Sweet baby James is 9 months old today

James is now 23 lbs 6 oz. (90%), 30.75 inches (93%) and his head is 19 inches (93%). So he is finally slowing down on the weight gain and my back is very thankful for this.

This is the first time James stood up in his crib and he is thrilled.

Having a ladder in the bedroom is a great distraction for a baby while you get ready in the morning!

So far James has eaten:
eggs scrambled with scallions, cheddar and black pepper in browned butter; black bean and beef chili with rice (too spicy); Irish oatmeal; Mango sorbet; guacamole; refried beans; and of course, hummus. He is eating more finger foods including: strawberry, cereal-fruit bars, toast with peanut butter, toast with melted cheese, peaches, plums, blueberries, and nectarines.

Finally finished painting my mom's highchair. Much easier to feed James face on rather than from the side.

He has learned to cruise along furniture and pull up on anything and everything stable. After learning how to stand up on a wall or other straight incline (like the fridge) he discovered in our bathroom that he can now explore the toilet paper roll!

Before James could really crawl he would just sit happily in the bathroom while we'd shower and play with his toys, then as soon as he could crawl he'd be up against the glass trying to get in with us. One day I put him on the bathroom floor without realizing the doors were open and he made a dash.

He has practiced the "ssschhhhhzzzz" sound which is very cute except when he does it with food in his mouth and then I become very messy. This morning he dropped something and said "uh, oh!" but then growled right afterward so I don't know if it was intentional or just a fluke.

Diaper changing has become quite the challenge and battle of wills between him and I- with me winning 9 times out of 10. I think he just wants to explore all the things on the changing table behind his head but it sure does make changing a diaper go from a quick 30 second task to a 2 minute ordeal. It doesn't help that I changed him to those cloth diapers last month as they take a bit longer than a disposable to get on properly.

The first picture was taken when James was 3 weeks old and wearing a small, the second was taken around 7 and half months and wearing a large.

Just today he waved to me while in his highchair and I thought he was finally waving- as in "Hi!" or "Bye!" which we have been practicing for over a month now and he hadn't really done it yet. But then I realized that he was most likely doing a one-handed "All Done" in sign language. FINALLY. This is going to be great because he also started blowing out his food when he doesn't want to eat anymore- so I can now encourage him even more to use the sign instead of the messy raspberries.
This month he hasn't gotten anymore teeth- thank goodness.

Those Mongolian birthmarks are still holding fast.

He is still taking his two naps a day and more often than not he is taking at least one of those long and has a higher ratio of days when both naps are an hour and a half.
His nursing had gone down to a steady 4- first thing in the morning, before each nap and just before bed. But just a few days ago I dropped the evening nursing in favor of a bottle as I get to go on a 3 night girls weekend at the end of August and I am trying to transition James to a bottle so that Tim can feed him while I am gone. I'm not giving up nursing completely- just that evening one- and will have to pump while I am gone. But I can't wait to go! I'm sure I will miss James and him me, but it will be very refreshing to sleep as much as I want, chat with adults and know that Tim and James are getting some wonderful time together.

It was a busy month with a trip to North Carolina, a sleepover with Elsa, outings to the zoo, botanical gardens, and the pool. Playing in the fountain at the Botanical Gardens.

He is starting to point to facial features on me and Tim- especially the eyes and nose. He has also begun to give me what I think are supposed to be kisses but end up with my cheek covered in slimy drool- but as there is no biting involved I can only surmise that he is kissing me. His biting has begun to abate- thank goodness! But I have noticed that when he gets overly tired and frustrated that he will lunge at the item closest to him and attack it with those 6 sharp teeth.
Overall, James continues to be a very happy and flexible baby. His own mind and decisions are definitely starting to become apparent- when we take away something he was interested in (but isn't all that safe), or when I swipe my finger through his mouth for the 20th time that day to figure out what he put in this time, or when he is done eating peas. It can be frustrating for both him and me but I love that he is thinking about things and making choices for himself. I think he'll be stubborn like his daddy and me.