"You are such a boy"

Over the last few weeks I have stated several times to your dad, myself and friends how 'boy' you are.  I of course know that you are actually in fact a boy, I mean I change your diaper several times a day and you even remind me by sometimes using your little man part to give me a little golden shower while I'm trying to change that diaper.  But recently you have exhibited behaviors and interests that bring me to the 'nature' vs. 'nurture' of raising a boy. Here are just a few of the 'boy' things that you do:
- You love being naked.  You are at your absolute happiest when you are getting dressed and are naked in the morning or naked before, during and immediately after your bath.  If it were your choice you would never get dressed...although as winter fast approaches you would probably wise up and let momma get you dressed :-P (check out a couple pics below)
- You laugh at bodily noises.  It started a few months ago when we were in Boston and your dad discovered that you laugh at sneezes and sneeze sounds.  All we need to do is do a fake 'ah - choo' and you just crack your self right up.  It started with you laughing at other people's sneezes but you have since started to laugh at your own sneezes as well.  You also laughed at your own burp and fart in the last couple weeks.  Mommy and daddy really laughed when you laughed at your own fart. I mean, how could we not?
- You love boy toys: balls and cars.  Already, you love crawling after, pushing, kicking and swatting balls.  I am really hoping that you get your daddy's hand/eye coordination and not your moms, so that you can get involved with sports.  You are also very much into cars, whether its the cars you can push around the floor or real cars that you watch outside.  You are fascinated by the movement and sound and you already have mom searching for a 'first' remote control car set (so fun!). 
- You love to be outside.  You are a nature boy.  Your favorite place to be right now is outside on the grass crawling around and eating dirt, leaves, grass and wood chips.  Mommy spends all her time at the park, trying to keep all of those things out of your mouth...and I am usually only 90% successful :-)  It's ok, a little dirt is good for you, ha. (check out a couple pics below)

 

Three Cedars Farm

It is fall, which of course means its time to take a trip to the apple orchard for some cider and donuts, a hayride, pumpkin picking and the petting farm!  This was the first time we have been to Three Cedar Farms, which is located in Northville, but I must say that it won't be the last.  The donuts and fresh cider were delicious and there is a great play area that you will love next year.  The best part of the day was that the pigs made you laugh!  The pigs were very very interested in you little man and you thought there grunts and oinks were so funny.  Can't wait for next fall when you can tell us what you think of the pigs and run around with the other kids.

Toothers!! (what mommy and daddy call your teeth)

Congrats little man on getting your first tooth on October 6th!  Followed by your second on October 9th!  While most babies are very un-happy and cause their parents to loose quite a bit of sleep I must say that you for the most part sailed through the pain of your first two teeth!!  You were a little bit fussy on Saturday but not enough to make me think you were getting a tooth and then pop! there it was on Sunday!  I also saw your second tooth when I got you from your bed on Wednesday morning. 

Mommy and daddy are sooo thankful that you have been a pro teether, knock-on-wood that this continues! 

As soon as I can get a picture of your toothers I'll post it!

love
mom

I love you

Dear William Charles and Jack Henry,

I have tried several times over the past several months to put into words the love I have for you and each time Nothing has been sufficient.  So while I am sure this post will never truly describe my love for you... Here it goes. 

Never in my life did I ever think I would love as deeply as I have for you.  My heart is overflowing, overflowing so much that it is all consuming almost in a painful way (I never understood when people said there is a fine line between love and pain until this love I have for you).  You are my absolute everything, and everything that stems from the love your daddy and I share but is infinitely more.  

 Your daddy definitely did his share of filling my heart...but you are a different love.  My love for you exists in every breath I take, every thought I have, every movement I make.  Being your mom is the greatest gift this life has given me and for the first time I feel my purpose in this world is to be your mom. 

I love you forever and my babies you will always be. 

Love, 

Your mom 

Happy 9 Months!

Hi little man!
This month has been a big one!  You started crawling!!! Yayy! You started crawling the first few days of September and in just a few days you went from a beginner to an expert!!  We were very taken back by how quickly you perfected it your crawling skills.  You have always been a happy baby but now that you can crawl you are even happier.  You are just so proud of yourself when you crawl to a toy and pick it up all by yourself or if mommy goes into the kitchen or bathroom and you come find me you get so excited you have a little happy squeal.  You are also pulling yourself to standing on everything and furniture surfing.  You love to stand, almost more than you love to walk, and we know that you are going to be walking as soon as you can. 

Your nanny and cousin Emmy went away to college this month so you started going to Mary Williamson's house while mommy works.  You seem to really enjoy hanging out with her and she just eats you right up! Mommy and daddy both are happy that you are at her house as you get 100% of her attention and it keeps you away from all the germs of daycare for a little bit longer. 

You are eating more and more food each and every day.  You are starting to become more independent and prefer to feed yourself cheerios, bread, rice chex and puffs over eating baby food some days.  You absolutely love all fruit and sweet foods and are not so sure about vegetables or meats.  You absolutely love pasta, we are pretty sure that is your favorite food so far.  Not surprising given your parents love of pasta. 

So far you don't have any teeth nor are you talking...but we feel like both things are right around the corner.  We can't wait until you say both mama and dada...you are starting to make gaga and baba sounds so hopefully it will be soon!

We had your 9-month dr. appt. and you weighed in at 17 pounds 4 ounces, 27 inches tall and your head circumference is 17.5 inches.  Dr. Becker (your pediatrician) couldn't be any happier with your development.  At this point you have no developmental delays as a result of being a preemie and you are on the full-term baby growth chart.  She also commented that you won the 'eye color lottery' because your eye color is so pretty and she commented on your toned physique :-P  Overall, she was very smitten with you, almost as much as we are!

Love you little man!
Mom and Dad