~ * ~ Of Pandas and Pirates ~ * ~: Nine Months

Nine months!! It's crazy to me that now he's been around longer than he was in my belly. He has an appointment on Friday so I'll be able to update a little more about him then.

*EATING* He is still mostly breastfed. Lately he has been really enjoying his nighttime bottle, so we have continued that as part of our routine. Occasionally, if we're out and about I will offer him a bottle because he is way to distracted to nurse. So, at most he drinks 4-8oz of formula a day. The rest is breast milk from the tap and lots of table food. He loves solids and eats everything you give him with gusto. He is not a huge fan of spicy things however. We have even given him a few tastings of peanut butter with no sign of any allergy whatsoever.

*SLEEPING* He has actually made improvements in this category and sleeps through the night pretty consistently now. Occasionally he'll wake up once or even more rarely, twice, in the night for comfort or food but for the most part he sleeps on through until 7 or 8 in the morning. This is a huge blessing for me and a major source of relief! Sleep is good.

*ACTIVITY / MILESTONES* Elliott is a pro at pulling himself up now. He still can not crawl like a normal child, just the 'army crawl'. Correction ... I believe he can crawl on his hands and knees. I've seen him do it for very short distances. I just believe that he thinks the army crawl is faster and he prefers it. Meh, so be it. He really only uses it now to get from one thing to pull up on to the next. He can get down on his own to and uses other objects to get himself into a kneeling or sitting position. He can not get himself there without using another object first however.

He has an excellent sense of object permanence now to. He realizes things still exist even if he can't see them. It's kind of funny to watch him throw his sippy cup off the side of his high chair and then watch him try to peek around the tray to try and find it again. He is still as giggly, smiley and happy as ever. Always willing to play a game. However, he much prefers the company of his mommy to any other person.

*CLOTHING* He's starting to slowly move on up in this category. He still has a couple of 3-6 month items that fit him, but mostly it is all 6-9 month now. He fits in some 12 month onesies as well which is pretty exciting. The other day, Nicole bought him an 18 month sweatshirt but that was really big on him. Pants would still be 3-6 I think if they just came a little longer. He doesn't fit that well in 6-9 month waist-wise, just length-wise. His sleepers are all 6-9 or 12 month now.

Diapers, he is finishing up the last of his three's and then moving on up to four's. Shoe size, he fits perfectly in a size 2 but we bought him a pair of 3's to give him growing room.