9 Months

Caleb,

You've been outside of my belly as long as you were in and it still blows my mind that I carried you in my womb for 9 months. You're getting so big and losing your babyness and becoming more of a little boy. You're wearing 9-12 month clothes and exploding with developmental milestones.  You're trying so incredibly hard to crawl and get frustrated when you get stuck and can't get to what you want. You do some sweet yoga moves in your attempts to crawl and always get in a plank/push-up position before you try to move forward.  You are such a squirmer.  When you want off our lap, you make every attempt possible to get off on your own.  Changing your diaper and putting clothes on you is becoming more difficult as you are easily distracted and can't lay still for long.  You've started pulling yourself up to standing all by yourself in the bathtub; it seems to be the easiest place for you to do it and you know mom and dad are right there to catch you if you slip. 

You're baby vocabulary is expanding every day and it really sounds like you're trying to communicate with us. The tone in your voice fluctuates and you love getting a reaction out of us. Your newest thing to do when it's quiet is yell "Ah ah ah ah!" We do it back to you and you think it's the greatest thing ever. You are such a social butterfly and love smiling at any and everything. People always stop to say hi to you and you love smiling back at them. So many people ask us if you're always this happy and for the most part, you really are. You have your moments, but we all do. You're such a joy to take out places because you always do so great.  You started to do the squinchy face smile all the time this month and it's the cheesiest smile ever. We love it. 

We're still breastfeeding and your attachment to the boob is getting stronger and stronger. Some days I can't wait for you to turn 1 so we can start weaning you, but other days I don't look forward to it at all because I know how hard of an adjustment it will be for you.  It's going to be hard on me too and some times I'm okay with weaning when you're ready.  This breastfeeding thing is truly a love hate relationship.  Lately you'll pop off the boob and then grab a hold of the nipple and play with it. You get mad when I cover it up so you can't play with it, but son, you're not the most gentle baby and don't know your own strength. You're nursing about 4 times during the day and anywhere from 2-3 times at night. You mostly get solids at night and have recently been introduced to blueberries and peaches. You like them both. You're still doing great with feeding yourself finger foods and are getting better at chewing. You've started spitting out your juice/water from your sippy cup and getting soaked. We have to limit your time with the sippy cup, otherwise you'd be a mess all the time. 

We started your second session of swim lessons and your new teacher is Jake. There are 3 moms/babies from our breastfeeding support group that started swim lessons as well, so it's a lot of fun to be with your friends. I love staying busy with you and doing new activities. We're getting out more and more to explore and you love it.  We went to the Carlsbad Flower Fields this month and it was beautiful. We took a lot of pictures and you loved being out and about. 

You're officially a big cousin! Your Uncle Greg and Aunt Danielle had their baby, Gavin Patrick, on March 28th! We are so excited to meet him and watch the two of you grow up together. We're going to fly to Texas this month to meet him and we can't wait. 

Caleb, I hope you always know how much I love you and will always be there for you. I tell you I love you a thousand times a day and love making you smile. You are my world and I've never smiled so much in my life since you've been born. You make me so proud and happy to call you my son. I love you turkey. 

Momma