9 Months!!!

Dear Colin,

Happy 9 Month Birthday.
These "I am" pictures are getting increasingly more difficult to take as you don't like to sit still anymore. Only a couple more months little one. I had wanted to carry these monthly letters to you past the 1 year mark but each month has been harder for me to write. How many times I can say the same thing? How many times can I write that time is flying by more quickly than I want it to? How many times can I write how much you've changed my life or how much I love that you are my son? I know it becomes redundant but as I reflect on each month, those are the first things that pop into my head. I can't begin to express with words how you have blessed my life. Daily your sweet face reminds me of how lucky I am to be your mom.
You have learned there is more to life than the floor and you can reach part of that life yourself. Last month, you realized you could pull yourself up on furniture. This month, you realized you could move around it. You need to pull yourself on everything and have no desire to play with any toys lately. You just want to stand, walk, sit down, pull yourself back up, walk, sit down. You get the idea :) You love to make laps in your crib and learned the terrible habit of biting the sides. Mommy tells you all the time "No biting Colin" and each time, you stop, pick your head up, look me in the eye, usually give me a sweet smile, and then chop back down. Daddy said maybe we should spray it with Bitter Apple Spray (http://www.bitterapple.com/) but Momma said no ... for now :) (Don't worry Mom, it could be worse. I could have put up the changing table picture!)

You grew 3 new teeth this month, Colin. Perhaps the worst thing about your teeth is that they decided to sprout at the same time. While I'm sure it wasn't all puppy dogs and rainbows for you, it wasn't the easiest time for Daddy and I either. It's not like you really need those extra teeth. You were doing just fine before. Why grow more teeth when all that does is create more things to clean? You already have armpits, earlobes, and fingernails that have to be cleaned, why add anything else? Take my advice: keep it simple. You'll thank me later.
Here is a quick run down of a few other things you've learned this month. You can wave 'buh bye' now. It started with just mimicking it when others did it. Now you can wave when you hear the words 'buh bye." You will play peak-a-boo yourself now. You will pull your blankie over your face and slowly pull it down. Your eyes twinkle with pride when I excitedly proclaim "PEAK-A-BOO." The best thing you learned this month was the art of kissing. And while at times, it's extremely wet and you use too much tongue, there is no sweeter feeling than when you grab my face with both hands, pull in close, and kiss my face. Colin, mom not hopes you continue this level of enthusiasm throughout your whole life but also for those big sloppy kisses minus the tongue.

With all my love,
Mommy