Walking with the Cooks: Happy 9 months, Josiah!

We were excited to visit the doctor this morning and see how our little guy is growing. He isn't going to be our little guy for long! He has changed significantly in many ways this month. I love that he has become really aware of what's happening around him.

Weight: 23 lbs 12 oz (96%)
Length: 30.25 in (98%)
Head: 18 in (72%)
Diaper: cloth and size 4
Clothing: 12 and 18 month (especially shirts), Shoe: size 4? (let's be real, we pretty much never put shoes on him, and if the floor wasn't so cold we wouldn't put slippery socks on him either...)

Likes: opening/closing doors, climbing things (but not really pulling up, ex: up stairs, into the bumbo, through the coffee table), kisses, waving/being waved to, refusing food he doesn't want (I really think this brings him pleasure, me...not so much), playing with Sarah, destroying something Sarah is playing with (as any little brother would do), identifying every cord in a room

Dislikes: being alone (but thankfully no separation anxiety at nursery, so far), being stepped on (thankfully, it isn't malicious and doesn't happen often), too many sweet potatoes

Schedule: As always, merely our general aim.

7 am: Wake and nurse/cereal and fruit

7-9 am: Wake time
9-11am: Nap
11am: Wake and nurse/vegetable
11-1 pm: Wake time
1-3 pm: Nap
3 pm: Wake and nurse/cereal and vegetable
3-4:30 pm: Wake time
4:30-6 pm: Nap
6-7 pm: Wake time
7 pm: Nurse and down for bed

Sleeping: I think this has been a better month. The past week or so we decided to try keeping Josiah up for a couple of hours or until he got fussy before putting him down for naps. We also solidified a pre-sleep routine that consists of a diaper change, reading Good Night Cape Cod, and singing Good Night Josiah, Sleep Tight Josiah and the Doxology while we put him down (the same way every time) in his crib. Longer wake times and a sleep routine are both tricks we have tried several times before, but in an effort to really nail down a routine that works we are trying them again. And there is seemingly more success this time! I think it is working somewhat because he is starting to give some sleep cues, namely fussiness. :)

Eating: Josiah likes eating. Nursing is still going well and he is enjoying solids, though I find there are some days he enjoys them more than others. He has perfected a particular lean back eye roll combo that he pulls out when he doesn't want to eat anymore. At first I thought he might be having an allergic reaction, but no, he was just tired of sweet potatoes. We have started letting him eat a few finger foods, like sweet potatoes fries and squished peas.

Moving: He sure does lots of it. I officially can't leave him alone. I used to be able to put him downstairs in the living room, as low as you can go, and step away. But over the last week or two he has learned to come up the stairs. Since he can't go down the stairs yet, there's no time to blink these days! Thankfully, we haven't had any big tumbles yet. I can put him back in the far library/guest room and intercept him before he gets to the stairs, so that is convenient. Josiah's latest trick is climbing. He loves to climb on, in, and up anything he deems conquerable. For a few days when we put him down he wouldn't do anything else. I am glad he has gotten over the novelty and remembers that he can simply play.

Talking: He seems to be doing some repeating. "Mama" and "dada" are part of his babbles and repeats, but I don't think he associates the words with the people yet. He and Sarah will mimic each other- hilarious! He seems to really understand a lot more of what we are saying. Josiah takes correction well and turns when we say his name.

Teething: Nothing new other than a few strange moments. For example, one night he refused to eat before bed. We gave him a frozen teething ring and he tried to eat it in one bite. As usual, we blame anything unexplained on teething.

Fun facts:
- A big change this month was Josiah's move upstairs. He is now set up next to Sarah and has a little more peace and quiet. It is nice for us having them in the same part of the house. Sarah is the only one who occasionally suffers, as she sometimes wakes up when he does.
- He waves on command and loves to be waved to.
- It is still very necessary to put a hat on him when we go outside, but he really is getting some hair. It roughs up nicely after a bath.
- He still flashes his most handsome smiles while pausing to do the "beach babe".
- He likes to make sure he is in the same room as the action, moving from room to room as Sarah or I do until he really gets into playing with something. Games that have held his solo attention include opening and closing doors and scooting across the steps. No other entertainment necessary! He is becoming more and more of a brave explorer.
- Since he moved to his big boy convertible car seat, he has, by necessity, also started sitting in the front of the shopping cart and in a high chair when we eat out. (As the second child he doesn't get the seat cover to deflect germs as often as Sarah did....) I have also started training for the Olympics (look for a gold medal in weigh lifting 2016) since I now carry him in and out of buildings and hold him when people stop to talk (as opposed to popping his infant seat in a stroller).
- The doctor confirmed that, like Sarah, he has a bit of eczema. We will continue to lather with lotion (or "ocean" as Sarah calls it) after bath time as long as this dry weather lasts.

Next appointment: Monday, May 6, 2012 at 9:40am