Freddie is 9 months old

I can hardly believe it but Freddie is 9 months old today! We were really good about taking his pic every month with these stickers...for the first 3 months. Then we went to Seattle for a month, came back, took awhile to get over the jet lag, moved into our new flat and couldn't find them (surprisingly) in the many "miscellaneous"-labeled boxes.

William finally found them the other day so I've decided to resurrect the monthly photo shoots. It really is a cute way to chronicle a baby's first year. Maybe with the next one we'll manage to do all 12 months. Ha!

Here are some of the pics from this morning. He loved trying to peel the sticker off his top.

Now- someone please remind me on March 5th to take the 10-month old pics!! OMG- is he going to be 10 months old? How can that be?!

"Mama"

Two months after he started saying it and I finally got it on video! Freddie started saying "Mama" when he was around 7 months old, then it switched to "Baba" for awhile and now it's back to "Mama." YAY! I still don't think he realizes that I'm his Mama but who cares! He still says it! :) I guess this means that, for now at least, I have a fourth choice of what to be called.

I have to admit, this has been one of the best moments so far since I've become a mom. It's so endearing to hear him say it and it just makes me think about the bond that we will forever have. It's emotional thinking about the days, weeks, months and years we have ahead of us. He's going to go to high school someday. Ah! To really pile on the cheese, I have to say I'm looking forward to every minute of it. :) (People with older kids- don't burst my bubble! If there are hard years to come I don't want to hear about it!!! ha)

Photo of the week- up EARLY

Ok...it's blurry but you get the point! This was this morning at 545am. Some little maniac decided to wake up bright and early!! I saw him doing a "crawling start" and then launching himself up the end of the crib to try to stand. Eventually I gave up on him going back to sleep and brought him in with us.

A lot of parents can get their kid(s) to sleep in their bed with them. We have not had success with this. And believe me- I am thrilled that Freddie sleeps in his own crib through the night without a peep usually. That being said, on the odd night that he wakes up with pain from his teeth or cause he has a cold, it would be great to have him lay down in between us and go back to sleep. So far when we have tried this he sees it as an opportunity to play and rolls around or climbs on top of us. Another favorite activity lately? Pulling my hair. Youch!