Learning to Stand, The Unconventional Way

At nine months old parents can generally expect their little boys and girls to start attempting means of transportion other then crawling.

At this time you might help your 9 month old walk by holding onto his or her hands. You may also stand them up in front of furniture so they can develop leg muscles and the balance and coordination walking and standing requires. All of which Hubbs and I are practicing with our Monster on a regular basis.

However at this point I'm not at all sure Monster even wants our help. His crawling has evolved into a knee-hop if you will. Don't get me wrong, he can still crawl and TURBO crawl perfectly fine but it's almost as if he's trying to get up and run. Monsters new favorite thing is to get up on his knees or one knee, one foot and then to jump. He jumps and tries to get to his feet.

Of course it probably would be much easier for him to get to his feet if he were in front of a piece of furniture and pulling himself up with his hands as well. But who wants to do things the easier way when you can be an hopping individual like my Monster.


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Santa Photo -- Photo Blog

Part of the fun of Christmas time with children is going to a local mall or department store to have them sit on Santa's knee and tell him just what they're wishing for.

This being Monster's first Christmas, visiting Santa was crucial. Not so much for the candy cane or for Monster to whisper his wish list in Mr. Claus' ear but for the amazing photo op. I didn't go all out and dress Monster in his finest clothes because in all honesty, I prefer his normal clothes. I mean, I am the one who picked most of them.

Our first meeting with Santa was last Friday. We plunked Monster down on his knee and backed away so the photographer had enough room to shoot the photos. We were kind of expecting a HUGE Monster-like smile, but we were also prepared for tears at the same time. No offense Santa but to an unsuspecting infant you're a creepy guy in a bright red suit.

Much to our surprise we got neither reaction. Even after we served up our best comedy acts! Monster sat on Santa's knee staring at him with cautious wonder. No smiles. No tears. We weren't disappointed with the photo but we decided to try again.

4 days later we went to our 2nd Santa at the other mall for another try. Exact same reaction; no smile, no tears. Well, can't say we didn't try! This isn't the official photo, just one I quickly snapped with my phone, but you get the gist. ;)







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Just when I thought I knew all about teething...

Once upon a time I blogged about teething... And then again about a teething MONSTER who ate my happy little boy...

And then a few more times after that. I was so sure I knew exactly what teething was, and how terrible it was. Then Monster got a tooth and had absolutely no typical teething signs for the days up until the sucker popped out! I did not have a crying, whiny, chewing, drooling, feverish boy on my hands.

The only thing out of the norm was a couple nights of restless sleeps. I had originally chalked that up to the fact that he'd spent last Saturday at Grandma's house, and then last Sunday with me at his Baba's house. All that time away from his crib threw him off kilter? Nope, must have just been a tooth trying to pop out!

Yesterday morning before I went to work Monster and I completed our morning routine. I get up, get ready from head to toe and then he wakes up for the day. I got him changed, dressed and then took him to the bathroom to brush his "teeth" and spike his hair. I brushed his gums and felt nothing. We had breakfast, still nothing in his mouth hitting the spoon. No tooth to be found!

By the time I got home from work and fed Monster dinner it was time for his evening bath. I plunked him in and he pulled my arm over for a "kiss", really.. it's a "nom-nom-nom-ATTACK". That's when I felt it! My Monster popped his first tooth!! It's just broken the gum line, but it's safe to say that Monster got his first tooth when he was 9 months, 4 days old!

It just goes to show that when it comes to parenting, no body ever really knows everything! Hahaha. I am beaming! :)

The 9th Month Milestones

Well everyone, it's that time again! Time to wish my Monster another "Happy Month-iversary"! In celebration of Monster being on the outside as long as he was on the inside, we're going to go over his 9 month milestone checklist from What to Expect in the First Year.

Like previous months each thing is found in a section as follows:

By the end of this month your baby...
...should be able to:

• Work to get a toy out of reach - Check. Nothing is ever out of his reach unless it's on our dining room table or kitchen counter.
• Look for a dropped object - Check. Monster doesn't just drop his toys, he throws them.

...will probably be able to:

• Pull up to a standing position from sitting - No, for the last month he's been pulling himself up to one knee, and one foot. Just when I think he's about to fully stand, he flops onto his bum. 
• Get into a sitting position from stomach - Check! For a month now (basically since he started crawling) he's been able to get from his back to a sitting position. He rolls onto his stomach, and then sits up from the crawl position. 
• Object if you try to take a toy away - Check. We've moved on from here to "Tantrum if he realizes we've blocked off something he's not supposed to have".
• Stand holding on to someone or something - Check.
• Pick up a tiny object with any part of his thumb and finger - Check! Pincer grasp was mastered months ago when Cheerios were introduced into Monster's diet.
• Say "Mama" or "Dada" indiscriminately - CHECK!!! FINALLY! Monster started saying "Dada" three weeks ago when I returned to work, and now also says "Mama" and "Baba".
• Play peekaboo - Check! It's just not his favorite thing.

...may possibly be able to:

• Play patty-cake or wave bye-bye - Check! Monster has been waving for a few months now, but just started clapping about 2 weeks ago! I love clapping.
• Walk holding on to furniture - No, he can only walk while holding on to someones hands
• Understand the work "No" but not always obey it - I think so. He definitely doesn't obey it all the time.

...may even be able to:

• "Play Ball" (Roll back and forth to you) - We've never tried, I will certainly get back to you on that one.
• Drink from a cup independently - He can use a sippy cup independently and he can drink from a regular cup, but I've never leave him a lone with a cup with no lid. That is just a mess waiting to happen.
• Stand alone momentarily - No, most certainly not.
• Stand alone well - No, most certainly not!
• Say "Dada" and "Mama"  - I would like to think he knows who he's talking to or about... But I can't be sure.
• Say one word other then Mama or Dada - He says "Hi", "Hey", and "Baba"... But I honestly don't think he knows what he's saying.
• Responds to one-step commands with gestures - Check. Monster definitely knows what "Let go" and "Come here" means.

Here you have it! I am confident that Monster will reach and surpass all his goals by the end of this month considering he can do a lot on the list as it stands!