Archive for November, 2007

9 Months!

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Ian-mo09 Ian-mo08Ian had his nine month check up today and he is now a total of 22lbs 8oz and is 28.5 inches long. That puts him in the 75-90 percentile for his weight and the 50-75 percentile for his height; his head is 18.25 inches (which is in the 50-75 percentile). This time around, he didn’t receive any vaccinations, but he did receive the first round of a flu shot. We have to go back in a month to get the second round, but we’ll probably do that after the new year. They also took a urine and blood sample; both came back fine. Ian did really well with both the shot and when they drew blood. The nurse was able to give him the shot without a word from Ian. It wasn’t until we both looked at him and noticed he was doing fine that he decided to tear up. It didn’t last long though; he became distracted when the nurse started taking blood. He just watched her and was trying to figure out what was going on. He continued to flirt with the nurses and tried escaping down the halls a couple of times. His next check-up with be at 12 months, so not until March. One other thing we did learn, Ian will start getting a mouth full of teeth. The Doc said that they should start coming in faster and that they shouldn’t bother him too much, at least not until the 12 month molars.

Ian is starting to get faster at crawling. You can always tell when he’s about to go faster because he likes to put his head down and go. It’s kind of amusing to watch since he can’t see where he’s going, but his head is there to intercept any road blocks. He is definitely standing every chance he gets and he’s even doing it without holding on to anything. It’s not for long, but I did catch him balancing himself and standing on his own for a good 30 seconds (at least twice). That’s a record. He’s creeping along the couch a lot more (and he’s getting faster at it)….so Jesse thinks he’ll be walking soon. I can tell you, I can wait for that to happen.

There has been a change in Ian’s diet this month. He is no longer content with just baby food; now he has to have the same food mama and daddy are eating. That’s right, Ian started table foods this month. He began with bagels and has evolved into meatloaf, chicken, veggies, basically anything we’ll let him get away with. The doctor told us this could happen, but generally those who start around 9 months have siblings. Now that Ian is on table foods, I’m surprised Jesse hasn’t tried for burritos yet. That is the one meal Jesse has been waiting to give him. Ian has had all the components (guacamole, salsa, beef, cheese, rice), but there are still some he can’t have. According to the doctor, Ian shouldn’t be given any kind of poultry since it is kind of stringy and his teeth are not fully developed yet. Also, diary products are something that we have to wait on for a bit yet.

Since we are talking about teeth, Ian has learned a new concept – biting. We haven’t figured out if it’s a sign that he’s hungry or not; but he is definitely teething again. I’m hoping that they’ll come in two at a time again, but we’ll see. Although he is teething, he’s not drooling nearly as much as he used to. He’s still doing it, but it’s a bit more manageable now.

It is November and that means Ian has experienced his first Thanksgiving as well as his first visit with Santa Claus. Ian was able to enjoy the Thanksgiving meal. I ended up sharing everything on my plate with him (minus the turkey). We went and saw Santa on Tuesday and Ian took it really well. He wasn’t really sure how to take the entire experience, but, just like his father, once he got to the chest of silver pieces, he had no problem diving in to the experience.

Santa Claus

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Ian met Santa Claus! Bright and early this morning, the two of us went to Somerset to visit with Santa Claus. It was the perfect time to go sine we were the first ones there and no one was waiting behind us. We were able to spend a little extra time with the jolly old man and I got more pictures than I thought I would. After his visit, Ian even got some loot….three silver coins he can spend at Somerset (but we’re just going to keep them). He even got to pick them out himself.

Ian Ian Ian

Ian Being Ian

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First Thanksgiving

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Ian celebrated his first thanksgiving this weekend and I’m thinking he enjoyed it. He was able to sit at the table with us and ate right from my plate. That means he had some sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, cranberry jelly stuff, and of course, pumpkin pie. He wasn’t allowed to have the turkey because of how stringy poultry is and he doesn’t exactly have that many teeth, but he still enjoyed everything. Next up is Christmas and a visit with Santa Claus. Still have to figure out when he’ll be around though.

Ian Ian

Vroom Vroom

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Teeth

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Ian Ian

Peek-a-Boo & More

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This past week was an interesting one for Ian and I. Jesse was in Chicago for training, which left the two of us home alone. Since we were by ourselves, we went down to see the grandparents on Wednesday and then drove to Dayton for Aunt Lori’s wedding reception on Friday. Ian was so cute in his little tux (thank you Trish and CJ), but he did get a little warm in it. He was such a good boy throughout the whole weekend, he even took a nap without any urging from mama. He just laid his head on my shoulder (while I was talking to someone) and went to sleep. That was a first for him. I’m hoping he can continue to do that. He also took the 5 hour car ride a lot better this time around. It’s only a 4 hour ride, but we stop half way through for lunch and to stretch our legs. He slept for the majority of the ride or he played in his seat. Of course, after the 5 hours, he did not want to go back in the carseat…which I can’t blame him.

Over the past two weeks, Ian has made a decision….baby food was no longer good enough for him. He wanted the real stuff. He started out with pancakes and biscuits, but this past week tasted meatballs, mashed potatoes, corn, pot roast, carrots, peas, pizza, chicken, and french fries (he likes these). I know the Doc said that some babies will start table foods as earlier as 9 months, but they usually have siblings. It just proves that Ian is once again being impatient. I can’t complain, it’ll be easier at dinner time if I can feed him from my plate instead of having two meals.

Oh, and if you haven’t heard, Ian is standing up more and more now. We’re thinking he might walk by Christmas, but I am hoping he doesn’t. :) You are forewarned….if you are expecting a visit from the gigglemonster (aka Ian), than I would babyproof everything 3 feet and under.

Ian GmaS Ian Ian Ian

Random Pics

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Morgans Ian Morgans

Pancakes!

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Tonight, Ian had his first real meal with mama and daddy. For the past week or so, Ian has been going nuts on food. Just baby food or his bottle, but the real deal – biscuits, bagels, pot roast, veggies. The other night, we had pot roast and we blended up a slice so he could have it as well. He didn’t like it to much, but he still ate it. However, tonight we had pancakes and Ian had his own. It had butter and syrup (the real stuff) on it and was cut into little bite size pieces for him. He didn’t eat all of it, but he ate enough.

9th Month Milestones

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from Enfamil
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Acting Intelligently
Naturally, you think your baby is a genius. Every new parent does. But until now, your smart little cookie didn’t have what the experts call intelligence. Meaning the ability to solve a problem by figuring out an effective response to a new situation.

Watch your nine-month-old when he encounters a problem. For example, what does he do when you “disappear” behind an obstacle such as a couch? He wants to play with you. But the couch blocks his path. A few months ago, he could only cry. This month, clues like the sound of your voice help him find a solution. He crawls around the couch and smiles triumphantly.

“Mama” and “Dada”
As far as babies are concerned, “baby talk” is serious business. That’s part of why it’s so funny to be parents. Your baby may be babbling, but he seems to think he’s making perfect sense.

Your baby has been mimicking adult speech patterns for weeks, combining vowel sounds (ah, uh) and consonant sounds (da, na). This month he will start making more combinations that sound like words (“mama,” “dada”). Eventually he’ll make a connection between the words and the objects they refer to.

When will he start making perfect sense? When he starts calling you Mama.

Gaining Control Over Relationships
A nine-month-old is worlds away from a six-month-old. Both socially and emotionally. Your baby will rely on his advanced motor and cognitive skills this month to get the attention he craves. He’ll reach out his arms and demand to be held. Insist on sharing your food. Crawl happily toward you when you walk in the door.

Your baby has a new feeling of control over his relationships and interactions. Sometimes this makes life difficult for Mom and Dad. Why sit still for a diaper change when playing is so much more fun?

Brain Teaser
Did you know…you can help your baby’s brain develop by exposing him to interesting experiences, toys, and games?

You’re little “people person”
As your baby’s cognitive abilities develop, he’ll start taking control of his social life. That means things like letting you know when he wants to be picked up and held, and when he doesn’t. Crawling toward you, or away. Don’t worry if he’s not always consistent. He’s just trying out his independence.

He may be using his new physical and mental abilities to interact more with his surroundings, too. If his favorite ball rolls behind the sofa, chances are he’ll figure out how to get it.

A Nutritional Nugget
At this stage, you want to make sure your baby is getting vitamin E as part of a balanced diet. Vitamin E is needed for normal growth and development. It’s also an antioxidant that helps keep his cells functioning optimally. If you’re formula-feeding, your baby will get the vitamin E he needs, not to mention other important nutrients, from Enfamil LIPIL®.

Soon, your baby will be a toddler. To be confident that he will get all the nutrients he needs, try Enfamil® NEXT STEP® LIPIL® toddler formulas. It has as much calcium and vitamin D ounce-per-ounce as whole milk, while supplying more iron, vitamin C, and vitamin D. It’s a nutritious alternative to milk. And it’s the only toddler formula that has LIPIL, our blend of DHA and ARA, important building blocks for your toddler’s developing brain and eyes.

A Moment for Mom’s
As your baby’s getting wiser and more active, it may feel sometimes as if it’s getting harder for you to stay on top of everything. That’s only natural. You have a lot going on in addition to the needs of your nine-month-old. So, instead of feeling as if you’ve got to do it all in a given day, prioritize. Decide what absolutely must get done, and leave the rest for another time. Then, spend the day with your favorite priority. Your baby.

  • See how your baby is becoming “master of her universe.”
  • What’s so important about vitamin D?
  • How to deal with her new sense of independence.
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