Henry at 9 months

12/8/12- Happy 9 month birthday Henry! 

 Wow!  I'm actually writing Henry's nine month update before he turns ten months!  AMAZING.  Nine months has been a big month for Henry so far!  Henry has had a lot of  fun "firsts" this month like "first time pulling up to standing", "Henry's first time playing in the snow", "first time meeting Santa", "Henry's first Christmas".  But he's also had some firsts that have not been so much fun like:  "Henry's first fever", "Henry's first time throwing up", "Henry's first time being really sick"... you get the idea!

12/8/12 - such a little man at 9 months! 

12/8/12-  "I like having a tree in our house!" 

This month was super busy as it was filled with all sorts of fun holiday events (which I will get into in another post).  One fun "first" moment to remember is when Henry met Santa.  On 12/1/12 we went to a Christmas fair at Viterbo (small liberal arts college here where my mom is adjunct faculty) with Grandma Horth and Henry had the chance to meet Santa.  He didn't mind the big buy at all, but he also wasn't super excited about him either.  

12/1/12 - Meeting Santa at the Viterbo Christmas Fair.  

On December 12, 2012 Henry had his nine month check up.  I'm happy to report that he is a happy and growing guy.  As of 12/12/12 Henry weighs 19 lbs 5.4 oz, and is 2' 3.3 " long.  Henry's growth has slowed down since turning six months, but he had dropped down to the 22 % tile for weight (or something like that) at the end of October.  Now he is back up to the 29% tile for weight, 55%tile for head circumference, and 17% tile for height.  He's still a short guy.  =)  He is a otherwise healthy and happy guy!  

12/10/12- Happy Baby!

Trying to get the obligatory blue- bear picture

Getting to be a big man!  19 lbs 5 oz! 

Unfortunately, even healthy babies get sick sometimes, and we had our first real does of how challenging a  sick baby is this month.  Henry and LJ had gone to the YMCA during the week of December 10th to play in the family fun center while I worked out.  This is a space for kids with an indoor play-ground.  My thinking is that Henry got whatever yucky bug he had there because so many other children use that space.  The day of December 14th I could tell that he wasn't feeling well, but I thought he was just coming down with a cold.  LJ was also not feeling good, and thought he might be coming down with strep throat (he didn't actually have strep), so he decided to take a sick day and stay home to rest.  I had some errands to do, and I wanted LJ to rest, so I dropped Henry off at a friend's house with whom we trade taking care of each other's kids one day  a week.  While I was gone Henry became really upset and was  inconsolable, which is very unlike him!  The dad called me and I came back right away, and Henry eagerly nursed and then fell asleep on the breast while at our friend's house.  I knew something was wrong because he is usually so distracted  that he will not nurse in a new environment.  When we came home I took his temperature and it was 102 degrees!  That night was pretty rough.  We tried giving him Tylenol to get his fever down, which he willingly took the first time, but he spit it out when we tried giving it to him before bed.  He slept for maybe 2 hours then woke up again uncomfortable.  I tried nursing him, then giving him a half- dose of Tylenol, because he had spit most of it out before.  The poor guy gagged and then vomited all over himself, and me!  He spent a few hours sleeping (although not very well) skin-to-skin on my chest, in an effort to comfort him and bring his fever down.  We made it through the night, but his fever was still high the next morning (103 degrees).  We considered going in to the clinic, but decided to wait it out and see how the day went.  Henry made some slow progress throughout the day, but we was still feeling pretty miserable.  Finally on Sunday he was starting to feel better, and the fever was going away with the Tylenol, although it was coming back at night.  On Monday he still didn't seem himself, so I took him in to the doctor's but they told us it was just a bad virus.  He is all recovered now, but needless to say, I think we will try to use the Y's facilities sparingly this winter!  I didn't realize how needy Henry would be during this sickness, and I'm thankful that he was spared many viruses until he was 9 months, because it was pretty rough on us all!

12.10.12

12/10/12 - Its hard to remember the time when Henry was as small as this bear...

12.10.12

While Henry continues to grow physically, he also continues to develop more physical skills.  Henry learned how to give "high -fives" this month and is starting to wave hello/goodbye in addition to shaking his head "no" (which he mostly does when he is tired).  Henry is so proud of himself when he gives people high-fives.  He loves it!  Henry is developing awesome fine motor control, which makes this Montessori-mama happy.  Yay pincer grasp!  He's just getting ready to hold that pencil in a few years!  Henry's gross motor skills are also coming along.  Henry is starting to pull up to standing on furniture and beginning to hold on with one hand and cruise along (which means taking a few steps while holding on to the furniture).  He also recently learned how to crawl up steps!  It seems nothing is out of his reach now, which means I need to become even more vigilant!

"Oh Hey!  I was just trying to climb off the changing table.  No biggie."

"You have a camera?  It's mine now."

"The changing table is my favorite place to try to escape from!"

In addition to Henry's physical development, I can tell he is developing a lot emotionally right now.  He has definitely let us know that he prefers hanging out with LJ and I to other adults (even other family members).  When LJ or I walk in the door from being away from Henry, his face lights up and he is SO excited to see us!  He may have just a touch of stranger anxiety, but he seems to get over it after the first few minutes with someone new.  Henry also is very affectionate.  He gives kisses (although not as often as I would like) and rests his head on our shoulders when he wants to snuggle.  LJ and I have a little bed-time ritual of giving Henry a blessing before he goes to sleep, and Henry has started  mimicking this by placing his hand on our foreheads to give us a "blessing" too.  

Filled with wondering about the world around him

Trying to watch the snow fall outside his window

While this month presented some new parenting challenges, it also presented some amazing joys, as we got to share the beauty of the Christmas season with Henry.  It makes me so excited to share many future Christmas's with Henry!  

No one said the job of parenting is easy, but now that Henry is better able to express himself, it is starting to feel more rewarding.  Not that it didn't before, but all a newborn can do to communicate is cry, so it's hard to know if you're doing something right when that is the only feedback you're getting.  It's amazing to watch Henry learn something new, and then want to share his excitement of his accomplishment with us.  

"Read this book to me, mama!" 

I love you, Henry.  Love, mama. 

Happy nine months Henry! 

"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." - Rachel Carson