9 Months

SA's 9 month appointment was today - he's 21 pounds 1 ounce and 28 inches, both a bit above average. He grew a fifth tooth this weekend, and at least 2 more seem close.

The last couple weeks have been a flurry of new experiences and skills. The mobility thing is scary for us parents, but he's loving the new corners of the house he can explore. He pulled the bottom rack of the dishwasher in and out repeatedly, until I gave him a pan and a wooden spoon to bang on for a while. He climbed onto the plastic bin where we keep the cat food. He tried to fish around in the toilet before I shut it and moved him back to his play area.

Now that he's pretty good at pulling himself up to standing from most of the pieces of furniture in the house, he's trying to cruise - moving from the piano bench to the Exersaucer to the coffee table. Lots of falling.

And the food... a whole new world of food has opened up. Last night I gave him squash risotto, just to see how he would react. He ate about half a cup, after I thought he was done eating for the day. He had a meal of chicken vegetable soup and bread today, and he has started eating yogurt. The doctor says only nuts, egg whites, fish and honey are off limits.

Dad's shoes make pretty good toys.

I got out my old camera for him to play with, since he wouldn't stop grabbing at mine: