9 months (and a half)

i missed thom's 9 month anniversary so now it's 9 and a half months!  but here it goes:

stats (from his 9 month dr. appointment):

height: 29"
weight: almost 20 lbs

thom loves:
-to eat.  but mostly when he is feeding himself.
-to laugh.  he gives the best smiles and laughs now.  oh, how i love his goofy side.
-wagon rides.
-going new places.  he just stares and takes in all the new sights.
-magazines and paper.  he loves to crinkle them up.  i put the children's Friend magazine up in his bedroom each month and we read stories from it before his naps and he wrinkles it when he's playing on the floor.  by the end of the month it is in pieces.
-his pacifier.  not sure how i feel about this one.  but since he's getting his first tooth in (!!) i have been really lenient with it and let him have it even when it's not sleep time so he has something nice to suck/chew on.
-his family.  yes, he gives big smiles when he sees mama and dada.  that is my favorite time of day.  :)

 

  

thom hates:
-getting his face and hands washed off after he eats.  weirdly, though, it's not a problem in the bathtub.
-being bored.  yep, sometimes i am boring.  those days when i have no energy?  probably the worst days ever for thom because i'm not constantly entertaining him.

thom can:
-pull himself up to standing.  on tables, chairs, my legs, other babies... you name it.
-crawl really quickly
-go up a stair.
-give high fives (though he seems partial to chris on this one)
-wave hi (ok, he's only done this a couple times but he's catching on!)
-cruise along furniture

 

 

thom is a sweet heart.  he is not a baby who is quick to give smiles and laughs to strangers - you have to earn them.  but when he does give in and get goofy, it is the greatest feeling in the world!  it's like i can see happiness from his head to his toes and from ear to ear.  adorable.
thom is stubborn.  if he has his mind set to do something, he will not be deterred.  i'm getting good at providing distractions.
thom is observant.  i think his most common facial expression is a curious one.  he loves to explore new places and faces.  he quickly figures out toys and wants to play with the "big people" toys (phones, remote controls, computers...).  he knows there's something cool about them.
thom is full of energy.  yes, he tires me out sometimes.  but what better way could i spend my energy?
thom is fearless.  are all babies fearless?  thom plunges head-first down the stairs, and tries to stretch his body across the gap between the bed and the nightstand to grab tissues from the table.  this is another reason he keeps me on my toes.

 

i think we love this little guy more and more with each passing day.