9 months

I have decided that I absolutely love when babies turn 8-9 months! I remember saying that with Andrew, but I never knew for sure the reason (he had just gotten tubes, and I suspected this had something to do with why I liked 8 months). However, with Isaac I am reminded of WHY I love that age!

Isaac has to be one of the sweetest, easiest babies EVER, but there is just something about 9 months especially that is super sweet. He is crawling very quickly, and beginning to wrestle with Daddy just like the other boys. He laughs and smiles SOO easily. We love how he holds onto us when we carry him around. He holds on with one arm, while excitedly slapping us with the other hand when we first pick him up. He loves to touch our teeth, or any part of our faces. He also just started clapping!! (I LOVE when babies learn to clap because they concentrate so hard and are so proud of themselves when they finally do it). He waves and says bye ("ba ba"). He is just beginning to dance when he hears music. That NEVER gets old-- seeing a baby move to the music! He usually obeys "NO". There are no tantrums (although he occasionally has one upon going to bed). He is beginning to get better at eating textured foods and finger foods. He loves his family so much, and greatly admires his big brothers. It is so fun to watch a 9 month old explore and discover new things.

The other day I was giving Isaac his 2nd dose of Augmentin. He is a VERY picky eater and I knew he wouldn't like the taste of it, so I mixed it with strawberry yogurt. The first day, he did NOT see me mix the yogurt with the medicine and he ate it up real fast. The second day, however he WATCHED me mix it. SO he hesitantly tasted it, then looked suspiciously at the medicine, and back at the yogurt. His eyes went back and forth between the two a couple of times. He then REFUSED to eat anymore. He shut his mouth so tight that I couldn't even force it in. This little baby KNEW I was trying to TRICK him!! Part of me felt guilty and a bit frustrated that he figured out my trick, and the other part of me was a proud mama of such a smart little guy! I then had to force down some medicine with the traditional syringe.

Several times a day, Max and I find ourselves saying, "man, he is SOO SWEET" or "isn't he SOO CUTE?" Sometimes its hard to find the words for the love that continues to grow in us every day for this little boy. What a joy and what a blessing God has given us once again!

As I was writing this, I couldn't help but think again of Catherine Bangs. I always think of her and her family when my kids are this age, or when I see a baby that age. She was 10 months old when she died, and at such a joyful and innocent stage of life. I don't think I can ever truly comprehend
the devastation and grief they must have gone through, and still face to this day. We can NEVER take a SINGLE day for granted! God has surely been good to us.