Nine Months

(picture overload this month, due to new camera...sorry!)

Nine months has brought a lot of changes for our little Aaronhead. 

First, we FINALLY mastered the whole "sitting up" routine:

He still falls over frequently enough that we have to keep an eye on him, but he's getting better.

Next, rolling over:

He's been rolling for a while, but is now using it as a legitimate method of transportation.

It's especially fun when you're trying to change his diaper.

Third, eating:

Finally out of the Bumbo and into the high chair!

Also, drinking from a straw--yay!

And eating:

(Yes, that is a hot dog. Yes, he is feeding himself. No, I don't care.)

Oh, and eating some more:

"Oh my gosh! Mom accidentally left my food on my tray! SCORE!"

"Ohm, nom...so delicious..."

This kid seriously spends 75% of his waking hours eating. He's still nursing at least 6 times a day (not to mention waking me up once or twice at night to nurse), plus eating four meals a day. Oh, and snacks, too. I spend a HUGE portion of my day feeding Aaron.

Which was why I was baffled when he weighed in at 16 lbs. 12 oz. at his nine month appointment. That puts him somewhere in the 5-7th percentile (height was 29.25 in.--80th percentile). His pediatrician told me to try to feed him more and I was actually speechless. I'm not sure it's physically possible to get more food into this kid. He consistently eats as much or more than his siblings (sometimes combined). Plus it's not like he's eating baby food anymore--it's all table food now. Guess we just have another skinny-minny on our hands!

*He's now the lucky owner of four teeth. Very useful for all the hot-dog eating he does.

*Starting to babble and make all kinds of noises. Favorite noise, of course, is "Dad. Dad. Dadadad." 

Hanging out with his buddy, Blake.

*Aaron has decided that I am his favorite person in the entire world and that I must be holding him or feeding him at all times. This makes things like teaching singing time when Jon is out of town very complicated. Many thanks to those who have walked the halls with my screaming baby while I teach. I've also learned to avoid making eye contact when he's playing on the floor--he'll be perfectly happy until he sees me, then it's nothing but whining.

*After several weeks of whining and general unpleasantness, Aaron is finally back to being a happy guy. We were starting to worry that he was just going to have a whiny personality. Turns out it was just teeth (or something--always a guessing game). 

"Do I look malnourished to you?"

It's been so fun watching him figure things out this month. He's developing into a little person with a distinct personality. I can see the beginnings of a toddler starting to come out, which is fun to look forward to. So grateful you're here, my itty-bit. 

Hammerman

Our ward has a Relief Society group Facebook page where we can post questions, items to get rid of, etc. But my favorite use has been coordinating fun get-togethers! So when a friend posted that she was heading to our little local beach-type area (actually an inlet off the Bay), we decided we needed to go, too!

Aaron's first time at the beach

Seth & Catherine are old pros by now

"What is this stuff? Sand?? And cold water???"

"I hate it. Take me home."

Catherine's (too big) My Little Ponies swimsuit, which she picked out herself.

Trying to cheer Aaron up

Seth isn't a swimmer at the beach...

...he's a builder!

Beach baby

Aaron didn't really enjoy the water, which was disappointing. My other babies loved splashing in it. So he spent a lot of time being held and eating (his favorite activity). Hopefully he'll change his mind soon...

Just Playing

In an effort to learn how to use my new camera, I've been taking a lot more pictures than normal. So here we have some glimpses of what goes on at our house:

Princess on her trampoline

Seth, not happy that I'm making him do (a tiny, tiny amount) of schoolwork over the summer

Aaron's first bike ride was a hit, we think.

He didn't scream the entire time, so we'll call it a win.

Now for the Father's Day photo shoot: 

Notice the lack of a father?

Yep, Jon was off in Dugway again.

But Catherine is wearing the dress he bought her in Korea, so he's there in spirit.

Or something.

Just Seth

Seth the Great and his Magnificent Bumbo Helmet of Power

Kinetic Energy Show

Seth has spent a glorious year taking classes at a local gymnastics academy. Catherine got in half a year--she was finally old enough to join Seth in February, when she turned three. They LOVE "gymnaskicks" (Catherine speak) and I've loved it, too. 

At the end of the year they have a big show where all the kids show off their skills. Since their usual photographer was gone (and since I had just acquired a decent camera), they asked me to take some pictures for them. I took the camera to their class that week for some practice. As it turns out, photographing indoor sports is just about the most difficult thing to do, even for professionals. Plus the lighting in their gym is just awful. But I tried my best!

Seth climbs

Catherine finishes climbing

Now for the actual day of the show (picture overload--sorry!): 

Seth's big entrance

(We were late, so Catherine didn't get one. She took too long getting her shoes off.)

Silly shot

Group shot

Waiting for their turn

Showing off her jumping skills

...and climbing skills

Climbing the dome

Seth balances

...and so does Catherine.

Seth climbs (even with a torn-up knee)

Catherine gets her award...

And so does Seth.

Aaron survives being hauled around during naptime...again...

The kids with Ms. Paula

This was definitely a good crash-course for me & my camera. I learned a lot and would definitely do some things differently next time, but at least I know the basics now!

Catherine Games

How to play Catherine's current favorite game:

Step 1: Catherine goes into Aaron's closet and closes the door

Step 2: Catherine says, "I'm Elsa and you're Anna."

Step 3: Catherine instructs her mother to sing "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"

Step 4: Catherine berates her mother for any incorrect lyrics

Object of the Game: Being able to say "Go away, Anna!" from inside the closet.

(Mom thinks it's cruel that she has to sing THE ENTIRE SONG just so Catherine can get in her one line. Catherine thinks it's the best game she's ever played).

Little Seth

Once, I had a little baby boy who loved cars and anything that spun.

Five years later I had another little boy who, apparently, loves cars and anything that spins.

"Who? Me?"

Eating cars is not something Seth did.

He was too busy sucking on his pacifier.

Aaron is definitely his own person, but in some ways he is very, very much like his big brother.

(For the record, Catherine never cared one bit about cars--Lightning McQueen excluded--

or things that spun)

Camera Experiments

Two tongues:

...and a gymnast: 

Gymnastics on top of the car...this girl lives on the edge!