9 month check up and getting baptized

Monday, you didn’t have school so you got to stay home with your dad.  But he had to catch an afternoon flight to Palm Springs for work, so I came home early to be with you.  I got you all to myself for the next 4 days!  Woo hoo!  One of the things that we did was take you to your 9 month doctor appointment.  You are weighing in on the heavy side my friend – 21 lbs. 14 oz (75-90%), 28 inches (25-50%) and your head is at 44 cm (10-25%).  You were tested for RSV because you had a runny nose but thankfully it came back negative.  Also, you got a hep B shot.  You literally didn’t even cry.  You are such a rockstar!  Your band was giving you a bit of heat rash over your right eye, so we took it off (per the clinic’s instruction).  Though out the week, we bumped up your usage a little more each day and by Wednesday, you were wearing full time (23 hours a day).  We have been playing a lot in your game room with all of your fun toys.  You have really taken to the barrel of monkey.  When you put the balls in his hat, he moves down in to the barrel and releases the ball on a banana spin thing.  Trust me – big baby winner.  You have also gone back to liking the house…mostly because of the light switches.  DEAR LORD.  You love light switches.  You love to turn the lights on and off and on again.  You have been pointing at everything with your right pointer finger.  You can pick out every piece of dirt or renegade leaf on the floor.  You are starting to dirt / leaves into your mouth.  AH!  You are in full stealth mode when it comes to crawling and sadly have retired the frog.  I picked you up from school the other day and you said “mama” and crawled to me but I’m still not quite sure if this is your first word or coincidence.  You haven’t done it again yet, so I’m still holding out hope that mama becomes your official first word.

This past weekend was your baptism at HPUMC.  You had been throwing up a few days before.  And when I say throw up, I mean projectile vomiting.  So, I was a little nervous to have you in an all white suit and to have you face to face with the minister.  I waited until the last possible minute to put you in your suit (meltdown occurred – whoever thought a 5 piece suit and a baby was a good idea obviously didn’t have kids).  Nonnie, Grandad, Alex, Laura, Son, Daddy D and Don met us at our house and we caravanned to the church (we had your bib on you).    Your buddy Connor got baptized during the 9:30 AM service, so we took pictures with the Darnells in the courtyard before the service.  Gigi, Papa, Mimi, Mama D, Great Nonnie (your 97 year old great grandma), Carson and Raquel met us at the service.  You did fantastic buddy.  Best baptism ever.  When the minister had you in his arms, he put the water on you and as if you were cued up, you pointed up to the sky.  Now, you were most likely pointing at a pretty sweet light that you had seen, but the minister told the congregation that you were going to grow up to be a theologian because you were already talking to God.  It was so sweet.  I saw you scouting out the minister’s ear microphone but lucky for him he gave you back to your dad and everything was done.  And you didn’t throw up!  I mean you did… but not projectile style…and not on the minister.  Whew!  Success.

After the service, we went to lunch together as a group.  We practically took up the entire restaurant.  You got a really sweet Noah’s ark night light  and silver cross from Nonnie and Grandad and Laura and Son gave you the matching picture frame.  Gigi got you a music box and Daddy D and Mama D got you some really great Bibles.  You must be the most loved baby on the planet.

You are talking up a storm these days – Da da, Ga ga, Baba, Mama.  You still love to ham it up for the camera….  CHEESE!!!  You love your missy cat.  I wish she loved you as much as you love her.  

It is challenging to feed you but we get through it.  And you still hate to be strapped into the car seat, or strapped onto your changing table so that we can change you or your diaper.

I’m with the Band and Mom’s birthday brunch

Before we left for Florida, we had you measured for your new DOC band.  You have a condition called Plagiocephaly (where your head was flat on the right side).  I had noticed it early on and had tried everything to get it to go away – tummy time, chiropractor, exercises – nothing had worked.  When I took you in for an evaluation in December, the therapist I worked with said that you had a moderate case and that chances were that although it may not get much worse, your little head was not going to round out on its own.  She recommended banding you for 3-4 months.  After much discussion, we decided to go for it.  On Friday, the band went on.  At first, you did NOT like the band.  You tried the best you could to get the band off your head.  The band is fastened together with Velcro so try as you might, you can’t get the band off.  The first day we only had it on for a few hours and you didn’t have to sleep on it.  The next day, we only had to have it on a few more hours than yesterday.  I expected a rough night with you on Saturday night but it really didn’t seem to bother you.  You have even managed to do your trademark sleep stance – butt up, face down – with the band on.  So, here we go.  A new adventure with the band.

 Saturday night was a really fun night.  We went to see a magic show at the owners of dad’s company’s home.  You had a great time crawling around the library around many of the priceless artifacts.  I am so excited for you to go to your dad’s work functions when you are a little older.  You are going to love all of the cool things that we do.  Sunday morning, Gigi (with Carson and Raquel) brought us breakfast.  It was delicious and such a great time to relax with everyone.  Gigi also brought Missy home (she had been camping out at Gigi’s house since Christmas while we were out of town so often).  Missy has to take heart medicine twice a day so she goes to Gigi’s when we are gone.

Not loving the new hat

Night at the magic show

Does not effect you in the least

Happy birthday mom

Our little 9 month old!

Here's to the new adventure!

Uncle M goes to Austin

Your Great Uncle Matt was sworn in this past week and you and dad made the trip down to see!  Great times at the Capitol.