Reflecting on 9 months

I look back on the pictures of Simon over Christmas and in the hospital and am blown away that only three short months have passed (pictures at the end of the post).  In these past three months he has started rolling over, gained a ton more control of all his motor skills, started sitting up on his own and then quickly moved to pulling himself up to a standing position. He crawls like a little racer and has started to go over/under obstacles, which is much more fun than going around even if he does 'get' that going around them is possible. He has started really understanding cause and effect and will pick up on new games (peak-a-boo, a sound (buzzing and moving fingers) then response (tickle!), and even sneaking up on him around the sides of the island) quickly. He has started to figure out the baby signs we are using and will regularly tell us that he wants 'more' when he is still hungry.  The sign is often associated with crying, but he gets that he's telling us something. He is so good natured and still very patient with us. He rarely cries unless there is a reason - he is hungry, dirty or just too tired - and if one of those things is wrong and you pick him up, he'll stop crying because he trusts you to fix it. He is very serious when exposed to new things, he spends some time quietly observing and adjusting. He loves new people, but has to spend a few minutes checking them out before he gives them his irresistible four toothed smile. Once he is comfortable his babbling starts.  Usually it is just fun noises sliding through different notes, but occasionally his chatting sounds like real words though no meaning is behind it yet we still love it. He does imitate noises which is a terrific game for everyone within hearing distance. My very favorite is growling. Give a little growl to Simon and he'll look at you, smile, then give you the most adorable mini-growl that you've ever heard.

Way more after the jump, including pictures and a height/weight chart...

So many of the pictures of Simon on this blog make him look like a little boy, a toddler, but really he is still a baby who is his own tiny person but only 9 months old. He amazes me every day with how smart he is and how sweet he is and reminds me again what an fascinating world we live in.  We are so lucky we got such a great little guy!

Simon had his 9 month doctor visit this week. Dr. Perlman confirmed everything we knew to be the case - Simon is very advanced for his age. Her exact quote was "He is off the charts". To be cruising and generally as mobile as he is at 9 months is quite an achievement. It's also caused his weight to drop a bit, which is expected when kids get mobile. As a result our 17 pound 5 ounce little man is in the 10th percentile for weight, but still 50th for height. He even showed off his mini-growl for the doctor and then wouldn't stop telling her about everything in the office, including what the room look like when you lean back as far as mom will let you and then tilt your head waaaaay back. At the end of the visit he got his booster shots for vaccines and was a trooper. Alan had to hold him down again for the 4 shots but the nurse was fast about it and quickly we got to the comfort nursing. 

Weight/height chart across the months:

DATE	WEIGHT	HEIGHT
June 16 (birth)	6 lb 12 oz	19 in
July 19	9 lb 8 oz	21 in
August 19	11 lb 13 oz	22 3/4 in
September 14	12 lb 13 oz	23 2/3 in
October 17	14 lb 2 oz	24 3/4 in
December 19	16 lb 7 oz	26 1/4 in
January 23	17 lb 3 oz	26 1/4 in
March 26	17 lb 5 oz	28 1/4 in

Simon at 6 months, trying so hard to roll over

Simon at 6 months, showing us his push up!

Simon at 9 months, sitting up and feeding himself finger foods

Simon at 9 months (yesterday), waiting for breakfast at Nookies in his highchair.