Ryan: 9 Months

Sleep

Ryan is doing a pretty good job in this department (knock on wood)!  He usually goes down to sleep at around 7:45 or 8 and will sleep about 11-12 hours!  Napping is hit or miss, which I think is a third child problem.  He has been napping on the go for so long that he isn't sure what to do!  He does get sleepy around 9:45/10 and then again at around 3 (give or take).  He may sleep 20 minutes, or he may sleep three hours!  Hopefully he will get better about napping in his crib - he is already doing better, but I definitely prefer consistency!

Eating

Recently, Ryan has thoroughly enjoyed his food!  He eats cereal 1-2 times a day (2 scoops in the morning and usually 1 scoop mixed with baby food in the evening).  He has 2-3 jars of baby food each day.  Usually for lunch he has baby yogurt or even applesauce.  So far so good on no allergies!  And he is all about the table food!  The night before we left for spring break, he ate more than I have seen a baby eat!  He had shredded pulled pork, bites of sweet potato fry, some baked potato, some pasta, and some roll.  And then he had baby food! I have not made him any baby food yet - thinking I may try making a smoothie or something for him with some of the frozen fruit!  We need to try cheese, avocado, green beans.  He has 4 bottles per day - 8 ounces each - at usually 7, 11:30, 4:30, 8!

Weight

At his 9 month appointment, he weighed in at 20 pounds, 7 ounces (50th percentile)!

Length

He is 28.5 inches long (50th-75th percentile)!

Size Clothes

He is wearing an array of sizes right now - still some 9 month, 6-12 month, and some just 12 month sizes!  There are a few 9 month things that are too short or too snug (especially the footed pajamas), so I have a feeling the 12 month things will be the main portion of his wardrobe before too long.  He just wore a 6-12 month bathing suit on spring break and it fit perfectly.  Some 9 month things still work, but I think he is over the hump with the transition to 12 month things!  Ah!

Size Diapers

He is in size 3 for now - but I bet 4 will work before too long!

Hair color

He has real hair!  And it seems like it is a light brown!  I guess it is about the same as the other kiddos' hair was - sometimes it looks blonde...other times it looks darker...and then at other times it even looks like it has a red tint!

Eye color

Ryan has big, bright baby blues!

Looking Like

Ryan definitely is developing his own look!  But he still has Katie's eyes and Jack's looks.  He looks a lot like his Daddy-o too :) 

Nicknames

Not sure there are any new ones here!  Baby, Baby Ryan, Bud, Buddy, Little Bud

Favorite toy

He loves his toy that you press the different buttons and animals pop up.  The fuzzy bug toy that Katie gave him for Christmas is still a favorite - as is the toy that Grandma gave him for Valentine's Day (firetruck with a block that goes in it)! 

He also likes the little learning piano we have!  I need to put new batteries in the activity table he can stand at to play with.  He does enjoy the exersaucer and the walker - but since he is mobile, he prefers to get around and find toys!  He does like his learning train he got for Christmas too!  I can't wait to get outside more so he can swing and get around in the grass!  He also loves to play with the play food - he could probably do that for an hour!

Firsts

I can't think of anything big here!  We had more snow - and he did go sledding!  I do believe that was his first time with that! 

And he also had his first Valentine's Day!

We also used the bath chair for the first time!  Glad we used it before he gets too big for it!

Milestones

Based on his 9 month appointment, he is right on track!  He responds to his name (most of the time - he is more consistent responding to "Baby" - ha!, he has at least one word, he can sit independently, he is scooting/crawling/rolling everywhere, he is starting to be more interested in solid foods, he is perfecting the pincer grasp (though he does the grab more often - I think it is because he can "palm" the food and get more at a time), he babbles...he is right on track!  And he hasn't pulled up in the crib yet - again, I'm OK with that.  He sleeps in a sleep sack, so that could be part of the reason.  He is starting to attempt pulling up on things, so I am sure it is just a matter of time!

Talking/Words/Sounds

If this boy wants to talk, he is going to have to be loud around here!  There is always someone wanting to talk!  He is saying "dada" and associating it with Brad - also saying "mamama" and "bababa" and the "t" sound and the "ch" sound I think.  I need to pay closer attention to this!  I will try to start writing them down so I can keep up :)

Anything else?

The big kids are starting to form their own sweet relationships with Ryan and it makes me so happy!  And now that he is crawling, he is able to get into their stuff more.  Should be interesting to see what Jack thinks about that!  It also means we will have to be more vigilant about what we leave toy-wise on the floor!  Ryan is a momma's boy, but he sure lights up when Daddy walks in to the room!  He loves watching all of the activity and cannot wait to get in the middle of it all!  We are pretty much always putting him in a stroller or a highchair (depending on the location) when we are out and about...he is just too big to be lugging that baby carrier anywhere!  He does like to look around and flirt and check things out!  Maybe that will help the napping situation since I can't just transfer the seat in and out now! And he has two teeth!  I wonder how many he will have break through in the next few months!