there.
You are still eating four times a day. We have cereal with fruit for breakfast, and then what's left of your 6 oz bottle (though lately you haven't been finishing your bottle). You will eat 3 veggie cubes or 2 veggies and one chicken for lunch and around 6 oz of formula. You get an 8 oz bottle for your late afternoon snack when you are at daycare, and then will have more cereal and fruit and 2 veggie cubes for dinner.
You like having your sippy cup, and you will slurp down the water. I've also been giving you ice cubes in the bag feeder which you LOVE! I think it feels good on the teeth you must be working on constantly.
You are still such good sleeper. You go down for bed between 7 and 7:30 pm and usually wake up between 6:30 and 7 am.
You are taking two naps a day, with a shorter nap (usually an hour) in the morning, and a longer nap in the afternoon (around two to two and a half hours). Daycare is really trying to limit your morning nap at this point so that in the next few months we can start weaning you down to just one nap a day in the afternoon. Umm....does mommy get a vote??? I feel like it was just yesterday you would sleep 20 hours a day!
You quickly graduated this month from crawling to pulling to standing up. I have a feeling it won't be long before you're cruising along the furniture and/or standing up unassisted. Where did my baby go?? Here's what I'm talking about:
Gage pulling up to stand!
You still hate to be changed. Diaper, clothes, it doesn't matter. You squirm and whine and squirm some more. We do our best to distract you while we change you, but usually it doesn't last very long. Mommy and daddy have become record fast diaper changers!
You HATE to be contained....hate it! If we try to put you in your jumperoo or exersaucer, you may be okay in there for a few minutes, but you start to antsy and whine until we let you out onto the floor. You just want to be free and on the move!
Your personality/attitude is really beginning to come through, you are definitely a little person these days. You are stubborn (like your mommy), ornery (like you daddy) and independent (like both of us). You are not patient enough for snuggles or rocking any more, unless it close to bed time, and mommy may be able to sneak in a little bit of snuggles. Seriously breaks my heart, but I love that you are wanting to learn and discover everything around you.
You finally broke through your top two teeth! They came in within two days of each other, and since then you have no longer been waking up in the middle of the night. Sometimes we have to be careful of where are fingers are in proximity to your mouth, because you will chew on them if given the chance, and your teeth are sharp!
Mommy got you a toothbrush and some toothpaste this month so we can practice brushing your teeth (now that you have 4 of them!). At first you were not too fond of mommy coming at you with the toothbrush, but you now will let me brush with no problem. I think you maybe like the taste of your toothpaste.
You still love your new daycare situation, and so do mommy and daddy. Seriously the best decision we could have made. I was a little nervous though because at the beginning of October, Kelly was on vacation for a week, so we had to take you to ANOTHER new daycare while she was gone. Luckily we were able to take you to her brother and sister in law's house (who had met you before) and the transition went so smoothly. It was while you were at their house you learned to start pulling up, and you even got to go down the slide a few times while you were there. I think you had a ton of fun with all of the other kids (their daycare is twice as big as Kelly's).
Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the last month:
Getting a little play time in before swim lessons
Love those baby blues
Ready to watch the K-State game in my purple overalls!
I'm coming for you mom...
You have something I want....
Please let me play with your camera!
Big boy with my sippy cup
Getting ready to go down the slide at daycare
Working on my standing skills
"What?"
Mommy must be pretty funny
Standing up!
Petting the doggies
Mommy and daddy forgot to tell cousin Abby what your new tricks were. This picture was included in a text that said, "Um, did you know he was doing this?". Yea buddy, mommy and daddy weren't ready either.
Hanging out with Grammy before the K-State/Baylor game
Trying to keep you calm during the Harley intro. Paci and orange ear plugs. They still didn't help :(
Choosing to play with the diaper bag, instead of the 20 toys behind him!
Here are a few outtakes from your 8 month photo shoot. This is definitely not getting any easier!
Happy baby!
Seriously, this face kills me
Even with an ear infection, you are so stinkin' happy
Here I come mom!
LOVE those chubby baby legs
I remember when he was only half as tall as the couch cushions :(
Working on crawling and climbing
Such a big boy
Just too excited!
Gage, it is so hard to believe that just a few short months ago you were a newborn who needed so much help from both mommy and daddy. You are already becoming such an independent little guy, whether we like it or not! We both love you so very much and love watching you grow and change each day!
