O, how he's growing: 8-9 months

9 Months. It's really tripping me out.  How did this happen?

I think Oscar and I would both agree that this has been a really successful month for him.  A month during which all of the wishes he has dreamt up in his little life have come true.  He has had a lot of enjoyable things going on, travel and visitors and adventure. 

It was Thanksgiving right after he turned 8 months.  He got to join in the feast and spent our whole dinner gnawing on a turkey bone. 

  

He enjoyed special attention from our Bates family visitors, and being "one of the gang."

Over Thanksgiving his favorite game to play was to stand on Grandad's feet, holding his hands and grandad would help him walk around, taking tiny baby steps. He shrieked with joy at being able to walk.

He started enjoying a new perspective from the baby backpack while on hikes and walks.

That is, when the timing works out that he gets to be awake for them. 

 

I do love the look on Oscar's face when he awakens from a bjorn nap in a new, wondrous place. I'll miss that when he gets too big for these slumbers when we're away from home. (Based on how my back feels after these 2 hr episodes, it is possible that he is already too big...)

His legs finally started following his arms' lead shortly after he turned 8 months, and he would take a few consecutive, tiny crawling steps.  But the full coordination didn't come together until he was about  8 1/2 months.  Bam. Once he got it, he got it.  He's going wherever he wants to go now, and pretty fast too.  Such satisfaction, this brings him, and he's getting into everything he was yearning to explore all those months.

Dismantled the grocery bag and made off with a pear

He learned to climb up stairs first try! Jeremy took the boys to the Little Explorers Cove at the science museum, and reported that he was climbing up the stairs no prob. Who knew?

We love that when Oscar wants to be picked up, he crawls over to us and repeatedly head butts our legs until we pick him up. 

He's pulling himself up onto everything short enough to get leverage. This brings him great joy. Especially when he's at Finn's train table or the bathtub, reaching in to splash around or knock down the shampoo bottles. 

He's been getting in the holiday spirit, dressed in Christmas pjs, and rode the Christmas train, where he sampled his first candy cane and met Santa!

This elf was dying to hold Oscar. Oscar spent a good long while trying to figure out this crazy dude.

Oscar came on another trip to Chicago with me, where grandma Bates met us and took care of him during my meetings. It was so cute...when we first saw her at the hotel he reached out his little hand to touch her face and smiled in recognition. He really knows her now.  He was a good sport about venturing outside in the cold, riding the train, exploring downtown and going out to dinner.  He was so happy to be on this adventure with me, and despite not napping the whole time, was a happy little squirt playing in the hotel.

I think with learning to crawl, stand and get into things, Finn has gained some respect for Oscar. He sees him as more of a companion and playmate than ever before.  We haven't seen as much overt aggression towards him and there has been a lot more playfulness, sharing excitement and toys.  Finn and Oscar laugh a lot together and Finn enjoys watching Oscar's escapades.

They especially enjoy the bath together.  I'll tell you one thing...we thought Finn loved water as a baby.  This boy Oscar is totally loco for it.  If the bath or shower is running he will have none of being left out of the activity.  He wants in.  He seems to have a sixth sense for when someone is in the tub/shower.

Oscar has some great facial expressions.  I spend a lot of time staring at this boy and admiring him. He makes me smile.

The majority of the time, Oscar is a content little guy.  He's so pleasant on our outings; just chills and looks about.

Oscar really enjoyed hanging out at the zoo recently

After the Christmas train, out to dinner in his jammies 

More on Oscar these days:

--He's been self-feeding Cheerios

--He is an expert straw drinker. He loves drinking water out of his little rubber straw! He knows how to open the cup so the straw pops out, then bites the valve open and slurps water to his heart's content.

--He has been showing affection with little hugs

--Two more teeth have popped through on the top; one of his front teeth and one next to it.  The other front tooth and its neighbor are still burrowing their way (we have therefore not had any uninterrupted slumber this past month).

--Loves to get into the sweeping pile.  I often turn around to see him with a bunch of pine needles from our Christmas tree poking out of his mouth.

--Transitioned to 2 naps per day this month.  Awake 2.5 hours between naps and 2.5-3 hours before bedtime.

--Doing better staying asleep in his carseat during car/airplane rides (binky utilized)

--Does not sleep well in a crib outside his own little spot at home.

--In his bouncer, he strategically bounces himself in a specific direction and to a specific height to facilitate grabbing something (the broom, christmas decor, the open freezer door)

--Still has uber quick hands, and go-go gadget arms. He gets his hands on most things he sets his sights on, whether it is something we're holding, something we are walking by, something on the table, or from aforementioned bouncer.

--Is enjoying peek a boo with Finn, and through our counter cupboards that open up on both sides. Such a great giggle!

-Still giggles till breathless with a good tickle.  The best.

--Loves loves loves to dig in the tupperware cupboard

--Is great at de-shelving books

--Eats a breakfast, lunch and dinner of a combination of any of the following: cereal, plain whole greek yogurt, fruit, vegetables and legumes (black or pinto beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas or edamame).

--Still greets me with an arm chomp when I pick him up. I have a series of bruises there.  Better the arm than elsewhere....if you know what I mean.

--He likes to take a dump as soon as he wakes up.  We'll hear him shriek that he's awake, then silence for a few minutes, then he starts calling out again.  Sure enough...

I can't believe Oscar is 9 months and that in 3 short months he will be 1 YEAR. Stop. time. now. For the love! He's just so wonderful.