Luke 9 Mo Pics

We Have A Biter!

Luke is a biter. He's been biting since he started getting his first top tooth, about a month ago Id guess. He's currently on the verge of getting his other top tooth, so I'm aware he's likely working out some pain.

However, it hurts!

I remember a long time ago you are are supposed to fake cry / tell baby "it hurts" (versus yelling, punishing, spanking, or whatever). The idea is that a baby is very perceptive to emotion, especially parent emotion, and they don't want us to be sad.

I tried tactic with one of the kids. I'm not sure which one, but I'm guessing looking back on the blog would tell. Whichever kiddo it was, they laughed. When I "cried" they laughed. Not very effective of a method.

I've been using it with Luke though. I say "ow! That hurts Mommy!" and make a sad face. He cries. A horrible, sad cry. Then I end up feeling bad :( So I get bit, then I'm the one feeling guilty. This method still doesn't seem to be effective. Hope this biting stage passes quickly!

Luke is 9 Months

Weight: 22 lb 10 oz (91%)
Height: 30 inches (97%)

According to What to Expect the First Year, at 9 months Luke..

should be able to

• work to get a toy that's out of reach X
• look for dropped object X

will probably be able to

• pull up to a standing position from sitting
• creep or crawl 
• get into a sitting position from stomach 
• object if you try to take a toy away I think he can, but he rarely object to anything!
• stand holding on to someone or something X
• pick up tiny object with any part of thumb and finger X
• say "mama" or "dada", indiscriminanately X
• play peekaboo X

may possibly be able to

• play patty-cake (clap hands) or wave bye-bye Clap, Wave, Wink, Blow Kisses
  
• walk holding on to furniture (cruise)
• understand "no" (but not always obey it) X I think so, he cries when I tell him not to bite me ;)

may even be able to

• "play ball" (roll ball back to you)
• drink from a cup independently X
• pick up a tiny object neatly with tips of thumb and forefinger X
• stand alone momentarily
• stand alone well
• say "dada" or "mama" discriminately
• say one word other than "mama" or "dada"
• respond to a one-step command with gestures ("Give that to me," said with hand out)
X means Luke can do this at 9 months

Sunday She Said / He Said

Mom to Ryan: Goodnight Boss!
Ryan: Goodnight crazy head!

New Year, New Tricks

The past few days we are pretty sure Luke is saying "DaDa." He's also waving, giving sloppy open-mouth kisses, clapping, blowing kisses, and playing a lot of repeating and mimicking games with his big brother and sister. He seems to be getting (slightly) more food in his mouth than on the floor. However, he doesn't appear to be any closer to crawling (he prefers to be carried around!) or getting a decent nights sleep.

Luke has really only had one or two solid nights of sleep his whole life ... And they were when he was just under 4 months. Since then he's gone through a variety of stages. The biggest issues appear to be 1) his refusal to look for his pacifier, instead crying until someone else does it and 2) his desire to sleep with mommy and/or daddy ... Either in their arms I in their bed. As very tired parents we decided we need to change things up ! He's now officially down to two naps, and we stopped feeding / rocking him to sleep at night. It seems to be working as he's slept longer and had less night tantrums, but we've still got a ways to go. One thing we cannot break is his desire to have company when he sleeps. If he wakes, he does not want to go back to sleep alone.

Tonight we took a bedtime drive home from Michigan. This is a pretty common thing for us, and all the kids normally sleep through the drive and easily transfer when we get home. Tonight, Luke woke in the garage and decided to blow spit bubbles and babble ... At 11PM! Just a sign of the fun to come with his always surprising sleep habits ;)