Happy 9-month Birthday Little One

Sydney is now 9 months old.

Weighs: 20 pounds

Height: around 28" tall

SKILLS:

Crawling, Feeding Himself and WALKING!!!!

TEETH: 5

two lowers and three uppers

Baby's first: PLANE RIDE

We traveled from Madison to Detroit, where missed our connecting flight to Columbia, SC so, we re-routed ourselves to Charleston, SC. Our luggage went to Columbia and was delivered the following day. On our flight home from Columbia, via Detroit, we made our connecting flight to Madison, but our luggage did not. (Good thing they charge $25 extra per bag, per way... makes up for having to ship out our luggage to us... TWICE!)

We had a great time (visiting friends) in South Carolina for the week!

Walking at 8.5 months VIDEO CLIP

Here is the proof you need: 

SYDNEY IS WALKING AT 8.5 MONTHS!

Little Big Guy Walking Alone at 8.5 months

On Mike's birthday, just 5 days ago, Sydney had taken his first steps. Each day, he gets a little more brave.

Last night, I was impressed that Sydney started by the couch and walked all the way across the living room. Of course, he was trying to get his mom. Still, I was impressed with his skill.

This afternoon, at the breastfeeding support group, he took off walking on countless occasions. For once, he was slow and steady instead of lunging forward and racing. I think he had studied  "the girls" because his baby friends Lucy, Josie and Miley are all (older) and walking. I think they had inspired him to be "a BIG BOY". He also turned on his charm and sat on the lap of all of the nursing students who were in attendance today. He flashed LOTS of smiles and was quite flirtatious. (Must get that from his daddy!) Somewhere along the line, he is supposed to start playing shy; that was NOT the case today!

SCOLDED FOR SOLIDS

I had been scolded today that I am still feeding puréed foods to a baby with 5 teeth who is nearly 9 months old. I was told that he needs to be eating more solids. (I do, however, disagree slightly because he still has a bad gag reflex with solids.) Needless to say, we will finish up all of the puréed baby foods that we have and WE will determine when he is ready to move on. (Sadly, he still is unable to eat so many things because he is still too young.)

I was also encouraged to teach him to climb DOWN stairs. They insisted that we keep trying and that he will "get it".

Broken crib hopes for Speedy Delivery

This afternoon, we experienced some technical difficulties. Sydney had been sleeping in my arms, but as soon as I laid him in his crib, he woke up and started flailing like a fish. He ended up brushing his head against one of the rungs of his crib and it let loose! Needless to say, THAT ended any thought of him napping in his crib today.

When Mike got home, we found our purchase date and called Shopko. Mike was told that we needed to contact the manufacturer. Unfortunately, the manufacturer said that the person that Mike needed to speak with was on lunch for the next hour or so. Then, when he finally did get ahold of someone, they insisted on pictures. Then, more pictures. Alas, we got an email that said:

   We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced. We would like to issue you a replacement crib under warranty and have it shipped to you. Can you please advise your shipping address?

We were especially surprised that we would have to WAIT for a new crib to come, rather than them paying for us to buy a new crib from the local store. (Especially after they advised Mike that it is NOT SAFE for the child to sleep in the broken bed. HELLO? THAT'S WHY WE CALLED!!!!) Now, we're hoping that the new crib arrives before we leave on vacation. In the meantime, Mike has duct-taped some wooden supports behind a few of the rungs nearest the offender, as well as used a belt to secure it all to the top support. Who would have thought that a $300 crib would have issues like this?

We also wonder if we'll need to pay special attention to how the crib fits inside the package... wondering if they will make us disassemble it and send the old one back. Guess we'll have to see what comes to our door...

Hoping for a SPEEDY DELIVERY!

Bedtime snack (TEETH PICS)

Sydney is 8.5 months old already!

What a little cutie! 

Sydney has (at least) FIVE teeth! (He's rather guarded and doesn't let us peek inside... most likely because his mouth hurts.) He has two on the bottom and at least 3 that are fully visible on the top. Judging from recent fussiness at night, we think #6 is en route... or maybe even here already. 

This past week, we bought him a baby toothbrush. He watched mommy use hers and then, instantly put his into his mouth. He thinks it is great for biting on and likes to try out both ends of it. Silly boy! Warning on package says: NOT FOR CHEWING. (Yeah, right!)

We just noticed some new personalization on Sydney's crib. (Looks like a chipmunk or a beaver were busy at work.) Sydney was quite mad that Mike had put him in his crib to take a nap (despite the fact that he truly WAS tired). So, now we know that Syd eats his crib at naptime. (Little stinker!) Guess we'll have to look into some kind of guard so he doesn't wreck his bed more.

Sorry, Didn't even slow him down

Poor Mike spent the better part of an hour building a mock-step cover to go on top of our wedge-shaped bottom stair, in hopes that it would keep Sydney from climbing up the stairs (especially since we watch him attempt to scale the outer walls of the playpen already).

I had carried the vacuum upstairs and had just finished cleaning the litterbox. As I went near the office door to plug in the vacuum, I caught a glimpse of Sydney almost all the way upstairs. Mike had been watching the Olympics in the living room and had no idea that Sydney had already figured out how to get up that new-and-(not-so)-improved bottom step. (Little stinker!)

Perhaps, we have a future Olympian on our hands?

Now, Mike has to go back to the drawing board and test his engineering skills to see what Plan B is.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Daddy had to get up early this morning; thankfully, he only works until noon and then, we plan to enjoy a lunch date together. Sydney decided that we should get up early and eat breakfast with Daddy. Sydney had milk while Mommy & Daddy enjoyed CoCoWheats. (That was daddy's pick for today.)

Now that Daddy is off to work, Sydney (and Mommy) are going back to bed. Then, we're making a birthday cake for Daddy, which will be a nice surprise for Daddy when he gets home from work. (We've got to have cake so that we can officially open presents, right?)

After working two weeks of many, many hours - we're looking forward to this weekend (off). I'm sure Daddy is looking forward to sleeping in! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We love you!

* * * * * * *

Sydney and I attempted to make a birthday cake, but discovered that the stove is not level so, the cakes leaned to the one side. Then, as we were assembling it, the (cool whip and cherry pie filling ) toppings kept sliding off of the edge of the cake. To top it off, the fridge also is not level so, I am unsure what our birthday cake will look like by the time Mike gets home to enjoy a piece. I guess it is the thought that counts!

EDITED: Mike thought it was delicious!

* * * * * * * *

After dinner, Mike opened his birthday presents, but his BEST PRESENT OF ALL was that Sydney had taken his first steps (by himself) in our presence.

Climbing up the side of the playpen (VIDEO)

What a little monkey! This afternoon, Mike was sitting in the recliner and I was walking towards the living room, to witness Sydney holding onto the edge of playpen and climbing the side with his feet. (All this was from the OUTSIDE of the playpen.)

We laughed and of course, grabbed the video camera. (However, in an attempt to NOT wake the baby with the creaky stairs, I will have to wait to attach video footage to this blog entry tomorrow.)

Obviously, Sydney wanted INSIDE the playpen to play with some different toys. So, following the filming, Mike put him inside to play.

At 8 months old, what a little monkey! Now, however, we are fearing that he will start to climb the babygate at the bottom of the stairs.... hmmm, need to come up with PLAN B.

NOTE: Blogger has been having problems with videos... check back later. Sometimes, it works; sometimes not.

Daddy discovers a 5th tooth!

Sydney had an awkward day as far as napping is concerned. He had just woken from a nap when Daddy was getting ready to crawl into bed. (He starts the early shift again tomorrow... bright and shiny early in the morning.) We gathered together, as a family, on our bed. Sydney reached over and grabbed Mike's hand, pulling one of Mike's fingers into Sydney's mouth.

"You have a third tooth up there, big guy." Mike announces.

Puzzled, I say "No, he only has two teeth on top."

"Feels like three to me." Mike confirms.

So, here we sit, in a room lit by dim lamplight, trying to coax his little mouth open (which he HATES) so we can see inside. Sure enough, tooth #5 is here!!! (Sydney has his two uppers, left of center and one right of center.) Good discovery, Daddy!

Mike was proud that HE found the tooth despite being gone to work for 62 hours this past week; our upcoming vacation sure will feel good.

Um, helping with the laundry? (VIDEO)

Mike wonders WHY it takes so long to fold and put away the laundry... so, I decided to grab my camera, flip it to video mode and capture it first-hand.

Sydney grabs the clothes (burp rags and socks are his favorites) and waves them in the air in a style much like a cowboy riding a bull. Then he tosses them over his shoulder, pivots and does it again. Sometimes, it is the same article over and over again, but with so much spinning, he doesn't seem to notice.

Sometimes, I can sneak them away and refold them while he is busy playing with one or two.

Thanks for helping mommy with laundry, Goofball.

Sydney smiles and stands. (PHOTOS)

Sydney, how about a smile?

OK, how about you show us your teeth? (He now has 4.)

He's starting to stand wherever he can...

and gets disappointed when we put up the babygate, as he likes to go UP the stairs.

He started to figure out how to climb ON and IN things... to get where he wants to go. He has also started to walk - holding on with only one hand. (What a BIG BOY!)

Whenever he goes upstairs, he makes a b-line to the bathroom (98% of the time) because he likes to play with his bath ducks and is always HOPING for a bath. 

He gets excited whenever he hears us run water in the tub and HOPES that he'll get to go in for a bath or a shower. He LOVES to play in water! (Just think, we haven't even made it fun yet... with bubbles or anything!)

He sits patiently, waiting for daddy to bring him in the shower, too.

Sometimes, he isn't as patient to wait. He (often) stands by the tub and lifts his leg, trying to climb in on his own.

He says: 

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about...  

I LOVE IT IN THE TUB! 

(We're thinking it's a good thing we dug out the pond that was outside the dining room window.... or come spring, he'd want to be in that, too.)

Quick, I'd better eat these

A few days ago, I had been sitting at the dining room table and Sydney was playing on the floor near my feet. He was busy making car noises (while pretending that his Gerber Graduate Puffs container was a car, I think) and babbling.

All of a sudden, I noticed that he was SILENT. (Now, I'm new to this whole motherhood-thing, but I realized early-on that when he goes from playing loudly - to - complete silence, that it is probably NOT a good thing.)

I glance down to see that he managed to get the lid off of the Puffs, which were scattered all over the rug; thankfully, there weren't that many left. 

I quietly watch Sydney, looking like a little anteater, as he quickly picks them up one-by-one and scarfs them into his mouth.

If reading his mind, I think it would have said: 

Quick, clean this up before mom sees it! 

Maybe then, she won't notice.

I watch for a minute or so before I say "Uh-oh." He jumped, startled, for sure. I had broken his concentration and he was probably a little disappointed that he hadn't gotten away with cleaning it up without me noticing.

"It looks like the lid fell off." I smiled at him. "You think you have to eat them all? You're funny!"

But he did JUST THAT... sat there on the floor, eating them one-by-one, until they were gone. (Maybe we'll have to call him Hoover?)

A little big guy, for sure

Weighing in 

Today, we went to breastfeeding support group and weighed in. Last time, January 6th, I believe Sydney weighed in at 19# 2 ounces so, I was a little surprised to discover that after all this time, he has gained next-to-nothing.... weighing 19# 5 ounces. And today, I was even more surprised that he geeked out on the scale, having his own mini-panic attack. (I'm not sure what THAT was all about?!?! We've done this for the better part of 7 months now... he shouldn't have a sudden fear of being laid upon a scale now.)

Then, the nursing student that was "trying to help" took too long to find our sheet (to log it) as I stood holding a naked baby - all the while hoping that he wouldn't pee on me - that I had forgotten what he weighed and had to attempt to lay him on the scale yet again. (The nurse assumed that the sheets were filed in alphabetical order, but they are NOT. I knew that I was the second-to-last sheet within a certain section so, wished I could have done it myself. I kept trying to tell her where our sheet was, but she wouldn't listen. And being that I am not a "numbers type of girl", I quickly forgot the specifics.) 

Thankfully, Sydney did NOT pee on me! (You always take a chance, you know... especially when you are in public and only have spare clothes for the baby along.)

When it was our turn to talk, the lactation consultants couldn't believe that Sydney is only 8 months old. They claimed that he doesn't have a "baby look" and that he looks like a little man. (Yep, yep, yep... we [started by Uncle Mike & Grandpa Olson] call him LITTLE BIG GUY.) They also determined that his standing and walking abilities make him advanced for his age, predicting that he will be walking on his own in no time. (I didn't mention to them that he LOVES to go UP the stairs already as well.) At breastfeeding, Sydney just keeps trying to keep up with all of the 10 and 11-month old girls.

As for the weight gain, or lack thereof, he is QUITE ACTIVE so, we need NOT worry.

Returning Home: Yay, Daddy's Back!

When we got home, after running a few errands, I was excited to see Mike's truck in the driveway (since he had been gone overnight to corporate seminars) and his smiling face greeting his family at the door. He helped me carry things in and was quick to break Sydney out of his carseat.

"Do you remember who I am?" Mike asked of his son.

Sydney smiled from ear-to-ear, showing off his bottom two chipmunk teeth.

"Yay, you DO remember!" he said as he collected a giant hug.

He looked at me. I looked at him. "I thought he was with you..."

Later in the evening, I went into the kitchen to check on dinner. As I stood in the kitchen, I had heard the pitter patter of Sydney crawling on the hardwood floors of the dining room towards me. Then, when I glanced on the kitchen floor, I noticed he was not there so, I peered into the dining room and then, into the living room.

Mike looked at me. I looked at him. "I thought he went into the kitchen to be by you." he says.

We quickly glance at the stairs to find  Sydney (proudly) on step #4. (Little stinker.)

Dancing machine

We keep catching Sydney "dancing" whenever he hears singing, a catchy jingle/commercial or music of almost any kind. Tonight, Sydney had pulled himself to a stand in front of the television and wiggled his little butt from side to side. Mike turned on a mexican music channel on tv and Sydney demonstrated these dancing skills. Mike turned the tv off and the dancing stopped. He turned the tv back on; and the dancing resumed. (Dang it... low battery in the video camera!!!)

I'm relieved that he doesn't dance like his mother... like a frog in the blender. :)

To bed with some bruises...

Around bedtime, Sydney had started to get fussy... part of that was because we kept blocking his path towards the stairs with our legs. In protest, he ended up banging his forehead on the floor with a loud THUMP before starting to cry. 

Needless to say, he went off to bed with some bruises tonight... as he had also bumped (and [very small] cut) his upper eyelid on the corner of our bedframe this morning.

It's a darned good thing that Mike keeps reminding me: 

BOYS GET BUMPS!

I'd swear he said...

It appears that tooth #4 (top right) is on the verge of making it's appearance.... in the quick glimpses that we get, it looks as if there is the faintest white line on the edge of his gum. Also, he has been having a harder time sleeping at night, leading us to believe that his mouth is what is bothering him. (Last night, he was up almost every hour, which makes for A LONG, LONG NIGHT!)

While Grandma & Grandpa Olson were visiting, Sydney was giggling and chatting up a storm. In his chatters, it sounded as if he was telling them about our cats - Eddy and Otto. (I'd noticed in the past that he has made an "Eh, eh, eh" sound as well as an "Ahh" sound, which I would like to believe are Eddy and Otto, as he certainly knows - and loves - our cats.)

Tonight, on our way up to bed (where Sydney climbed the stairs himself) he was crawling after the cats in the upstairs hallway. After Eddy ran down a few stairs (for safety), Sydney peeked at him through the rungs of the railing and uttered what sounded an awful lot like EDDY.

On his own terms, he says MAMMA and DADDA. He also waves BYE-BYE. I think our baby is starting to turn into an adorable little boy more and more each day.