nine months today

Hello World!



Today I turned nine months old. Pretty cool, huh? I have a pretty bad boo boo lip today. So since you guys are so great at praying, Mommy says it would be really wonderful if you could throw in a few for that too.

Mommy told me that today I have been as long out of the belly as I was in the belly. I don't really remember belly time, but my nine months here have been pretty great.

I currently weigh 18 pounds and 13 ounces. Mommy's not sure how long I am, but she says I sure seem long. She's actually getting a little worried because I'm outgrowing my bouncy chair and I can't sit up completely on my own yet. She says I better hurry it up already. I just looked at her real cute as if to say, "Mommy, do you still think you actually call the shots around here?" Mommy is so proud of the way I've been eating lately (except for yesterday when I only ate 14 ounces... YIKES!) and my weight gain. Last week Mom started giving me Carnation Good Start formula mixed with Vanilla Pediasure, and man, oh man, that stuff is SO much better than stinky Alimentum. Mommy doesn't even mind when I spit up now, because it just smells like I put on some vanilla perfume. Ahem, cologne, I mean. And most of the time we can actually call them "spit-ups" because although I have a round of gushers every now and then, it only seems to happen every seven to ten days now. Mom is so happy, and I agree. It hurts my throat to throw up like that. I'm doing much better now.

My favorite sounds to make are nigh-nigh, ma-ma, da-da (even though I don't know what they mean yet), a growling sound, kind of a hacking sound (I can't really explain it), and I LOVE to blow raspberries. I stick my tongue out and slobber big time. Mom and Dad think it's really funny, but then Mommy gets slightly irritated because I soak the front of my outfit. I've also started to yell and scream in delight, and I love the sound of my high-pitched squeal. That's right, I'm officially a screamer.

I am all smiles and laughs these days. See?

Unless I'm tired or The Big People are trying to feed me while I'm awake (the nerve), I rarely cry. I love to play, and I've started bobbing up and down, and if Mom helps me sit on my knees, I like to rock back and forth. I can roll over from my back to tummy now, although I still get my arm stuck a lot. And I've taken my arm flapping and leg kicking to a whole new level these last couple weeks. Mommy and Daddy thought I was so funny at the surgeon's appointment the other day because I was lying on the examination table on the roll of paper they pull over the bed, and I just kicked LIKE CRAZY because I loved the sound of the paper rustling. When sombody's holding me upright, I flap and kick so much, it looks like I'm trying to run across the room. And I love to kick my legs in my bath water, soak up lots of water in my feet bandages (I still get bathed with my limbs wrapped), and then I put my foot up on mom's behind while she's sitting on the edge of the tub bathing me. I soak her whole bum. I think it's so funny.

I'm averaging around 25 to 30 ounces of formula these days but I'm still not interested in solids. Although I do show interest in what The Big People are eating, I don't want more than about three little tastes. And don't even think about putting something pureed on a spoon anywhere near my face. I'll tell you where you can stick your puree, you little... ahem.

My favorite toys are my wonder pets my Aunt Katherine sent me (I especially love Tuck), my "Ears Hang Low" dog, my pinwheel The Big People use to distract me during dressing change, my crinkly elephant, and my little stuffed football with a handle on it. My favorite song to calm me down is "I Come to the Garden Alone," but I think it's really funny when Dad sings, "It's Bananas B-A-N-A-N-A-S." Come on, folks. Can't a kid get a little "Wheels on the Bus" once in a while? I love when Mommy reads me books, and my favorite number is 12. Just kidding about that last part. I don't even know what a number is, although Mom says I'm number one.

I'm really great at picking up and shaking things, and Mommy and Daddy think I'm starting to throw/drop things on purpose these last couple days. I am super interested in watching my hand do a waving open and close sort of motion, although I'm not associating it with "Hi" or "Bye" yet.

I love patting things and especially people, although the patting is quickly becoming slapping. I love touching hands and faces and reaching up to touch The Big People, especially my Daddy.

I love getting kisses, zerberts, and when Mommy eats my ears, face, and neck.

I'm starting to really laugh a lot more these days at that kind of stuff. Mommy kept me laughing a long time on the way to Granny and Grandaddy's by going, "Ma-Ma-Ma-DADDY" or "Da-Da-Da-MOMMY" in the car. See how she switched it up on me at the last minute? Hi-Larious.

Anyway, I'm doing just great these days, and God is really blessing me with mostly clear skin (except for my hands, face, and occasional spotty blisters), and a bigger appetite. So far I've avoided a g-tube, and Mom and Dad hope we can keep it that way! I wouldn't mind staying out of the hospital myself. Man, I don't need no stinkin g-tube. I'll tell you where you can stick your... ahem.

Mom and Dad love me so much and are enjoying all my firsts I've had lately. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and they're starting to talk about something they call Christmas. Mommy said something about a fat guy in a red suit, big socks on the mantle and lots and lots of presents. She also said something about great food that I should try, but all I heard at that point was wah-wah-wah.

God is taking such good care of me, and Mommy and Daddy say He loves me so much. All I know is that I'm loved A LOT by LOTS of people, and Mom says that's only a little bit compared to how God loves me. I don't really believe that I could be loved anymore, but Mom says it's true. She says that so many people are praying for me, and everyday she can see that God is answering those prayers. I'm so blessed. I can't wait to spend WAY more time out of the belly. It seems like a pretty rockin' place to be. It's bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Enough of all this. I have the sudden urge to play with my Daddy. Catch you guys on the flip side.