9 months

Oh Collin, how time continues to fly.
Here we are at 9 months. 3/4 of a year.
Please slow down. Please?!?

At nine months we've enjoyed being your parents, I think more than ever so far. You have been so absolutely easy as we continue to learn how to be parents. Its almost as if you realize we're a bit green, and are playing this game by the seat of our pants. Everyday is a new adventure brimming with excitement.
As we continue to navigate your daily adventures I find myself more excited and exhausted each and every day. Every morning I wake up to you, rolling around on our bed trying desperately to steam-roll me into alertness. You start your morning by reciting your efforts: ma, ma, Mammmm, mama, mama, MAMA. As you try to roll your way over me you catch a glimpse of the lineup of cars heading toward Parkview for morning drop-offs and are momentarily mesmerized as you stare out the window. I realize it will be all too soon before we too are part of the drop off line and you'll be finding your way to kindergarten. I smile, imagining who you will be at the ripe age of 5, and shed a little tear that it will arrive in our life all too soon.
As the cars slowly creep toward the stop sign you transfer your energy back to me, and quickly get your hands on my face, grabbing for my nose like a little horn. If for every time you tried to grab my nose I had a nickle, we'd already be rich. As you roll over and land on my neck, or cheek, you try desperately hard to land a kiss on my face, open mouthed with a line of spit trailing across your smile. So absolutely perfect that when we get out of bed, I can hardly stand not smothering you with more kisses.
After getting dressed and an almost painful washing of your face, apparently it hurts to be clean when you are 9 months old, you are ready for breakfast. We settle you in to your highchair and quickly snap on the tray, as if only a moment you are without it you try desperately hard to get out of the chair and onto the floor. We fill your tray with fruit, mangos, apples, grapes... you spend your time trying to pick up the slippery fruits as they pass through your fingers. Your efforts are joined with yogurt and oatmeal, two of your favorites.
During breakfast its a miracle if you aren't in need of bath by the time we finish. You enjoy squishing the fruits in your palm to making noises and plastering your hair to your head with a yogurt and fruit pomade. After breakfast we play, and you are becoming so imaginative and excited about your toys. You love cars and trucks, your blocks and your small soft puppies that live in a small soft house. You turn the pages of your books, as you love for them to be read to you in an endless circle of your favorites- the very hungry caterpillar, The going to Bed Book, Listen Listen and How Do I love you we all now know by heart.
Play now includes crawling, but the stubborn genes in you prevent you from approaching anything traditionally- you won't actually crawl, instead you drag your body like an soldier on the floor. Army crawling where ever you go, your little legs have rug burn on them from being dragged across the floor. You've learned to pick up speed and chase down your toys as we continually put them just out of your reach to encourage you to move.
Your personality is filled with smiles and hilarity, alternating like a revolving door. You crack up at your daddy, more than anyone else, as you two have a particularly special bond. Its amazing to see your little face light up when he greets you.

Before I know it, the day has passed and I wonder again where the time has gone. You're getting so big, so fast, and I can barely stand it. This month your milestones all point to the same direction- toddlerhood, and its so very bittersweet. You've transitioned to a "big boy" carseat, you've reduced your nursing schedule, and you want to spend more time exploring and less time cuddling. Everyday I hope to get a little bit of it back, but I know all too well that you are heading forward, persevering in your development, not looking back, even for an instant.

So here we are, accomplishing one more month, showing the world one more view of your unique little personality. This month has been about getting to know you more, playing with you, rather than playing for you, helping you to stand, take steps and crawl, encouraging you to go out and meet the world, while we sit behind you with a teeny tiny tear in our eyes.

As I think about the past 30 days its difficult to pinpoint what is different and when changes occurred in your life, and even though I can't pin down any one instance of change in your personality, I see, as a whole, its new and evolving. As you drive your little toy cars across the floor and run one into another I see your wondering smile as you realize just how the world works, well, when it comes to these little cars, at least.

9 months brought so much fun and love, new hugs and kisses, active interactions and stubbornness. You've sang to us while dancing along your happiest thoughts, and scolded us during your most frustrating moments all with the tone of your voice and expression on your face. We know you well, but only can dream of who you will be in only a few more weeks when we arrive, all too soon, at 10 months.

All our love,
Mommy and Daddy.