Kathryn Reese: 9 Months

Weight: 17 pounds, 4 ounces (34th percentile)

Length: 28.5 inches (81st percentile)
Head: 18 inches (91st percentile)

Clothes: 6-9 months, 6-12 months

Diapers: Size 3

Sweet girl, you are 9 months old! 3/4 of the way to a year! In so many ways, I am THRILLED about this...and in so many ways, I'm so sad you're getting so big! You are still eating four 6 oz. bottles a day - typically at 6:45/7am, 11am, 3:30pm, and 7pm. You eat breakfast around 8, lunch at noon, and dinner at 5:30/6. You are slowly moving away from purees (although you love pouches) and onto table food. Your current favorites are yogurt, all carbs (Cheerios, puffs, crackers, etc), peaches, cheese, and (sigh) Chick-fil-a. You've decided you're ready to be awake longer before nap times, so you're typically down now from about 9:30-11 and 2-3:30 or so. I'm SO over the morning nap...it's tough being stuck at home all morning, sweet one!

This month, you decided you wanted to MOVE. However, you can't figure out crawling yet (hello again, PT...ugh) so you are pretty stinkin' frustrated. (So am I.) On your tummy, you army crawl backwards like a pro and move in circles, but you've never figured out forward motion. Sitting and tummy time are still two separate things - you are not fluid yet between the two positions, which causes lots of frustration when you feel "stuck" because you are sitting on your bottom. You have, however, figured out how to pull up on things and sit back down again, so that's definite progress! I'm hoping you just need a little more upper body strength in order to figure out crawling. It's so sad to see you get upset when something's out of reach. I think you'll be so much happier once you figure out how to move.

You had several firsts this month - first haircut (bye bye three inches), first top teeth (four of them!), and first time swimming (LOVE). You celebrated your first Easter and big brother's 3rd birthday. You are SO close to using words and love to hear the sound of your voice. When upset, I've heard a few "ma" sounds here and there, so I'm wondering if you are on the verge of saying "mama." Too bad I only hear it when you're crying, though! :(

You are becoming much more laid back and go with the flow - it honestly makes me wonder if you've always been that way, but since you had so many GI/muscular issues going on when you were teeny tiny, you were just in pain all the time. We'll see...you are a strong-willed girl after all! We love you, Katy bug!

Carter is 3! (Photo Dump)

Weight: 32.2 pounds (53rd percentile)

Height: 38.8 inches (75th percentile)

My sweet baby boy, you turned 3 this weekend! Sadly, you were diagnosed with strep throat on Friday afternoon, so our day full of fun parties and family did not get to happen since you were contagious, but we made the most of it and postponed your party for two weeks. On Saturday, we tried to fill your newly free day with your favorites - pancakes, new golf clubs, and play time in the backyard. We went and picked up your $40 worth of balloons we had paid for in advance (and couldn't cancel), too, so the backyard looked extra festive.

After lunch and naps, we played a little more at home, went to Rosa's for dinner, and then enjoyed a few of the 40 cupcakes I had baked for the party. (Bitter? Me? Not at all...)

Finally...the time had come...your daddy took you to play golf! On the GOLF COURSE! You were seriously giddy and BEYOND excited the whole time.

The next day, you were no longer contagious, so we had some serious catching up to do! We headed down to Gammy and Doc's house first to spend the morning with your Wade cousins who had come in town for your birthday! FINALLY! You got some great gifts and enjoyed playing with Pearson and sweet Owen. We went swimming and then caught a quick power nap in the car before dinner with Liam, Grant, Chase, Sarah, and Gramma Pat.  

Given the circumstances, I think we definitely made the most of it! And now, we have ANOTHER celebration to look forward to in 10 days! Woohoo! Happy birthday, sweet boy! XO!