9 month appointment

Leif had his 9 month appointment today. He's now 28 and 3/4 inches and 20 lb 4 oz (75th and 50th percentile).

The doctor said he's looking healthy, he seems precocious and very social, and he'll probably walk early. None of that is much of a surprise!

He had to get a shot and a finger prick today, after being told last time that he wouldn't have to. Luckily, he's too young to understand and feel betrayed.

Leif is now eating everything he can get his hands on (edible or not!), crawling everywhere, pulling up to standing, walking holding on to furniture or our fingers, sitting down gracefully if we let go of him while he's standing, and babbling constantly (he sometimes seems to say "mamamama" purposefully, though that may just be wishful thinking!). Last week we had a bit of nice weather, and he got a chance to play outside in the grass for the first time.

Since about 5 months, he's been able to make this indian yodeling sound by saying "ahhhh" as we pat a hand over his mouth. About a month ago, he figured out how to do it on his own by rubbing his arm over his mouth. A week or so ago, he started doing it just by moving his tongue back and forth. Pretty talented - I can't figure out how to do it! He knows what he's doing, too - we'll start it by patting a hand over his mouth, and he'll continue with his tongue after we stop.

He's also been quite fussy lately. He wants to be carried around most of the time, preferably by daddy unless he's hungry. We think he's realized that daddy isn't around quite as much as mommy. Quite frustrating! We're spending a lot of time with him in the sling, singing and dancing to Broadway soundtracks. We hope it's just teething, and that he'll get over it soon. Either that, or the weather improves so we can take lots of nice long walks (it's chilly and rainy again this week).

I finally finished the rest of the pictures from February and March. They're at Leif's Website. Bathtime! is the first set of new pictures since the last update.

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Leif Update
Leif Pictures

Leif has been terribly fussy lately. He's fussing whenever he's not nursing or sleeping, unless one of us (preferably koyote, he's on a daddy kick lately) is carrying him around. We've been doing a lot of dancing around and singing to Broadway musicals since there isn't a whole lot else to do in this tiny apartment while standing.

It struck me today that perhaps Miss Saigon is not the best choice. Nothing better than singing about prostitution, war, and swear words to your 9 month old. It reminds me of when my high school drama club went to LA to see it. The front row was filled with nuns.

I miss theater. Perhaps someday I'll do it again. Not that I have any inclination (or talent) to become a professional, but there's community theater pretty much everywhere.

Leif and I shared a banana for dinner today after he refused to eat my avacado concoction. It was a perfect banana, still slightly green, without any spots. They're not quite so sticky sweet that way.

Then Leif threw it all up again. Maybe he's having a vaccine reaction, maybe we're both getting sick again. Wouldn't surprise me either way - I'm feeling rather dead myself.