Ayden is 9 Months!

Ayden is nine months old! Ahh! Actually...honestly, he is such a big boy. And he has rolled, crawled, pulled up so quickly that I sometimes think he is older. Really. I do. And for some reason, with him, I just feel like he has been with us forever. So, in a weird way, I am sometimes surprised that he is just now 9 months. I don’t know what I am talking about. I am incredibly sleep-deprived:)

Let’s see…

Eating: He is loving solids and I’ve been a little bad at really trying all kinds of new things for him. I’m kind of sticking what to he loves. And he loves…..sweet potatoes, pears, apples, squash, he loves prunes! And good thing to, because he needs them. He gets them everyday. He has come around on carrots and green beans. He has tried avocado and didn’t hate it. He likes the little puffs! He has had a little bit of yogurt and didn’t mind that either. Let’s see, I tried some egg and I think he liked it but the texture was not easy. I need to figure out that best way to prepare it. He has a couple more teeth now, so that may help:) Dave gives him bites of stuff, pancakes, ice cream...he's liked that too. Oh, and if you are holding him and you are eating, he is just fascinated with the process. He stares at your mouth and really studies you. Then he usually starts trying to put his fingers in your mouth. 

Too big for the Bumbo now, but that is mostly how we fed him to start

Happy in the high chair!

Sleeping: Well. For the last 4-6 weeks, it was pretty rough again. He was fine and then after teething troubles/colds, we got into that habit of comforting and nursing more in the night. We just cried it out again last night. He fussed for 45 minutes and then he slept the rest of the night!! So, I have hope! We are trying to double-down on a more consistent routine though it is something that is super hard for us. We’ll get there and I’m excited for when we get it back to the awesome place of laying him down awake and having him sleep through! He likes his lovey, he has a sound machine and we read a book before bed.

This never happens anymore! But he was having trouble sleeping and Dave got him to fall asleep while watching football together. I mean, Dave's an expert napper, so no surprise there:) 

When he is getting tired, he does this

Play: He is crawling everywhere and pulling up on everything! His favorite thing is probably to try and get into/climb up on things he is not supposed to. The receiver/audio stuff, Abby’s dishes, any cords left out, the bath tub, the kitchen stools…you get the idea. He likes his walker about half the time. Collin often pushes him or hitches a ride:) Collin will crawl around with him and then start wrestling him and then Mom has to get him to stop:) He likes anything with buttons he can push that make noise. He likes to try and eat paper/magazines. 

Taking his big brother for a ride

Ready for his second 5K

Skills: He isn’t clapping yet, but he is putting his hands way up  when he wants up and sometimes when it seems like he is greeting us. He likes it if we clap:) He is experimenting with letting go while standing along furniture and you legs. Watch out. He is jabbering just like the other two:) He seems to work on a particular consonant for a week or two. “Babababa” then “Dadadada,” “Mamama,” “Gagaga,”  etc. For awhile, it seemed like he was saying, “Good.” He has a very loud, “Guh!” He gets our attention, that’s for sure. As I’ve said before, he is loud happy and loud mad:)

I LOVE the stage when they are fascinated by the running water:)
Bath time is fun time!

Yup. This is starting to happen. We are not psyched at putting on more locks when we are hoping to move,
but something must be done!

Partners in crime

Toys: He likes to play with everything. Especially whatever his siblings have. He likes taggie blankies now and seems to like particular ribbons on them:) The little rubber teethers are also a favorite now! We have a bunch of those:)

Running around in the walker

Eating magazines

Siblings: Well, obviously he still adores his siblings. And vice versa. Kate still says she misses her brothers more than me while at school. Kate and Collin both pick Ayden up and move him around. We have tried and tried to tell them not to unless directed to but to no avail. Collin has started getting sad when Ayden is napping “I play with Ayden! He’s napping, bud. NO!!!!!! I play with Ayden! No nap!”

Collin "helping"

Our babes! There was not one pic with them all smiling nicely. But his is somewhat close
And yes, the boys are matching - it was adorable! (that is a 24 month shirt on Collin and 18 month shirt on Ayden:)

Out for a walk with mom to see the pretty leaves
He does NOT like having a hat on. The other two were fine with it and I loved it!
Not this guy. It's a battle.

Collin is super rough with him sometimes. Stepping on him, rolling on him, pushing him.
Ayden doesn't mind too much, but this will certainly get interesting:)

I would say he has been a little more clingy lately, but with the teeth giving him such trouble, I’m not super surprised. He loves to be held. But he is heavy! And he will also put his finger in your ear, nose, mouth, whatever he can:) He loves that. He is a happy baby and does really great when Dave is home with him. And it is so nice that he is loving solids so I can get away for a little bit. He still doesn’t do bottles well, but he/they can definitely survive;) It kind of drives me nuts though, he’ll be happy with someone else and then I walk through the room and he’ll fuss. He is a momma’s boy:) And I love it! But he will literally start fussing if I come in the room and don’t go get him right away. Silly boy.

I was trying to get a bunch of things accomplished one day (why. why?)
Ayden was super fussy so I just gave up on my to-do list and we cuddled and read books for a long time
Best decision ever.

He looks you right in the eyes when you hold him, he gives hugs, has a big laugh, keeps up with the big kids and loves to get into mischief. He has a healthy appetite and is going to give his brother a run for his money. 

My sweet baby Ay