Nine Months Old

He's been OUT as long as he was IN!

This month, our Baby Trey made a lot of changes! He enjoyed his first Christmas, which was much like any other day to him, except it was a lot more cluttered. He cut two more teeth (he now has six--four on top and two on bottom). He has become a pro at eating small finger foods. He can clap his hands (cutest thing ever!). He is sleeping through the night like a champ! He bounces along with songs and rhymes, especially those he recognizes.

His fine motor skills are quite good, but his gross motor skills are still delayed. My theory is that the surgery he had at 5 months slowed him down. At that point, when he had a lot of pain, he just stopped trying to roll or move around. So, now, although he can sit independently just fine, he still will only roll from his back to his tummy (and dislikes going the other way), and doesn't crawl at all. I can see him starting to figure it out, but he doesn't seem to be in a rush, so I'm not either.

The most significant thing I have noticed about Trey in the last month is how he seems to understand a lot more about his little world. His receptive language skills are impressive; that is, he responds to many words as if he understands them, even if he can't say any yet! If you say the word "clock," he can locate a standard clock in any room and starting clicking his tongue at it (like the tick-tock sound!). He loves bubbles and splashes and socks and toothbrushes and Cheerios. He LOVES his brothers and sister! He watches every move his Dad makes with keen interest. And he loves to torment me by grabbing me by the hair and pulling me to him for "kisses" just when he is messiest (with pureed vegetables and slobber and a runny nose all over his face) . . . seriously, he giggles while he does this!

And he loves it when we sing or read to him. He is so attentive; he sometimes whispers to himself while he listens. I can almost see in his eyes that he is thinking and learning right in front of me! Here is a telepathic conversation I recently had with him:

Me: "Truly, you have a dizzying intellect."

Trey: "Wait 'til I get going!"

(Name the movie...) Ha ha!

Here are some pictures of our 9-months-old charming Little Buddy:

Working out with Mommy.

Here I told him, "Smile for Mommy!" He's so obedient. :)