9 months old

Lincoln is 9 months old today!  He has had a lot of "growing up" events in the last month from switching car seats to lowering the crib to moving to the big bathtub to officially crawling.  He's getting faster by the day.  Now he's also starting to pull up on things.  First it was to his knees, but in the last couple days it has been all the way to standing.  His favorite spots are the edge of the bathtub, his Fisher Price Incrediblock (see picture) and mommy.  I'm almost hoping this leads to walking sooner rather than later because the time period between crawling and walking is when you are most painfully aware of the condition of your floors.  After kids start walking you start caring a lot less again. ;o)

Of course, all this new found mobility leads to increased opportunities for falls, tumbles, bumps & bruises.  I have to keep a much closer eye on him, and he still usually ends up with at least one red spot on his face by bedtime. :o(

He still loves bath time--both his and Emily's.  When Emily is in the tub he loves to stand on the outside and take the toys she gives him and plop them back in the water.  Then they both giggle like crazy. :o)  Lincoln loves watching and reacting to everything Emily does.  They have another game where Emily comes to "check on" Lincoln when he has woken up.  Then she runs in and out of the room making him giggle in anticipation of her return.  Lincoln also "sings" along whenever Emily plays her recorder.  It reminds me of the Pied Piper.

Diaper changes and dressing have become even more of a challenge.  It definitely takes two hands and a forearm to hold him down, and I still usually have to flip him back over 3-4 times just to get the diaper on.  I even had to move the changing table to a different wall in his room because he kept pulling up on the window sill and tugging on the mini blinds.  I'm pretty sure the crib is eventually going to end up in the middle of the room since there are windows on three sides and not enough wall space where mini blinds aren't within easy reach.

Lincoln still does not have much time or patience for any spoon-fed baby food.  He pretty much just eats whatever we eat and gulps down whatever gets put on his highchair tray.  Some of his favorites are rotini noodles (love the new 3-minute "Quick Cook" version), french cut beans, steamed broccoli, any form of potato, chicken, hamburger, diced whole prunes, Kix, bananas and large curd cottage cheese.