9 Months!

9 Months is such a big milestone.  From here on out, Isaac has spent more time on the outside then he did on the inside!  Now I know the timing isn't exact, but this is when I mark the occasion.

Happy 9 Months to Me!

The other major milestone to occur at 9 months is that Isaac no longer sleeps in our room at night.  He has been napping in his crib for about a month and Andrew has been trying to kick him out of our room for a few months now, but I was not ready.  Despite 2.5 nights in his own crib I still wake up at night looking for him.  I actually think it has been good for him.  He has been waking up at night with congestion, sneezing & red eyes.  His pediatrician said he might have environmental allergies because pollen is released at night and we've been sleeping with our window open and the fan right in front of it. 

Night-Night in his big boy bed!

 I didn't write an 8 month post, so I'll catch up here...

Isaac is still our mellow little guy.  He is alert and interested in everything around him, but doesn't get his feathers ruffled. He is generally laughing and smiling, but also strikes me as very bright and observant.  Lately, with his recent motor development, he has developed an obvious sense of accomplishment and I love watching his proud smile when he stands up, tries new food or figures out a toy.

Growth -
Isaac is packing on the pounds!  When we last checked he was 18 lbs (On our home scale, which we sit him on.  I'll update after the Dr's appointment tomorrow.)  He also seems to be lengthening out.  I can't wait to get all the stats.  He is still wearing 6 month clothes, but he fits in his 9 month clothes too and only a few 3-6 month clothes.  He is in size 2 diapers during the day and size 3 at night and after we are out of our jumbo pack of 2s I am switching to all 3s.

Helmet -
Isaac's head is growing like crazy too!  He is the opposite of Isla - low on the percentiles for weight & length and very high for his head.  The good news is that makes it easy to see progress with his DOC band.  He started his 2nd band a little over two weeks ago and he is already making great changes.  At this point the routine is old new for us and it has been easy to deal with.  He doesn't seem as bothered by it either.  For some reason we've had a lot more people asking us about it lately.  Little kids ask 100% of opportunity.  We've also met a few parents who have children who have had the band.  It is great to see the end results in their kids - you would never know!

Motor Skills -
Isaac's fine motor skills have come a long way.  He is feeding himself puffs - not quite a pincer grasp, but close - and tries to use his spoon sometimes.  He can now spot a clear rubber band on a carpet and get it in his mouth in 3.6 seconds.
Gross motor skills are still a little behind.  He sees a physical therapist at his helmet appointments and she has been giving us exercises and positioning strategies to strengthen his muscles, especially his stomach.  (No surprise that it is weak!)  Since starting the exercises he is now rolling both ways again and can log roll across the floor (He can get from one end of the living room to the computer cord on the other side in 3.6 seconds!)  He can also get himself into an approximation of a crawling position.  He doesn't pull up, but he will support himself by holding himself up if placed in a standing position and prefers standing.  He bounces his bum when there's music playing.  He also has started either clapping or signing for "more" or both, or at least an approximation of both.  He is so proud of himself. It is adorable!

Sleep -
In addition to the new local,  Ike's decided he is too cool to sleep on his back any more, which drives me crazy with anxiety, but after sneaking in and turning him over 10 times in a row, I've given up.  He takes a nap in the morning - long if we are at home and short if it is in the car and the opposite of that in the afternoon.  Isaac is much more demanding about getting his sleep.  If he is not in bed by 7:15, he is pretty unhappy and will let us know.  Isla used to (& still does) fight sleep with every ounce of energy.  We could never get her to sleep in new places and bedtime was always late and drawn out.  Isaac is the opposite (I wish I could be like him!)  He'll sleep almost anywhere if given a quiet spot and falls asleep fast.  He usually wakes once a night for a bottle and gets up around 6:30.  (That's the downside to his early to bed - he is definitely early to rise.  But 6:30 is ok, for awhile it was 5am.  Andrew or I would get him up put him on his jungle mat and fall asleep next to him while he played.)

Feeding -
Isaac is moving along with solids.  It drives me nuts to introduce one food for 7 days, so occasionally I cheat and wait only 5 or 6 days.  He has gotten hives from a few foods (pears & mangoes), but they may have been coincidental, but his pediatrician is having him avoid them for now.  His favorite is still sweet potatoes, although peaches were a huge hit too.  We tried green beans today - his first non-pureed food.  It went ok, but I ended up having to mash them.  You could tell Isaac was excited about the "big kid" food though.  Isaac is still taking the same amount of formula - 24 oz. of water prepared with 112.8 grams of Elecare.  Up until two days ago he was having 6 bottles a day, but we upped the volume & he is now taking only 5 bottles.  He is spitting up a little more, but nothing compared to what he was last time we tried this. 

Social -
Isaac is a social super hero!  He grins at everyone he meets and grandma age ladies are totally gaga for him and his "beautiful blue eyes! Where did he they come from?!?" (I tell them they are from my Grandpa, because I think they are, but it is still funny that most people don't notice that my eyes are blue too.)  Isaac started playing peek-a-boo last month.  He grabs a blanket and pulls it way up over his head with his arms fully extended and then just waits until we notice.  I've noticed that he'll do it when I'm not paying attention to him, like getting ready or talking to someone while he is in his stroller.  As soon as I ask "Where's Isaac?" He yanks the blanket down with a huge grin.  He is also trying to imitate sounds, oral motor stuff, like raspberries, and fine motor movements, like clapping, playing with toys and, his favorite, banging toys together.  He has excellent social referencing skills and checks in routinely in novel situations.  His joint attention is also well developed and he initiates joint attention frequently and responds to our bids for joint attention.  He is still fascinated by Isla and laughs at everything Isla does.  Sometimes Isla really enjoys this and they will interact for a while.  When she's not in the mood Isaac laughs at her getting annoyed, which only adds fuel to her fire - he's already learning the ropes of being the younger sibling!  The other day Isaac was crying in the car and I asked Isla to sing to him.  She did, but he didn't stop crying.  Isla said that she needed to sing louder and then proceeded to yell her song at the top of her lungs at Isaac (not in a mean way, but not in a remotely comforting way).  Isaac was so impressed he stopped crying, but Andrew & I felt like we'd traded apples for apples.  Isaac's interest in books has grown and his current favs are Mr. Brown Can Moo and Very Hungry Caterpillar. 

Dislikes -
Avocado, getting his face wiped, not getting his diaper changed immediately, playing independently while Mommy makes dinner, PT exercises, getting his nose sprayed (actually this is love / hate), staying up past 7:15 pm, getting out of the car seat when he is napping, having a toy taken away
Loves -
Sweet potato, puffs, flags, his drum & piano, music, Isla, reading time, music and singing, the water, bath time, getting his nose sprayed, practicing standing, waking up with the sun, playing peek-a-boo, his mobile, being swung around, and snuggles.

 

 Isaac recently got a piano from his friend Dean, who has outgrown it.  Isaac loves it! (Isla does too!)  He really loves turning the music pages and banging on the keys.  Here's the maestro in action.  He also has a guitar and a drum, so sometimes we all jam together!