Owen is 9 Months Old!

Happy 9 months sweet baby boy!

Sleep:  Owen's sleep patterns haven't changed at all since he was 8 months old.  He still goes to bed between 7:30-8:00 and wakes up between 7:00 and 7:30.  He then takes a nap from about 9:00 - 12:00 and another nap from 3:00 - 5:00.  He sleeps through the night like a champ.

Size:  At his 9 month appointment today he weighed 22 pounds and is 28 inches long.  He has outgrown all of his 9 month clothes and I have packed them all away.  He is now in 12 month clothes!  My boy is a biggin!!!  I had so much fun buying all his 12 month clothes.  The boy summer outfits are just adorable!  I particularly loved picking out his swim suit and rash guard for the pool and beach!  He is still in size 3 diapers, but we are going to try size 4 here pretty soon.

Special Trips/Visits:  No special trips this past month.  He still loves getting out of the house so we try and take him with us on our errands during the weekend.  He is so good out in public, for now (I'm waiting for that meltdown - I know it's coming eventually!)  We are flying to California for my Oma and Opa's (Grandma and Grandpa in German, my Mom's parents) 50th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.  I am so excited for Owen to meet all of his family out there!

Jimmy took him to Tropical Smoothie one afternoon and he would NOT give up the smoothie.  He didn't even eat any of it, I guess he just wanted to be the one to hold it!

We took a trip to the Leeseburg Outlets to get him some 12 month clothes.  He LOVED being in the stroller riding around in the sunshine.  He squealed for the first 15 minutes in his stroller!

Firsts:  Owen has had a lot of little firsts this month!  He has started waving by to people as they are leaving.  When I leave for work in the morning he waves goodbye to me and gives me a huge smile!  It just melts my heart!  He has also started clapping.  This one just started a few days ago.  He loves music, so he has been clapping when his Raffi Pandora station is on, or when Jimmy is playing the guitar.  He has also started to pull himself up on the couch and coffee table.  He loves doing this and squeals when he gets all the way up, then pounds on the couch or coffee table.  Last night he laughed at something that was not initiated by interacting with another person.  We had his Raffi station playing on Pandora through our T.V. and when Raffi starting singing he let out this full on giggle while watching the T.V.  Of course, Jimmy and I both crack up!  He is such a ball of joy!

Watching his Raffi Pandora station.  Nothing really plays on the screen, but he still sits there and watches it!  We try to play music most of the time instead of the T.V. on.

He loves playing guitar with Daddy!

Owen also saw his first real snow this winter, and Mommy had a snow day with him!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We didn't do anything special, but I did dress him in a green outfit and snap some pictures!

His first National's outfit!  Go NATS!
(He looks like Jimmy here to me!)

Likes:  Owen loves eating still.  He loves exploring new flavors and we haven't come across anything he does not like (besides spinach).  He is starting to eat chunks of banana on his own now.  He also loves drinking water from his sippy cup after his meals.  He squeals for it when I bring it to him!

He loves to pull the curtain and peek outside while in his high chair!

Waiting for some grub!

He loves to crawl into the pantry and take out all the sodas and paper towels. 

I love this picture because he looks like he was 'caught'!  

Dislikes:  He has started to HATE having his diaper changed and his clothes changed.  He just wants to move so much that he tries to roll over and crawl all over the dresser.  Sometimes we have to change him on the floor.  Sometimes he will scream while you change him, it sounds like something is wrong, but nope. he just wants to be free!!!

Sometimes you just have to have a break from the fight to change him and let him roam free!

Developmental Milestones:  Owen is doing really well with all his developmental milestones, reaching all of them a little ahead of time.  His speech is really developing.  He now says "Da-da" and Jimmy and I are pretty sure he knows who Da-da is.  When Jimmy walks into the room and says something Owen will look for him and say "Da-da!!"  He has said "Ma-ma" a little bit too, but we're not sure he knows who Ma-ma is at this point.

Some days he looks like Jimmy, other days I think he looks like me.  My Mom sent me this picture of me when I was about Owen's age.  I think he looks a lot like me in this picture!

Family Update:  Things are going well for the Blankenships!  With expecting another little one Jimmy and I were faced with the choice, should I stay home, or should I continue to work?  Unfortunately, because teachers make so little money (I have gotten one raise in 5 years, and a very small raise at that) I would not be taking home very much money after paying for daycare for two children.  Financially, it just is not worth it.  So we have made the choice for me to stay home next year.  If you asked me to stay home in October I would have jumped at the chance, but after being back at work for several months, sometimes I enjoy working and doing something for myself and my family.  So this decision became a little harder for me.  I had to inform my boss of my decision at the beginning of the month (they will hire someone for my position very soon and intention forms are due by the 15th).  It will be bittersweet to leave Centre Ridge.  I have made some great friends there, whom I will continue to be great friends with.  I feel blessed to have worked with really good people.  On the other hand, I am so excited to spend some quality time with my children and to be the one to care for them full time.  I am already planning little units for teaching Owen his letters, numbers, and colors.  I guess it's just the teacher in me!  

June 19th will be my last day at Centre Ridge.  I'm thinking about doing a few part-time things here and there just to have something for myself, but we will see how all of that goes.  I am so lucky to have a husband who supports anything I decide to do!  Thanks babe, I love you!!!  

One last picture... who can resist a sleeping baby?!?

I hope everyone enjoyed the post! 

Love,

Judi