1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, TEN

John-Man!

How is time passing so fast?!? In less than a month you will one, my boy, ONE!

I didn't pick the best day (or time of day rather) to skip big brother's afternoon nap and bring him outside to help with some picture taking. You two are really fun to watch together and no one, not even Daddy, makes you giggle the way he does. It's not all giggle, all the time, though. The toy stealing and knocking down bit shows me that you two will be brothers indeed. 

He did a great job though. I love when I asked him to "make John laugh." He knows that making silly noises in your face does the trick, but it didn't help so much to take some solo pictures. 

You do love him for sure, and you love what he loves:  things in motion, and particularly, things that fly!

It's fun living near an airport. You, Little Radar,  know the sound of an approaching aircraft and look around the skies until you spot it. And those flying machines make you so very happy. I'm certain you try to say airplane but it often comes out like "Duh" because we've caught you trying to say Dusty here and there after growing quite attached to the lovable Dusty Crophopper.

 Month 10 has brought lots of fun around here. You pull up on everything and stand by yourself for quite some time before deciding that crawling is more your style.

You will take a few lunging steps, but we are still waiting for those legs of yours to gain some confidence and take off. It's so much fun, and you will love chasing after your brother, I promise. So let's get to walking!

You say "Mama" mostly when crying, ok, only when crying but I will take it. Along with perfecting "So Big!" and clapping to your favorite song "If You are Happy and You Know It," you love to wave "Hi" and your favorite person to wave to is definitely Daddy. You make the best fake-sounding laugh when he's around especially after work. It's hilarious to watch you get his attention this way.

You are still curious as can be and do not mind crawling off into other rooms to explore according to your own agenda. I pray that I can always keep track of you, little one, and I pray this confidence and sense of wonder opens many wonderful doors in your future.

You cut a bottom molar this month and didn't really enjoy the process.  None of us did, but hey, one down, seven more to go! You are trying your hand at different table foods, but are holding fast to baby food.

We love you John Man! I am looking forward to this Spring where we will spend hours outside. Maybe you will even be doing some walking! God Bless You!

Not Yet Letting It Go

Sweet Sheriff,

I wasn't quite ready to let the day go as I tucked you into bed tonight, but then again, I was. You certainly were. After waking almost an hour earlier than usual, having hardly wasted a minute of the day, and not napping, you were spent. I knew a meltdown was coming when you longingly mentioned it almost being bedtime at dinner. You are one, though, to not let go until required to by us or sheer exhaustion, and usually the former comes first.  I couldn't even get through a review of our day as you lay beneath your Dusty blanket before you were quietly said, "Goodnight, Momma."

Today, Son,  inspired me. Yes, it also completely exhausted me, but today lifted my spirits and gave me a beautiful vision of a future filled with more memory making with you. There will be days where it's your brother that I race in the backyard with while you are at school and even special moments with your new little brother or sister while you older ones do "big kid" things.  But today, well, it was your day.

So it's late. I should be sleeping, but I'm jotting down these memories because tomorrow will be a different day, and whether good or bad, it won't be today. And I kind of loved today.

In the 9th Month of Babyhood, My Boy Gave to Me...

A Glimpse into His Personality!

Ok, so we've been listening to one too many Christmas carols around here. You turned 9 months at the end of November, and after a quick trip to LA to celebrate with our family, it's been full-on Advent mode around here, complete with much colder temperatures and Christmas crafting.  I've had to do laundry more often as you and your brother just don't have that many flannel jammies!

It's been pretty dreary and without much natural light coming inside. I wish I had tried to take these pictures again, but somehow you managed to destroy the sticker again.

You've been pulling up and just starting to cruise along furniture, and your favorite spot is surely the train table. This keeps W and I on our toes, and we can no longer hide dangerous toys up there, and of course, his toys are much more exciting than yours. You are a curious little fellow and want to get into everything. I have caught you more than once on a shelf trying to see where it might lead.

You "sing" in the car, and The Muppets' "Twelve Days of Christmas" seems to be a hit. In fact, I've calmed you down with melody on a few night wakings.

You've mastered "so big!" and W thinks it's so cool that you've got a trick now. You show off mostly in the high chair where your favorite baby foods are green beans and bananas. You also seem to like the meats, big boy. You aren't quite a fan of table food just yet but are enjoying sampling the various puffs out there.

When I try to teach you baby sign language, you look at me like I'm nuts. On the other hand, you are also a master of turning off the light in your room when we walk out.

Keep smiling and shining, sweet John Man!