Nine months old...where does the time go?

Griffin Wayne, you are nine months old!!  And like I say every month, I just can't believe it.  I feel like now that we've hit the nine month mark, the 75% of a year, the only three months left of formula mark...well, my baby is just growing up.  But - as sad as this makes me, I think I would be so much more sad if for some reason he wasn't growing!  What a blessing and miracle to have a happy and healthy baby boy.  Thank you, God!

This month he was extremely disinterested in smiling and posing for the camera, as you can probably tell:

This month, his stats at the doctor were:
21.2 pounds - between the 50th and 75th percentile
29.3 inches long - above the 75th percentile
head circumference - above the 75th percentile

Griffin has been going and going this month.  He began crawling right after he turned eight months.  He has a funny little crawl.  I think it's because he likes standing so much, but he pushes off of his right foot instead of his right knee.  The physical therapists in me is going crazy, but I'm trying to accept and love Griffin just the way he is.  Judging from the other glimpses of his personality we see, I think he does it on purpose - just to be a little different, a little out of the ordinary, a little bit in a hurry to get on his feet and walk!

Griffin LOVES to walk.  He grabs onto two trustworthy hands and takes off.  It's the cutest thing because he's a little wobbly, but his smile gets so big when someone will just walk with him.  I love it.

Speaking of being upright, Griffin is pulling to stand.  I think we lowered his crib right before he turned eight months old, but it's a good thing we did, because he is reaching and grabbing for anything that will help him get to his feet.  Toward the end of this month, he started getting the idea and the courage to try cruising, but I think I'll be able to officially say that he's mastered it next month. :)

Griffin still says Ba ba ba ba ba, but he's also started ma ma ma ma ma and a little bit of ga ga ga and ka ka every  now and then.  I love hearing him talk.  Most of the time he wakes up talking to himself or his Woody doll from Toy Story that is in his crib.  I like to just listen to him being happy and independent.

Griffin has become quite the eater!  We started trying some table foods this month.  He's eaten chicken spaghetti and regular spaghetti.  He LOVES it.  It's so funny to watch him try and work his not-so-coordinated hands to get those noodles his hyper-paranoid mother has chopped to choke-free standards into his ravenous mouth...Chris and I just watch and laugh... and usually end up helping him out some.  Griffin also LOVES cheddar cheese.  I used to just give him shredded cheese, but now I buy the slices and cut them into shreds that he can pick up more easily.  This has been magic.  He is very happy in his high chair with some cheese!

This month Griffin also went to camp!   He had his first airplane ride and it was a doosy...It turned out that he had double ear infections when he was on the plane, so he was in big time pain when his ears were trying to pop.  I felt so bad for him... I never would have put him on a plane if I knew he had ear infections!   Oh - first ear infections this month!  Ha - 10 days of a pink antibiotic and he was good as new.  The airplane ride back home - after the antibiotics - was great.  He was a little flirt and charmer.  It was pretty fun.  Also, when we got to camp, we had been without Chris for five days.  Before we saw him, I couldn't really tell Griffin was missing him, but once Griffin saw him, he was a Daddy's boy for the next two days!  It was so sweet.

Griffin and his mommy on Griffin's first airplane ride!

Out to eat with the Carrs and Cox's - Griffin's friend Ethan helped keep him happy.

Stroller King - at camp!

playing on the floor in the dorms at camp

Chris dropping us off at the airport on the way back home from camp.

Other "stuff" about Griffin this month:
- Mommy has started calling Griffin "Champ" - not sure why.  I also still use the ol' "Boogi" and "Baby" and "G" names...
- Griffin loves playing at his music table.  He also loves to play with balls and cars on the kitchen floor.
- Daddy childproofed the house this month!  A must!
- Griffin really likes to swim... his favorite is with his daddy.
- Griffin got to go stay at his Nana and Papas and had a great time with them!
- Griffin and Ollee are really getting along.  I think they are gonna be good pals.  It's really cute to see Griffin chase after Ollee.  The look out the window together sometimes, too.

- Griffin is slowly growing out of his 12 month stuff and moving more toward all 18 month.
- still in size 3 diapers and I think they are fitting pretty well
- I really love putting Griffin down for naps - most of the time. :)  He usually reaches for my face, nose, eyes, cheeks, chin and just plays until he falls asleep.  Sometimes he'll fall asleep laughing because I laugh when he's playing and he laughs back, eyes closed and all.  Precious memory for Griffin's momma.

- Griffin still love the Backyardigans - and he's starting to like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse a little bit, too.

And here are just more fun pictures:

You can always count on BooBoo for some sweet spoiling!

Loves to play in the kitchen!

Griffin really loves his cousin, Bonnie

C and G

playing with PaPa

and playing with Nana!

proud mommy moment - first oreos!

LOVE that smile...

and this one....

and this one.... :)

Griffin, I can't believe our first year with you is coming to a close - well, in three more months.  It makes me sad that this phase is ending, but it's so exciting to imagine what we have in store as the parents of Griffin Robey.  We love you so much!