At Nine Months

Mister,

As I browsed my stash of photos form this past month to put in your nine month letter, I realized that there just weren't any really good ones that I hadn't already put in other posts.  I did not take a picture of you on the exact date that you turned nine months.  Oops.  I hope that someday, you'll understand.

At nine months you are very active!  Crawling all over the house, chasing after your brother and sister.  In the last month I feel like you have made such a big change from the baby in the house to one of the kids.  I don't have to watch your every move as much.  Your brother does a pretty good job of looking out for you.  You moved into his room and you love waking up to see his face first thing every morning. You are pulling up to stand on just about everything.  You still haven't figured out how to get back down and you get pretty upset if we don't come to help you right away.  You wander all over the house discovering things.  You tend to get stuck in between the chairs under the kitchen table and need rescuing.  It's quite funny.  You are entertained by the door stopper in the kitchen for hours.

You love to eat!  You started to eat real food more often than pureed food.  Some favorites are cheese, Cheerios, avocado, and pancakes.  You love pancakes!  You had your first popsicle a few nights ago and at first you were like, why would you put something this cold in my mouth?  But then you tried a few more times and you were like, oh yeah, this stuff is good.

You say a whole bunch of "words". Da-da, Bruh-bruh, uh-uh and even Gigi.  No Mama yet.  I am hoping it will happen real soon.

We had a big appointment this month at the Children's hospital in San Diego to have your horrible eczema treated.  They have got you on a pretty good regimen of oils and lotions and anti-itch medicine.  We have been mummy wrapping your poor little legs with wet gauze at night and it seems to be doing the trick.  You are already less miserable and your skin is starting to clear up.  So happy about that.

This is a not super great picture of you at nine months but it is just the way I want to remember you.  You, standing up in the morning with your little red cheeks and your lips sucked in, waiting for me to pick you up.  That's my sweet boy.

 

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Show

 It's difficult for me to say exactly what my favorite thing about having a kindergartner is.  I love the artwork, watching him learn so much, working with all of the kids in the class.  And I really love watching their adorable performances.

I love that they shyly walk into the multipurpose room with their hands folded behind their backs.  I love that they peer around the room looking for their parents.  I love that their shyness melts into a huge smile as soon as they find us in the audience.  I love that they wave and and shout "Hi Mommy and Daddy", like we are the only people in the room.

 'The Boy's' Thanksgiving performance was absolutely adorable.  He had been practicing all of the songs and moves for weeks.  And on the fireplace hearth that he has dubbed his stage.
 

His class dressed as pilgrims.

He did a fantastic job even though his collar fell off at one point.  Must talk with him about how the show must go on.
 

Pilgrims and Indians.
 

We were invited to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast after the show.  'The Hubs' and I had the stomach flu so we just tried to hold it together while 'The Boy' ate cheese puffs and a cookie.  They must have been at the first Thanksgiving, right?
 

I love this kid!  I love his school! 

We are so proud of our little pilgrim.

 

Changes

The last couple of weeks held some big changes for 'The Littles'.  Each one of them got a new sleeping arrangement. 

'Munchkin' said 'goodbye' to her crib and 'hello' to a toddler bed.  She was being so good in her crib and not trying to climb out at all.  I was hoping I'd be able to leave her in there until she was eighteen.  Then, one day, she escaped.  She stacked her blankets and stuffed animals in the corner, used them as a stool and hurled herself over the side.  And not just once.  Over and over and over again.  Because once she figured out how to escape, she could no longer be contained.

She was so proud of her big girl bed. 

On the first night, she got out of bed to come find us a couple of times but that was it.  Hands down, the easiest transition ever!

A couple of weeks later, we decided it was high time we get our room back to ourselves.  'Mister' had been sleeping through the night for a couple of weeks and 'The Boy' kept asking when he could share his room with his brother.  One afternoon, I just decided to do it.  By myself.

I was nervous about not having enough space in the room for both of their beds and all of their stuff.  It turns out there is way more room than I thought.  It fit a crib, a full size bed and still has plenty of space for them to play on the floor.  Now, the closet is a different story.  That thing is packed to the brim!



'The Boy's' side.

'Mister's side.

Things have been going pretty well with them, too.  It took 'The Boy' about a week to adjust to not going into his room during 'Mister's' nap time but now he gets it.  I just love that they are sharing! 

The day after I moved the boys, I woke up unable to move.  I threw my back out and I was on the couch for days.  Still worth seeing their smiles.

Random Samplings of October

'The Hubs' had a very special surgery that would prevent his ability to make children. I know, I know!  But if you knew how difficult our day to day is, you'd understand.

This guy is such a goof. Had to buckle in his 'son', 'Travis'. 

Thanks for taking this one, honey.  Most days I want to do this in the afternoon.  Most days I don't.

'Mister's' first smoothie.

We're big on smoothies. 

Can you tell? 

Little Chef. 

A math lesson at dinner. 

'Mister' at play. 

Three 'Littles', one double stroller. 

What may be one of 'Mister's' last sink baths.  He's getting so chunky. 

Singing the Fandango song with a homemade paper bag puppet. 

Can you see my first tooth? 

My 5 am wake up call. 

We Skyped with 'The Hubs' while he was in Hawaii on business.  'Mister' was terrified.  Every time 'The Hubs' talked, he screamed.  It was hilarious!

Love seeing his work in the class room.

Snuggling my sleeping 'Mister'. 

Kisses! 

My Mom came to help me kill the biggest spider I have ever seen. 

'Mister' woke up with a chunk of dried boogies in his hair.  Acted like hair gel a la There's Something About Mary.