Nathan at 9 months old

Our happy nine-month-old brings us so much joy! This month, he's starting to be even more mobile. He can pull to standing and can scoot/army crawl. He'll be able to really crawl soon!

Even though he's mobile, Nathan still likes being held, and he doesn't mind being contained in his exersaucer. In fact, it's one of his favorite places to be. He'll happily play with the toys on the exersaucer while Momma or Daddy get meals ready for the family.

Nathan is getting to be more vocal as well. He gurgles, blows raspberries, hits his mouth to make a play-Indian noise, and makes lots of happy grunts. He even said his first word this month: Momma! (which makes Momma's heart melt every time)

Nathan still takes two short (30-45) minute naps each day, though sometimes his afternoon nap is a little longer. He falls asleep each evening close to 9:00 and wakes up for the day around 7:30/8:00 ... with multiple wake-ups/feedings during the night. He still sleeps in the pack 'n' play in our room.

Nathan is still not a big fan of much table food. He gags on any small bit of food we try to give him (that he hasn't thrown off the side of the high chair). He turns his face when we try to feed him pureed food on a spoon. He does like trying table food that we place in a "fresh food feeder" (mesh bag) for him to gnaw on. His favorite food in there is cantaloupe, and he ends up with lots of juice all down his shirt. :) For now, he's still getting the vast majority of his calories from nursing. We're just happy that he's healthy gaining weight.

Nathan protests loudly when we leave the room or drop him off at the church nursery during Momma's Bible study time. He'd rather be with us all of the time. :)

Some of Nathan's favorites this month include: his activity table, swimming, balls, splashing in the big bathtub with his brothers, finding any sort of choking hazard we've accidentally left on the floor, door stoppers, Tupperware containers and lids, and pulling his own hair. He also adores his brothers and will giggle whenever they shake their heads back and forth, make silly sounds, or play peek-a-boo with him. Ian and Ryan also created a game Nathan loves when they run up to him, jump, and say the made-up word "Row-bah." It makes Nathan laugh and laugh, and it brings us such joy to see our boys enjoying each other.

This third time around, we're enjoying more and worrying much less ... and we're trying to savor every stage as it happens. How quickly little Nathan is growing up, and how much we love our baby! God is so good!

Here are some videos of our littlest in action!