Crawler

Since Bryce started crawling, Bryce started to learn the word, "No!"

Lilly was put out by Bryce's new found talent of mobility. He crawled right to her bed and she wasn't sure where to go. Next he started grabbing all her toys. Lilly deserves this after all the toys she has stolen...and eaten of Bryce's! She is finally getting used to him moving around all over the place. Next stop on his list, her toy box. He has mastered the concept of a lid and that there are more toys under the lid of Lilly's toy box! (see video)

I've also surprised myself because, well, he is a boy and he acts like one. In my mind it is nice to think he will be this sweet innocent baby forever but we all know he is a boy who will get into trouble. First things first, eating dog food! I always thought that, "my kid won't eat dog food!" Imagine my face when I bend down as quick as possible to hook dog food right out of Bryce's mouth! Stinker! Then, a new cry emerged. An angry cry with real tears in my reaction to my telling him no along with taking food from him. Dramatic. That bowl is a magnet for him now, playing in the water and trying to get her food. Needless to say, the food and water is moved when Bryce is crawling around.

Bryce very recently started crawling, and now today he has pulled himself up onto the furniture to stand and even tried letting go. Gravity got him, poor guy. I try not to rush and react to him falling, he was all good and no need for tears. I know that I can help him realize he doesn't have to cry at every fall so I'm working on my hoovering skills and giving him space to learn.

He had his 9 month visit a couple weeks late but still, all is well with him. He did only gain 1 pound in the past 3 months which is shocking since he has had a huge amount of growth since he was born. He is just leveling out now, he has lost a lot of his cute chub and gained in length what he didn't gain in the belly :)


Soon after he started crawling, he got the courage to do everything else his little mind has been practicing, like sitting up on his own. Here he is sitting straight up in his crib instead of taking a nap.

All in a day!

Bryce started crawling on Saturday evening! David took Bryce over to Brent and Kristin's house while I stayed home and prepped for my wedding show. David let me know to head over and join them for dinner, shortly after, he called and told me to hurry and that Bryce was crawling. What a little stinker!! I couldn't believe he waited until I wasn't there. I'm thrilled David got to see though, at least it was one of us! At first he only crawled while crying and fussing still showing his frustration that he had to try so hard to make all those limbs work together. Sunday, the next day, he was able to crawl happily without crying. It is kind of funny, Bryce was in our living room on the floor and I was in the kitchen. I started to call him to see if he'd crawl to me. He crawled straight to the corner of the couch. Then, I realized he still has to figure out the whole concept of going around things. It is amazing how much there is to learn still after making such a leap!

Now today, he is going crazy moving all over the place. He is cralwling and pushing his toys from spot to spot. But now he is even pulling himself up to stand, back down to plopping on his butt to sit, back to a crawl, back to pushing his walking toy while walking. WOW. All in one day he has gotten so brave and there is just no stopping him. I've heard all the comments warning me about how busy he'll be and now the real work begins but I am just so proud of him for finally putting it all together. He has been working on it so hard. Go baby!

His favorite locations to venture so far? Lilly's dog bed full of her toys and Lilly's water and food bowl. Of course.

Our Goldfish

We were invited to join a month long baby swim class. What fun, we loved it! I thought Bryce would really love it because of how he is in his baths and I was right. Once I got comfortable with him being in the water, we were brave together. He would go under the water, float on his back, go after toys... all while I held him of course. He did let others hold him while in the water too. Splashing, kicking and observing... he always got tuckered out and it did seem to help him sleep better most nights we had swimming. Relief!!
On a side note, I thought the day would NEVER come when he'd start sleeping better. Finally- relief. Since I've been home, Bryce's new norm is to wake up at about 4am. He still has a rougher night about once a week but thank goodness he isn't waking 3-6 times a night like he was just a month ago. Here are some pictures from swimming!

9 Months = Personality

What a little personality that is developing before our eyes. Some things we've noticed about Bryce:

He gets bashful when he says hi to someone he recognizes, he quickly flashes a smile and then looks away to hide his face. He looks back at that familiar face again of course.

He is a pro at giving high fives!

He is an observer. He sits back a bit and really watches crowds and what is going on. He warms up pretty quickly but in taking him to baby group, I've noticed he is quite the observer. Traits from Dad. I am like this too though.

The tongue is sticking out all the time, at least when he isn't addicted to the paci. I've been trying to limit the paci to only when he is tired, cranky in the car or when he is done eating but still thinks he needs more. He always thinks he needs more.

He gives kisses!!!!! Oh my, they are truly the best... well at least to those who he melts their heart and who don't mind a juicy, wet kiss. Big, open, gummy kisses. He just doesn't give out kisses on command though. This kid kisses on his own terms and when he feels like it. He isn't scared to push your face away multiple times when you think he needs to give you a kiss.

Along with all the good developments of his personality his not so pretty side is also developing. Bryce will get as stiff as a board when I try putting him in his car seat if he doesn't want to. He is always fine after he is buckled in and I am sure he is happy to go on an adventure but there is just something about being strapped in that makes him so mad at times. He also screams his head off- still- if you don't give him food fast enough or enough food. Because Bryce is so demanding vocally with his food, I love that he can feed himself finger foods now. For breakfast each morning, I make him toast with light homemade strawberry jam. While he is happily feeding himself it gives me just enough time to make his oatmeal without him yelling at me. This is the time where we've tried to teach him, "no." In reality, he is teaching me to be quicker and be one step ahead of him.

I've been able to balance Bryce and working from home for over a month now and I'm really happy with how it works. I don't have much freetime, but I expected that. I hate that I didn't edit these photos I've posted to adjust the lighting and the color balance but that is really because of lack of time. I am tackling some pretty huge projects right now so I am happy to just get this update completed! I am doing a dance all day long between baby and work and it all rotates around his nap schedule. I get the most work done when he naps. I am still so thankful to be with Bryce all day and feel so blessed. Things are working out for us and I am so thankful. I do leave him once or twice a week for a half day when I have meetings or just need time to crank out projects. Bryce has a few ladies that are happy to hang out with him while I need to attend meetings or work, they are wonderful and he is spoiled.

And of course, here are lots of pictures and captions:

There is a neighborhood park we go to and he loves to swing! He has a great time... and so do we. We hop on the swing beside him :)
Belly button update: We were told his belly button hernia would hopefully go away by age 1 or else there would have to be surgery. I think our poor little guy will have to have the surgery. It isn't correcting itself much these days.
Big blue eyes!
Showing off the pearly whites with a wave. He waved for about 2 weeks and now he doesn't really care to anymore. It is all about a high five instead.
When I put Bryce down for a nap, I always put him down with his socks on, I cover him with his knitted blanket. (Knitted is great because it has holes just to be safe if it gets over his head and for some reason he can't pull it off. I am so paranoid.) I also always lay him in the middle, on his back and with his head facing the other way. Here is a picture of how he ends up falling asleep. As you can see, both socks are off, no blanket, on his tummy and completely turned around. Why do I even tuck him in? :)

We send pictures to dad at work to make him smile, this was one of them. It is also a rare picture that we have one together since I am usually behind the camera these days.

Here is Bryce showing his mad skills at downing a sippy cup. He mastered this over the last month. What a champ!
This picture makes me laugh. He loves paper as much as his mama. I let him go after my pile of papers just because I could tell he wanted to so badly. I can still read a crinkled piece of paper just fine and since it makes him so excited, I couldn't resist! This is part of the balance I do daily working with my sidekick.

I know this was long, but a lot happened this month! He is so busy trying to figure out how to use his little body and even after all this, there is so much more I can write but I just can't think of it!