Dear Graham,
I am a little behind with this post, but I skipped your sister's seven month post altogether, so I am counting this as progress! What is it about seven months?!
You're working your way through a cold right now and your most prominent symptom is a hacking cough that wakes me from a dead sleep at least once each night and that's already had me running you to the doctor for a check-up that is really a "reassure Mommy" visit. For the most part, you remain a sunbeam of joy, but your eyes betray you. In those gorgeous baby blues, I can see that you're tired and feeling icky and a little out of sorts. It's the weekend, and on multiple occasions, I have snuggled you into your stroller and hit the neighborhood streets with you. I think the crisp fall air and the semi-upright positioning help you to comfortably drift off into dreamland, sweet boy. I hate it when you're sick and I'm hoping you'll be better in no time, but I've enjoyed these moments of soothing you and pacing our neighborhood while you slumber.
You sit up like a champion now, and while you'll take the occasional tumble straight forward or straight back, you mostly just sit upright and reach for your toys and flap your arms like an excited bird. It's adorable. You reach for your sister and for your fur-brothers from this new-found position, and you're quite proud of yourself for hanging with the big kids at their level. :)
Graham, you love food. A lot. You still devour four bottles a day along with your morning cereal, lunch and recently, we've added in a little dinner, too. I think the time has come to purchase puffs and let you give those a shot. You don't quite yet have a pincher grasp, but I think you might master it if your reward is in the form of food. You love sweet potatoes, carrots, winter squash, apples, pears and bananas so far. Peas remain the only dish that you refuse. We'll keep trying.
You sleep so well overnight, although you are still quite the early bird, beginning your days between 5:15 and 6. That feels pretty early on the weekends, little dude, but your beaming grin makes it worth it. You are still a fine napper, but you revert to your short 45 minute bursts here and there, which can make you a little tired and cranky. The best solution for that is to hit the streets in your stroller, and I'm always happy to oblige (see opening paragraphs).
We've just pulled out the fall clothes and snuggled you into your fleece and hat for the first time -- you are rocking nine month clothes (sometimes even twelve months, depending on the brand!) and size three diapers, and growing all the time. Teeth are still stubbornly trying to make their way through the gum-line, and your drool, constant finger-in-the-mouth and unusual fussy periods lead me to believe we're very close.
You've begun bathing in the ducky tub that your sister loved at your age, and it is a big hit with you, too. You lean forward and splash, splash, splash while you're in there, and you giggle when the water hits your face.
Go-with-the-flow remains your default setting, and so that's exactly what we do. We go on errands and on adventures and on walks and trips to the park. We read books and sing songs and cuddle on the sofa and the floor and in Mommy and Daddy's big bed. You jump and bounce like there's no tomorrow in your jumper and on our laps, and you grin and giggle all day, every day. You also "talk" quite animatedly, too -- you babble and squeal and cackle and it is the greatest. Lately, we have been practicing "Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma," and I am sure you will have it down in no time at all.
You're easy-going and sweet, and your first year is speeding by way too fast for Mommy. But we are enjoying the moments and the milestones, and life is so blindingly awesome with you and your sister front and center. Onward to month eight, my love.
Mama
This little guy is such a blessing to us all.
Love him to infinity and beyond.
NANA
Posted by: Lee Ann Brock | October 05, 2014 at 03:45 PM