9 Months and A New Perspective

So this is almost a week late, but our baby boy is 9 months old now!  This means things are a bit crazy and busy around this house and also, quite tiresome!  More on this after his update...

Stats at 9 Months and 1 Day:

Weight:  22lbs 6oz (77%)

Height:  28.8in (66%)

Head:  47.6cm (96%)

What W's up to at 9 Months:

-crawling everywhere and getting faster and faster

-pulling up completely and starting to cruise but still very wobbly

-just broke through a third tooth and it has caused us a looong month

-as far as eating... teething has that ALL messed up, but still 4 bottles a day with 3 solids is the goal (he's been getting a 5th, and sometimes 6th, bottle in the wee hours of the night though)

-completely weaned and on formula

-talks a lot and especially loves to say "dadadadada", but does have the "ma" sound down

-could probably be completely in 12m clothes if I allowed which means a lot of summer clothes are going to not be used... at least not by him (Baby E, they are coming your way)!

-loves Ritz type crackers and bread

-sleep... 2-3 naps and goes down around 7:15 at night and sleeps until his teeth/hunger(due to not eating well during the day b/c of his teeth) wake him but goes straight back down after a bottle

-clapping and clicking his tongue are his big tricks of the month!

A few more pics of our big boy:

Our little surfer boy with his "teething" necklace on.  We gave it a go for a little over a week and didn't seem to notice a difference but we were also in the prime of teeth breaking through.  I won't discredit it b/c it may work for another child and I'd definitely try it again.

After having a bald baby first, we are amazed by all of W's hair!  It's coming in nice and thick too... but, no curls. 

This child can produce some major amounts of drool!!

My new perspective:

   This past month I have maybe slept through the night 1 or 2 times (minus our FL trip) due to teething.  Teething never, ever phased AR so I feel like a new mama sometimes with all this!  I've been pretty discouraged about the whole thing and even getting upset/mad/sad/younameit when I wake up at whatever time in the middle of the night b/c W's crying.  It's just been hard... at least to me.  Then, the Lord convicted me the other night by bringing some things to light.  I have been blessed to give carry and birth to two healthy babies.  There are plenty of couples who would give anything just to have a baby to get up with in the middle of the night.  There are moms and dads out there who wish getting up in the middle of the night was their biggest problem.  I can't imagine having a child with cancer or some other illness or worse - losing a child.  I now realize how selfish, lazy, and ungrateful I have been through this.  Seems silly to some as apparently most babies go through teething but I was greatly spoiled by my first child (no excuse though).  Realizing all this has made those feedings in the middle of the night much more bearable... I mean, I'd still like to one day wake up at 7am and realize he's still sleeping but for now, I'll get up with my baby boy while he still needs and wants me!

   I write this for 2 reasons... just to get it out and b/c I think it's important for us moms to remind each other that "we aren't the only ones".  Too often blogs/facebook/social media doesn't tell the whole story and everything looks hunky dory.  I appreciate honestly from blogs and posts I read b/c it reminds me that I'm not suppose to be perfect and I can't be!  I hope this can be uplifting for another mama out there!  

Another great read for mama's can be found here:  http://yourbestnestindy.com/2014/02/27/mommy-somebody-needs-you/

Also, my friend reminded me the other day that during my current season in life, my children are my mission field and I greatly needed to hear that.  Remembering this can greatly change my attitude as well!  A quote I recently discovered and just love is, "Your greatest contribution to the kingdom of God may not be something you do but someone you raise." ~Andy Stanley.   Motivating and intimidating all at the same time!

If you're still reading... well, then sorry you have nothing better to do!!  haha!  JK!  

Now, I leave you with another sweet pic...I caught AR reading to her froggy the other day.  He was even wrapped up in her sleepsack, which is quite a big honor around here!!