Jack - 9 Months

 Oh Jack, what a month. We've all been a little down around here, mentally, physically, and emotionally. We have had a bunch more snow days, and I think we're all just ready for spring.

Weight: 17.2 lbs, based on our bathroom scales

Length: An Unofficial 28 inches

Hair: Thick, wavy, and brown

Clothing:  6-9 Month

Eyes: Brown.

Sleep: After getting on some antibiotics for a sinus infection, I thought we were doing better. Then you got a stomach bug. Now that that is clearing up, let's hope that full nights are right around the corner.

Nicknames: Stink Pot is probably the biggest one right now.

\Milestones: You're pulling up! Well, not completely...you prefer to pull on really low objects, so you usually end up in some weird half bent over position. You do a pretty good job pulling up on my fingers, though. You're still not crawling, but you do a great job of pushing yourself around on your butt. We have to watch out for what's near you; you're already good at finding trouble.

You're also waving bye bye and hello, inconsistently. Sunday morning when i brought you in our bedroom, you frantically waved good morning to your daddy, even though his back was to you and he was still in bed. You also like to wave at yourself in the mirror, which cracks me up. But heaven forbid someone try to prompt you to do...you give them sweetest shit eating grin and act shy. I'm tempted to say you got that from me...I don't always like to perform when asked-it has to be on my terms!

And teeth...oh the teeth. You know have 3 of your molars poking through. That's a grand total of 11 teeth. Dude, calm down. I promise, you'll get steak for your first birthday.

Jack-8 Months!

I’m sorry, Jack. You’re eight and a half months old, and I’m just getting around to your eight month post. It’s not that I don’t love you, or that life has gotten busy-it has-but that’s not my excuse. I hate my excuse. Hopefully, you’ll understand when you get older.

I haven’t felt like writing. Thinking about the day you turned eight months is a bit painful for me.

Back in the summer-on your first Fourth of July-we had a bomb dropped on us. Your Grandma Kathy was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It was a devastating shock to all of us-she was so healthy and took great care of herself. She spent about 6 weeks in the hospital last summer receiving treatment, and was very sick when she came home. She was allergic to the chemo, and there was no other treatment she could take. We were lucky, though, that the chemo helped the cancer subside for a while, and she had an awesome, healthy fall. She regained her strength, wore a fabulous wig, and took advantage of every opportunity she could.

In January, just after you turned 7 months, though, she started to get sicker and lost her strength. You and your father went up to see her several times while I took a class for recertification. She loved seeing you, and you loved being around her. You two went up to see her on Valentine’s Day-your official 8 month birthday-and she had gotten so sick, they had taken her to the hospital. Unfortunately, the cancer was too much for her body to take at that point, and she passed on early the next morning. My heart breaks every time I think of this. I loved her-she was a very special woman-and she loved you dearly. She loved being a grandmother to you. I think she was most upset about her prognosis because it meant having to leave you, knowing she wouldn’t see you grow into a young man.

http://www.bethmanningphotography.com/

So when I think of your 8 month birthday, I have trouble associating it with anything other than her passing. I didn’t even get a chance to take any pictures of you in your Valentine’s Day outfit. We took your 8 month pictures about a week late…and I’m writing this post 3 weeks late-getting it just in time to do your 9 month post. I’m sorry this account has been the most thorough, or enthusiastic, but I’m doing the best I can.

http://www.bethmanningphotography.com/

Weight: 16.5 lbs, based on our bathroom scales
Length: An Unofficial 26 inches
Hair: Lightening up, thick and wavy, now that you’ve had your first hair cut.

Clothing:  6-9 Month, all the way.
Eyes: Brown.
Sleep: Sucky. Between teething and a sinus infection, it’s been rough. I also think you have sensed that things have been difficult for your father and I.

Nicknames: Stinker is the biggest one, but you are frequently called Jackaroo, Jackie Doodle, and Jack Attack, to. 

Your first Super Bowl. Sorry, kid, your Steelers didn't make it.

Milestones: You saw your first snow! We bundled you up so much you could barely move...and sat you on a trash bag to keep you dry. Needless to say,  you weren't too impressed.

You're still doing well with food. You eat just about everything we put in front of you-and get angry if we don't offer you what we're eating.

You got your first hair cut at one day at 8 months, 1 day! You are a pro at spinning around on your bottom, and you love food. You have a fit if we are eating something and you don’t have some as well.

You love to get up on your hands and knees and rock, but you’re not crawling yet. Sometimes, I think you’re so interested in walking, you’re going to skip crawling completely!

I have been thankful that we had a ridiculous amount of snow days, so we've spent a lot of time together. You're new favorite game has been pulling things out of baskets and boxes-it's cute when it's your toys, but frustrating when it's laundry.