Nine months…

Dear Noah,

You are now, an almost toddling, 9 month old. I say almost  because you are yet to take a step by yourself but you are certainly a mover and a shaker who will stand up on anything or try to crawl into or under anything also. The other day I found you trying to crawl up INTO our bed. I don`t think you are far off taking your first unaided step as you will walk around holding onto anything and can walk along with something moving like your walker or the pram- I have no doubt you will be walking, if not running by one.

You have finally hit the 8kg mark (which will be confirmed tomorrow at your 8 month check up- yeah we are a little late!) but it is no surprise with the amount of food you tuck away. Honestly you knock back 4 x 200ml-240ml bottles a day as well as three full meals. You love to feed yourself especially tortillas or rice crackers or sandwiches but are still very hit or miss (more miss!) with the spoon on the occasions that I let you hold it. You are the messiest eater I know and DEFINITELY take after your father in that respect. Some friends, just recently, commented on how much you eat but that your size didn`t really reflect it and then after lunch they saw how active you were- that is why you are “smallish” for your age because you DO NOT STOP MOVING. You go from one place to another and back again in the blink of an eye and then you do it all over again.

You can`t see them all in the above photo but you now have four teeth. Your first top tooth came in a couple of weeks ago and is growing fast but your 4th tooth was a little slower and has only just popped through in the last week. When you smile you can`t see the 4th tooth yet so you look a little funny but I still think you are adorable.

It is funny because you understand a lot of what is happening now- for example if I am eating something you will crawl over in a shot in the hope to get to taste some of what I am having (and if I don`t give you any then you will just try to dig in yourself)- If I want to eat I basically have to put your back in your highchair and give you something to chew on otherwise you will be trying to climb all over me while I try to eat my lunch or dinner. You also understand “oide” or “come here”/”come on” although do not always choose to follow the command.

When we are reading I will often ask you “Where`s the ball” or “Where is the birdie” and 9 times out of 10 you will point to the right thing in the story. Sometimes when I ask where is the ball you will crawl away to get one of your own balls.

You LOVE playing with balls- you have a small soft soccer ball that you like and also a soft rubber ball that has lots of holes in it (Often seen on prams here in Japan) and you will happily spend 15 minutes chucking them around and chasing them by yourself all over the apartment. It is so funny to watch.

You are becoming more and more independent by the day- you will happily play by yourself for a bit and then when you feel you need me to play or you need a hug then you will come over to me and climb into my lap or stand up on the sofa for me to pick you up for a hug. You will push all your toys over to the outside window and then turn around as if to say “Ha, I did it- now you have to put them all back” – you will also pull out your own books and spread them out on the floor opening pages and closing pages and pretending to read. When I see you do this it reminds me so much of photos of me as a child as I remember seeing pictures of myself, not much older than you, doing the exact same thing (except it was old funken wagnall encyclopedias).

You LOVE the wiggles still- you watch a little every day (at least on weekdays) as when I am making dinner I usually put you in your walker near the tv with the wiggles playing and while it might take me 30 minutes to make dinner I will check on you a couple of times and you will still be in the exact same place watching them sing and dance. I swear there is some kind of subliminal messages in there that only babies can get!!!

I have started to plan your first birthday party- we have come up with a theme and I have all the supplies to start making invitations and decorations and have also bought some stuff online (gotta love the internet age and online shopping!) for the special occasion which we will hold when we get back from Australia (in early January). I can not believe that you will be one in less than 3 months- the time is just flying by- before I know it you will be going off to school. eek!

I love you my little escape artist,

Love Mama

ps: As for talking, no sign of any real words yet. If I say ball you make a sound back (ball is your favourite word, I swear!) but nothing that sounds like real words yet. You say mamamamamama and dadadadadada but not directed at either of us or in any meaningful context.

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