Nine Months!

Kylen is nine months old! He is growing so fast and learning new things every day. We are constantly on the move-he just doesn't stop! He is trying hard to walk and thinks that he can already but he quickly learns that he hasn't quite got it down. The other day Andrew was sitting on the couch and I was on the floor with Kylen- we were having him walk from one to another and he was mostly just falling into our arms but at one point he took 4 steps by himself before falling to Andrew! I think it was a matter of luck :o) But he occasionally stands by himself for a good 10 seconds. It is only a matter of time before he is taking off running!

Playing with the pups

Imitating the dogs

So much fun!

His sleeping hasn't changed much. He sleeps through the night about 3 or 4 times a week. I'm not sure why he wakes up some nights but he does. Naps are still 2.5 to 3 hours long right in the middle of the day. It seems like that would give me a lot of time to get things done and rest but that is not the case.. I am usually making lunch for Andrew and I, then making Andrew's lunch for work. After that I have about an hour to do the dishes, clean up the house a bit, feed the dogs and maybe run an errand. Andrew's schedule changes soon so hopefully I will be able to use his nap time for more relaxing and enjoyable things.

Being changed is still a big issue. I dread every time he needs a diaper change or outfit change because he fights me. It has definitely gotten worse and I am not sure how to make it stop. I am just hoping that he will grow out of it.. it's not looking good so far. He is also still a huge mama's boy. If I leave the room he bursts into tears. The tears usually won't stop until I pick him up. I hope he grows out of this too! Kylen has also started to bite and I am not talking just a nibble.. it is a full on bite down and clench teeth kind of bite. We are trying to teach him that biting is not okay and he is learning- slowly but surely.

We have moved to table foods! I was having trouble getting Kylen to eat regular baby food so I started giving  him Graduate foods and table food. He has no problem chewing with those 8 teeth of his. He is doing really well eating now. So far we have tried cheese, avocado, yogurt, applesauce and oatmeal, all of which he likes. On the other hand, he refuses to eat the Graduate apples and carrots. Of course I bought many packs of those thinking he would love them but nope, not his thing. He does however, like the Graduate meat sticks, spaghetti and of course his Baby Mum-Mums.

Enjoying his first avocado

This is how Kylen eats- open hand to mouth

How much made it into his mouth? Hmm?

Kylen is growing out of his 9 months clothes and into his 12 month ones. He is just getting too big too fast! He has also graduated to size 4 diapers. We went to Costco to buy some and Andrew swore they would be way too big but when we got home we tried one on Kylen and *TA-DA* they fit perfectly! Mama knows best :) It was the first pack we had to buy since we received so many at his baby shower.

Watching the football game with dad

He is very smart! He learned to clap and give high fives. He gets so excited when I clap and then when I stop, he starts to clap. It is so cute. He has slow been figuring out how things work and how to open things. He opens the cabinets constantly, I still need put the child locks on them! He goes through the baskets behind our couch and looks through my purse to find his bottle, baby mums or anything else that looks like it would be fun to chew on. Recently he learned to open his puffs using his teeth. He spills them every time. Its another one of his "pick-up" games. 

Look Dad, I opened my puffs with my teeth!

Oh no.. looks like I spilled them..

Soo, are you mad?

No?! Okay good! :)

Nine months has been a very fun age :o) 

One Eventful Month

On September 24th, my mom, sister, Tristyn, Kylen and I were getting ready to eat dinner when Michelle received a phone call from my Aunt Yvonne. I initially thought it was about my grandmother who had not been doing well, but she was calling on behalf of my dad. He suffered a stroke that night and was being rushed to the hospital. It was a shock to us since my dad is a health nut. We instantly began making plans to go visit. Michelle drove up 2 days later but I decided to book a flight since I would be taking Kylen with me and a 14 hour drive with a baby who doesn't like the car seemed a bit overwhelming. But when I looked at flights, the prices for a last minute one were outrageous. I decided to wait a week which worked out for the best. On October 2nd, I got the news that my grandmother had passed. She had been suffering with alzheimers for a very long time so it was easier to hear she would be in a better place.

The flight to Reno was a long one (not in actuality but with a baby, yes). Everyone complimented me on how well Kylen did and that they did not even realize a baby was on board, but it had to be the longest flight of my life (except for the one coming back from Reno of course). He did not cry but he was extremely antsy! He did not want to stay still or on my lap. But we made it through! It was good to get off the plane and see how well my dad was doing. He was released from the hospital and walking around as if nothing had happened. His speech is still slurred and his face movement has not come back completely but I am sure he will be back to normal soon. It is amazing how much progress he has made in so little time.

The funeral service for my grandmother was very nice. It was held at the new Catholic church in Truckee. The Monday following the service, she was buried with my grandfather in Napa. The plaque that was made, also had my Uncle Rene's name on it since his body was never found and he was never given a proper burial.  I was not able to make it to the burial because it would have been a six hour round trip drive and Kylen and I were leaving that next morning. But it is nice to know that they can all rest in peace together.

It was great to see everyone from my dad's side of the family. I wish it was under better circumstances but it was still nice to catch up. The whole trip was tough and tiring. Driving to and from Reno did not help. I was staying up in Truckee with my brother,so it was hard to get Kylen to sleep at a decent hour and get him naps since most people were staying at my aunt's house in Reno and that is where everyone got together. This made for a very long six days. The weather was a nice change from Phoenix. The first morning we woke up to snow! Yes, snow! I could not believe it. After that first day it began to warm up a little until the day before we left for home. That day was cold and rainy. But I preferred to be there then in the 100 degree Phoenix heat.

While Kylen and I were gone, Andrew filled our front and backyard with rock! Yay.. no more dirt! Poor guy was exhausted when we got home. But he still picked us up at the gate and Kylen was so excited to see him as was I. I was so happy to get back home and into our regular routine.