9 months old!!

(I know this is way late, but I wanted to post it anyway - as usual I wrote it awhile ago and was waiting on pics)

Always together

For awhile he would do this every time I got the camera out - anticipating the flash

St. Patrick's Day - sadly, this was the best picture of the two of them

"Mommy, take a picture of ME wearing the hat"

This is what a typical photo session of the two of them looks like

There's that squinty face again

So darn cute!

Bentley's first year is flying by so fast!  I just can't even believe we will soon be planning his 1st birthday party (and my 30th ... WHAT!?!?).  Bentley continues to be somewhat of a "peanut," at least in comparison to Ryder at his age.  Here are his 9 month stats:

18 lbs, 9 oz (19th %)

27.5 inches (80th %)

This boy is definitely on the move - he started really crawling a little over a month ago and once he figure it out, he really took off!  He is all over the place and into everything - but only for short periods and then he is pulling on my leg, whining to be held. :)  A little inconvenient at times, but I'll take it.  He is my snuggle buddy and I love it so much.  As soon as he started crawling, he also started pulling up on things but took a couple bad spills (head on tile) and it somewhat more cautious now.  I try to stay near because you just never know what he'll try to grab onto.  

He still just has the 2 bottom teeth, but I think the tops ones aren't too far off.  He says "mama" and "more."  He also says "dada" but the jury is still out as to whether it is real or babble talk.  He also signs  "more" (in his own unique way) and has signed "milk" but I haven't seen it too often.  He sure gets excited when I sign it to him though. :)

He's pretty good eater and has decided he does like solid foods.  I still make all of his foods and really enjoy doing it!  I'm not sure that he has any favorites - he doesn't get overly excited about anything really, but usually takes whatever I give him.  He went through a phase of not wanting anything for a couple of days, but thankfully he got over it.  The boy loves cheerios and puffs, that's for sure!  He definitely gets excited when he sees those - can't let him see the containers unless you're going to give him some.

Some of Bentley's favorite things are: Ryder, Ryder's toys, shoes, the dogs (and their bed - he always wants to sit in it and it's really dirty - guess it's time to wash it), going outside, and mama snuggles. 

He absolutely hates having his diaper and clothes changed - it's always quite an ordeal.  He also tends to throw a fit when I am initially strapping him into his car seat, but once he's in he is fine.  He's pretty happy boy these days and for the most part has a mellow personality.

He is a great sleeper!!  I can't believe we waited so long to move him to his own room.  He sleeps so well in there.  He was always a great napper but we didn't get rid of the 4am feeding (at least not consistently) until we moved him.  Now he goes to bed at 6:30 or 7 - I aim for 7 but somedays he is just too tired and crabby before that so there is no point in keeping him up.  He will occasionally wake up at 6 to nurse and then go back to sleep until 8 or 9, but most days he will sleep until anywhere from 7:30 -9.  I actually prefer he wakes up earlier because when he sleeps in it makes his nap times much less predictable.  He takes 2 naps a day and they last anywhere from 1-2 hours each.  I love that I can just lay him in his crib, turn on his mobile and walk out.  He'll sometimes play for a little bit but he usually goes to sleep without an issue.  So easy.  Much easier than Ryder was with naps (oh the things we learn from our first borns, right?)

Bentley does the cutest little dance - he sits and bounces on his booty - sometimes so high that he throws himself forward onto his hands.  He does it whenever he hears music and it is just adorable!  I need to try and upload a video.

I don't know what else to say about him, other than we just adore him and our family is so much fuller with him in it!