Asher: nine months old

Growth/ development: Asher weighs 21 pounds, 2 ounces. We don't know his length. He wears size four diapers (same as Charlotte!) and his clothes are mostly 12-18 months. 

This was a big month for Asher's mobility. He can now army crawl all over the house!! Just this week he mastered going from sitting, to laying on his tummy, back to sitting again. One morning he wasn't falling asleep for his nap so I went in and found him sitting up proudly in his crib, after I had laid him down on his belly. So cute!!

We think Asher is starting to wave. He uses his right arm and waves it in the air happily, often upon greeting someone. 

Asher also "says" HIIIIIIII, and DADADADA and MAMAMAMAMA. ;)

Sleep/ schedule: this was the best month for sleep, I'd say. There were a few nights with significant interruptions, but the naps were just so, so good. Once our boy transitioned to two naps, he has been very consistent. Normally he naps from about 8:30-10 (earlier if he wakes up before 6am!!) and then again from 1-3pm. He goes to bed by 7:00, but once he got the two nap thing down he didn't need any more 6pm bedtimes- what a relief!! 

Asher likes: being mobile, playing outside, eating food at the table, chewing things, splashing in the baby pool (or sink! Or tub!), talking to people, following Charlotte around, taking things out of boxes or baskets, and so much more. 

Asher doesn't like: I can't think of much he doesn't like. Maybe being contained when he wants to move around...? I think that's about it. 

Parenting: being this boy's mom is the best thing ever. He is the sweetest, happiest, funniest babe in the world. I love him so much it hurts. 

One very difficult thing this month has been nursing him. Due to a poor latch, his bottom teeth have done quite a number on my skin, leading to some really deep, nasty cuts. I'm feeling ready to be done with nursing, because it's causing me such pain, but it's such a huge part of both of our days (and nights) that I can't imagine not breastfeeding him. He did start taking a bottle of pumped milk for me last week, so that could help the process a bit. It's frustrating and sad to me that things have taken such a bad turn recently because the first eight months of feeding Asher were so smooth and easy. 

Other than that, parenting Asher is an absolute gift. Happy nine months, baby boy. We love you so very much!