The Real Life of Ellen & Mason: Woodrow at 9 months

These light up!

Woodrow is looking more and more like a little man this month, which is just crazy to me! He's such a little person with a big personality. More and more he's using his babbles to communicate that he wants to be heard and in on all the conversations. No words yet, but he's babbling much more especially after nap times and after he eats-the times he's most content. Woodrow is a little more "vocal" than Theo was about when he wants something. Fortunately, usually a short cry indicates he wants milk, or to be changed (he doesn''t like a poopy diaper at all, which is a good thing).

Having fun watching the trains

This month Woodrow got his first tooth! Yahoo! It popped through just before his 9 month birthday. This teething business is not too fun-for anyone. I've tried several different soothing "things" which is a little funny since I don't really remember trying any of these with Theo. We've tried the teething tablets, tylenol, cold/chewy teething toys, and essential oils (something some friends are trying to get me hooked on). Woodrow definitely likes to chew on the teething toys and he has definitely started to use his pacifiers much more than before, but again, I think he enjoys the chewing aspect. The essential oils seem to help (I use doTerra On Guard) but I don't want to overuse them.

What's left of a strawberry

Woodrow has also accomplished the art of climbing the stairs this month. I'm glad that he's learned the skill of going up, but am glad that we'll be headed back to our single-story house in a couple of weeks. More so because it's one less thing to worry about, but glad he figured it out-and of course he gets his best practice climbing the hard basement stairs and not the carpeted stairs at my parents' house.

Thanks firemen for chasing us down to give us hats

Forget the "baby" toys. Woodrow wants in on ALL of the action going on around him. While we're staying at my parents' house he is finding so much to get in to (recycling bins, spices, wires, etc...). I start flashing to visions of our house and thinking of things that may need to get childproofed ASAP. Fortunately our tupperware is up high! Woodrow especially likes to ~~play~~ destroy anything Theo is playing with. His favorite toys at my mom's house happen to be this little hay bail that goes with the FP barn, and a glittery wand where the glitter pieces move back and forth inside. Woodrow also loves to hear Theo sing to him, and they chat back and forth.

It's May in Illinois and we're still bundled up to go to the Zoo

Woodrow's probably thankful that I finally moved him up a diaper size! He's now wearing size 3s and isn't being squashed into his diaper each night. He's been growing like a weed, and clothes that I brought for our trip have started to not fit, even though I tried to bring a variety of sizes. He's ready for 9 month clothes, but I only have a few. The weather he's been wonky too (lots of cold and rain with the occasional hot day or two). Hopefully Spring has come to Minot.

Grandpa, did you put this gate up???

On the warm days we did venture out. Woodrow seems content to toodle around in the stroller taking in the view. One of our adventures took us to the beach where Woodrow got to play in the sand for the first time. After the first initial protest or two, he decided it was pretty fun and just dug right in.

That's my Dad! Now, let me eat the ipad

He's getting sturdier on his feet, and had even tried letting go and standing on his own, but it's extremely brief. He has attempted cruising more and more and going from one piece of furniture to the next. He also thinks it's pretty fun to cruise around in the bathtub, but we're working on sitting and floating in the tub instead of standing.

Turn the flash off, Mom

Woodrow learned to clap! He loves his hands. He's always turning them around and around looking at them, using them as grabbers, he likes to hold my hand while he's nursing, and now he claps! The laugh that accompanies it is adorable too.

Payback Theo

Eating is still kinda crazy. The boy is soooooo messy! I'm pretty tempted to just feed him in the bath tub (did it once at home) because he essentially needs a bath after every meal. Woodrow will also not be fooled by eating things like puffs, or "baby crackers"- the boy wants flavor. He does seem to be picky about what he eats though, but hopefully he'll start trying more and more and eat lots. His current favorite is strawberries! He demolished them.