9 Months Old

Cooper has been learning a lot of new skills, mostly towards the end of the 8th month and mastering them as he turned 9 months just a week ago.  Now a proficient crawler, he is maneuvering fast around the house.  Fortunately, he stays away from the kitchen and hallway so I haven't been putting up the gates...yet.

He knows 'no' though doesn't necessarily obey and usually cries (not actually crying) in protest when I don't want him to touch the humidifier or the laptops' cords.  Chuck and I haven't totally baby-proofed the house, but have plugged unused outlets and bought a power strip cover so he wouldn't pull the plugs out.  We bought a outlet cover for his room, but he doesn't play in there much.  So we have much yet to do with proofing the house, but he is not alone and we keep a watchful eye on him.  But still, we'll have to do it soon because you just never know.

Cooper also has been pulling himself up to stand and has tentatively been letting go and able to stand without support for a max of 10 seconds.  He knows how to sit himself down with great eccentric control and is getting a good workout by stooping and squatting.  Cooper is also cruising furniture.  We have a very strong baby boy here!

He is also such a babbler and loves to babble.  He just said 'mum' a few days ago.  A week ago, it was all about 'dada' and then 'nana' and now 'mum'!  He also loves to wave, clap his hands as well as point with his index finger.

The doctor said he is doing great.  He is in the 75-90th percentile for height and head circumference and in the 50th percentile for weight.  Doctor said that was normal as he is more active and burning more calories.  He isn't losing any weight and has gain over 2 lbs. since his last check-up. He's a hefty 20 lbs. 7.5 ounces and boy, do my arms feel it!!!

Anyways, Cooper is doing so well and just can't believe that he'll be one in 3 months!!

I was thinking that if we ever wanted another child (and Chuck does, I'm still on the fence) and wanted them to be 2 years apart, then we'd have to start trying in October!!  Ummmm, no!!!  "I'm just not ready", I told Chuck; to which Chuck said "We can wait until December".  Oh really!!!!

Feeling Blah

I hate being sick.  But I don't know if I'm sick or if it's because of my congestion issues.  I'm hoping the allergist tomorrow will shed light on my nasal and sinus congestion.  I have a good ENT who referred me to an allergist as I have no clue if specific allergens in my environment are causing my poor sinuses and nasal passages to be congested.

Fortunately, the CT scan of my neck showed no abnormal masses and my lymph nodes are normal.  I guess the lymph nodes on my left neck is more palpable and prominent than on my right side.  It's always bothered me and all the doctors assured me they were normal, but I'm glad that a diagnostic test confirmed it.

He did say that removing my tonsils would be a good idea.  I have cryptic tonsils and they, especially my left one, gives me problems.  I have a follow up appointment in April and I'm pretty sure I'll go ahead with the surgery.  I'm not looking forward to it at all as I heard it's really painful and the down time is a couple of weeks.  But if it helps, then I'm willing to go through with it.  My wonderful mom said she'd take time off from work to help me at home with Cooper.  Thanks Mom!!

And Happy Birthday Mom!

A Very Active Boy

Cooper is a full-fledged crawler.  But he likes to pull himself up to stand more than crawl.  He's been cruising on the furniture and I can't keep my eyes off him because he's always trying to stand on anything he can get his hands on.  He has also tried to stand up without support, but can't do it...yet.  Anyways, I am going to be one busy mom once this boy knows how to walk because he will get into everything...EVERYTHING.  Cooper is so curious about everything.  

We have joined The Little Gym and Cooper has his first class on the 18th of March.  We'd be going earlier, but I have an obligation to work the next Friday or else we would have joined earlier.  It'll be great for Cooper to interact with other babies as well as develop his motor skills.  We also went to baby story time last Tuesday at the Ballard Public Library and Cooper enjoyed it as well.  So, The Little Gym and story time are two things will do regularly.  I have also thought about joining a PEPS group, but I'm still on the fence.  

Anyways, here are some cute photos of baby boy as well as a video of my silly boy in his crib.

Sumo wrestler!  

Those books look like fun toys.

See my two teeth!!

Wiggle Worm

I was adventurous and attempted to take Cooper's 8 month old picture by myself.  And it was hard.  Since he is more mobile and unable to sit still for any length of time, I didn't get a good picture of him.  It didn't help that he was already grumpy because he really needed a nap.  

We also have a crappy camera.  Oh how I hate our camera.  It's really old and doesn't take very good pictures.  Our really nice digital SLR camera is still backordered and won't get it until March...arrrgh!  So, we broke down and bought a nicer point and shoot camera.  It is way better than our current one. Now we will have two nice cameras which is worth it because we take a lot A LOT of photos.  How could I not with such a cute baby!  And boy does he ham it up for the camera.  Once that red light goes off, he just smiles...most of the time.  It makes me laugh every time! 

Anyways,  Cooper has definitely kept me busy.  I can't keep my eyes off of him because he loves to stand.  He is always pulling himself to stand up.  He has been using the coffee table, sofa, bookcase, chair, toy box, his ride on toy, standing activity toy...you name it, he'll stand.  And he's cruising as well.  So, it is really time to baby proof!!!!  

Trying to get at the camera.

Hamming it up for the camera.

Always standing....his favorite!

Birthday...

Cooper turned 8 months yesterday!!  Picture pending and will be uploaded by tomorrow, I promise.  But it's the first birthday that is occupying my mind today.  I'm thinking of some ideas for a theme and boy, it's harder than a wedding one!  Well, just as hard.  Anyways, I still haven't made up my mind if we are going to throw a small, intimate one with family or have a big bash....I have plenty of time for planning as we have 4 more months until he turns one.

Fun Day

We took Cooper to a free introductory class at Gymboree Play + Music.  And boy, did we have a good time.  It was nice because it was small with only two other babies and their parents.  There was a boy who was only a day older than Cooper and they both got along really well.  I'm thinking of enrolling Cooper, but want to try out The Little Gym.  We are signed up for their intro class on Friday.  The only downside about The Little Gym is the class is only offered on every Friday whereas Gymboree has one on Saturday (as well as 2 other times during the week and open gym time 4 times a week).  But once he is 10 months, The Little Gym offers classes 4 times a week.  We'll see how they compare to Gymboree.  The Little Gym is more expensive, but not by much.

It's Time...

It's time to baby proof the house.  Cooper made the leap from commando crawling/creeping to crawling on hands and knees!  I believe I'll have my hands full and eyes open....