9 months + BEACH:)

I really didn't think this week would ever get here. But here I am...soakin' up the sun at the beach! Ahh...and for a whole week! I had a super good helper last week getting things ready for our trip. He was especially helpful with laundry:)

Really quickly, I wanted to throw out a quick 9 months update. His doctor's appointment last Tuesday went wonderfully! I am SO happy that we made the decision to switch pediatricians...I was beyond impressed with every aspect of our new office. And he didn't even see the actual doctors! He was seen by a peds nurse practitioner...and I was blown away by how good she was!

On to the Noah update..he weighed in at 26 pounds 10 ounces, and was 31 inches long. Ha..that felt like I was announcing a boxing match or something:) Anyway..she didn't give me the percentages, but I know they'll be way up there at least for a while. He has slowed growth wise in the last couple of months, though, so I think he'll probably start leveling out..especially when he starts walking.

The PNP was very happy with Noah overall...he had completed all of the developmental tasks she asked about except for independently clapping, but that's okay. We're working on it:) He was a little ahead on some other categories, so it all evens out in the end.

Food wise, we're all about trying new things right now. He had his first Oreo cookie this week..well half of one anyway. Not my idea, let me tell you, but a waitress we had brought it to him and I felt bad because she kept asking about it. Let's just say Noah was a little wired that evening! Haha! Anyway...finger foods are well-loved by Noah. He still loves all of the Gerber puffs, crunchies, and yogurt melts. He also likes Earth's Best smiley snacks. As far as fresh and cooked foods go, he loves quartere banana pieces, bread (especially plain whole wheat sandwich bread), semolini pasta, and any kind of yogurt. We're working on finding a cheese that he likes (cheddar was apparently NOT a good first choice!). He also continues to eat about two jars of 3rd foods Earth's Best food a day. He typically takes 3 bottles, and drinks around 4 ounces of water. He always drinks the water from a sippy cup, and we're working on transitioning his milk into the sippy too. We've been doing his mid-day bottle in the sippy, although he usually won't hold the cup himself. But I still think he's doing great for his age.

His favorite toy of the moment is probably his ride-on Mater. I think he likes the independence of being able to move where he wants. Puzzles and books remain staples, and his various other small toys (alphabet spinner, linking letters, ring stacker, blocks/shape sorter, etc) are still well-loved. We recently have allowed Noah to play with his small Thomas trains, and I can already tell that will be a big thing for him. That definitely is still his favorite movie/show to watch! But he also likes Cars, PraiseBaby videos, and occasionally other shows on tv. Finally, I think its time to put the Exersaucer away. He's really too big for it, and mostly likes to use it to pull up now. Speaking of pulling up..Noah will do so on anything in sight! He's even just beginning to let go for short bits, so I think its only a matter of time before our little man is toddling around:)

Noah has still only said "mama" and "dada" at this point, but he is learning lots of new sounds every day. "Ba" and "ga" are his favorites it seems...I think perhaps "bye-bye" will be his next word. He has really gotten good at waving for now, at least! He is also very good at expressing his emotions right now...meaning that screaming and such have become all too familiar. Unfortunately. He truly has inherited his Daddy's temper, and isn't afraid to show it!

Still...Noah is hard to stay upset with, no matter how loud he just screamed in your ear:) He flashes his toothy little grin, and your heart just melts! His teeth have really come in, by the way, with three on the bottom and his two secondary teeth on top(I hope you know which I mean). Without his two front teeth in there, he looks like a little vampire or something:) I surely think we will all miss this look once those front teeth come in!

Well..that's about it for that. I'll leave you with some pictures from earlier today, at the pool and the small playground area next to it...

This is going to be a fun week:)