Cody is 9 Months!

I can't believe Cody is now as old as the length of time I was pregnant with him. Crazy how fast time flies. We are amazed at how much he has grown and changed in such a short time. The cutest thing about his appearance right now is his 2 bottom front teeth that are big and show everytime he smiles and talks. His hair is starting to get longer and he likes to rub his hands on it and pull at it. He weighs 18 pounds and is in the 10-25% for weight. He is 27.8 inches long and in the 50% for height. His head is 18.3 inches and in the 90%. He gets his big head from his daddy. :) He wears 9 -12 month clothes and size 3 diapers. Note: we have still not bought diapers! By guessing what we have left I think we can make it to 1 year! He sleeps 11 to 12 hours at night. He goes to bed between 7 and 7:30 and gets up between 6 and 7 (it was 5:30 so we are excited for the extension). Cody takes 2 naps during the day. 2 to 3 hours in the morning and 1 1/2 to 2 hours in the afternoon.

Cody is a great eater. It's been so fun watching him feed himself. He can/will eat any "table food" that we give him. He's not too picky so far. We haven't given him meat or chicken yet though so we'll see. He likes bananas, grapes, cheese, carrots, sweet potatos, squash, pears, bread, apple sauce, mac and cheese, noodles, avacado, yogurt, oatmeal, cornbread, rice and refried beans. I love experimenting and giving him different things that we eat. He still gets jarred food with lunch and dinner but we've learned that there must be something on his tray for him to pick up and feed himself. I look forward to the day when he will be able to completely eat what we eat. He likes to snack on cherrios, kix, yogurt melts and gerber stars. If he has a variety of snacks to choose from he will always pick the yogurt melts....they are the sweetest. We also always give Cody his own spoon to hold while we hold the one we are using to feed him. It makes it easier to keep him from trying to get the one we are using. We went to get ice cream with Bubbie and he got to taste ice cream and whip cream....and of course loved it! Cody will sometimes bring his hands together like a clap so we are working on actual clapping. He still brings his fist to his chest and beats it one time. We haven't figured out if this means something. He usually does it when he's acknowleding someone. He doesn't quite crawl although he's getting very close. He can get to all 4's and rock but then ends up going backwards. From the crawling position he will extend his legs and arms straight like he's doing push-ups with his butt in the air and his head on the ground. It's hilarious. Jason says if we put a wheel on his head he'd be able to go where he wants to. He will eventually give up and roll to where he wants to go. He will lay on his back and play with his feet. Also from the sitting position he can completely spin around to face whatever direction he chooses. Because of his interest in crawling...it sure makes changing diapers difficult. He does not want to stay still and is usually frustrated by the end of the diaper change. Its the same problem getting him dressed too...although he has learned how to help get his arms in the sleeve of his shirt. He makes the funniest breathing sound when he's excited, cold, happy, playful, etc. It's a sucking in sound and it always makes us laugh. At first it was when the cold wind would blow in his face but now he does it when he's playing or really excited.Cody loves his voice!! He likes to hear it echo in the house or stores. He's constantly babbling and its never quiet. We turn heads in public! His newest thing is to play on our piano and "sing" then turns his head and smiles so big...proud of himself. Sometimes he grunts....usually when he's tired but still wants to make noise. If I leave the room he calls for me. It's not a word or a particular sounds but just a little yell....not in a frustrated or mad way but in a way of calling out for me. He still says "da-da" but has started saying something that sounds like "hi or hey". He's definately in the "stranger-danger" stage. Actually anyone...doesn't have to be a stranger. He prefers his momma and dada (and will happily go with his Bubbie and is pretty comfortable with the babysitter, Sarah). However, when I leave there is crying but I'm told it never lasts more than a minute. Cody will watch videos. He likes the Baby Einstein videos and will watch one or two a day. One in the morning so I can get ready and one in the afternoon. We have a couple cartoons saved on the DVR that he'll watch as well. Cody likes to look at the pictures on our fridge and he laughs at them. He likes to touch them and smile. He does this with videos online and in the mirror as well. He's really into other kids/babies. Our sweet little boy certainly does have a little temper....although I hate to admit it. He knows what he wants and when he wants it. So he is learning not to "yell" to get his way. But he is a pretty happy, smiley sweet boy most of the time! Cody is very ticklish and can laugh and laugh. He still loves to play hide and seek and peek-a-boo. He still kicks his feet like he's running a marathon if we hold him in mid-air, or if he's laying on his back. And he especially likes to do this in the bathtub. We always say "go, go, go" and he does it. He sleeps with 3 or 4 paci's in his bed. I know this is a bit much but there are always a couple that fall out of his crib. He also wakes up in the night or during naps and puts a paci back in his mouth to go back to sleep. We typically only use paci's at night, naptime or if we are out in public when he's tired. If we put his paci in upside down he will take it out and flip it the correct way. Cody loves to read books. He will sit in our laps and smile and look up at us as if he's understanding what we are reading. He looks intently at the pictures. It's a sweet time that he will be still and in our lap. He can use a sippy cup. Sometimes he will tip his head enough to get something out but still requires our help most of the time. He takes about 16 to 20 ounces of formula a day. 1 bottle first thing in the morning and 1 before bed. Then he gets a little bit more as a snack during the day. But for quenching his thirst he gets water or watered down apple juice in the sippy cup. He is either weaning himself from the bottle or not as interested in formula these days. But we are sticking it out until he's 1 and can have milk. It's much easier to go to restaurants with Cody now days. He will sit in a high chair and eat/talk/play/watch people while we eat/talk/socialize. Cody still enjoys jumping in the jump-a-roo that hangs in the doorway. He can go in circles or the longest time and just giggle. We love our little boy so much! We love watching him grow and learn new things. We love to show him things and see him get excited as he discovers something new. We are looking forward to springtime and getting to take him to the park and play in the grass. Everyday brings something new and exciting and we get to be right there with him as he experiences the joys that life brings!