Smith Family Snapshots: Chair Photo

I am 9 months old and not interested in these pictures anymore.

One of my favorite poses...
Gavin likes to kick up a leg like this when sitting in shopping carts. It looks so relaxed and beach-bum.

Sitting still? Why would I do that?

The fan is soooo cool.

So, you are asking for just a couple of smiles?

I love you, so ok...

This month...

* Gav is at a an age prime for toys and playing. Of course, the jumperoo is still his first love. He also loves his mobile gym and likes his teething giraffe, balls, blocks and rattles.

* G started pushing back and scooting forward on his tummy. He is usually motivated by a toy that is just out of reach.

* This month he started reaching towards toys and maneuvering from sitting up to laying down but stops short of crawling towards the toy; instead he will just sit back up.

* G has started to raise his arms when I ask him to "come here". Really, I say that each time before I pick him up (not really asking him to come to me just yet). I love that he has figured out that it helps to raise his arms. One day he will stretch his arms out to us... and that will melt my heart!

* On his 9 month birthday he started falling face first into my chest when a friend/stranger approached us to chat. Sweet little guy would smile at the person for a couple of seconds and then become embarrassed/shy. I think it is precious!

* Singing still calms little man. I love how he responds to me singing his name in songs, especially since I am by no means an acclaimed vocalist ; )

* He now enjoys 3 meals a day and we are cutting his bottles down to 3-4 per day. His favorite foods are bananas, chicken and spinach. Most notably, we started him on whole-milk yogurt this month and he is enjoying it! On a different note, little guy has started spitting... we are working on taming that.

He's not using the spoon to eat yet, but he likes playing with it ; )

And, he likes looking at the fastener until I un-clip him from the booster seat.

* G is drinking water from a sippy-cup and likes to hold his bottle (on his own) for feedings.

* It seems teething is in full force. While he has not taken to pacifiers before now, he does like to have one at night when he goes to bed. Sweet boy rarely sucks on it but likes chewing on the rim or chewing on a burp cloth. Also, for the last week he has been on a nap strike and his bedtime routine has some crying again. I enjoy the extra cuddles and, fortunately for him, he has not been in enough discomfort to keep from sleeping through the night.

* Each day he finds some new thrill that causes an uproar of laughter. Today it was be running back and forth in front of him and waving at him... who knows why that's funny- but each day I find something that he likes and we both get in our dose of laughter. On good days, Gavin will laugh at the same thing for D when he gets home :)

* At this point, we only see him on his knees when he is in his crib stretching or playing. I have not caught him during the day on his knees since last month.

* We moved his crib down this month and have started baby proofing for the inevitable crawling toddler that he's becoming.

* He is waving a lot these days... perhaps he has started waving good bye.

* David and I have made a habit of checking in on little man before we go to bed and it's gotten to the point G will wake up and we will talk to him for a couple minutes. It finally struck me as odd this month that G is ok with being awoken and falls back to sleep after we leave. He is a sweet and patient little guy.

* I think his months of babyhood are coming to a close. He is more mobile and less interested in snuggling. He now prefers to snuggle with his back on my chest...at least he will put his head on my shoulder so we are cheek-to-cheek.

* G and I have enjoyed some play dates with some friends this month.