The Nines - 9 Months Old!

Today is the nineteenth day of the ninth month of the year and the babies are now nine months old. Continuing with this play on numbers, here are nine updates on the babies.

1. Hayden and Payson are now holding their bottles on their own for every single feeding. It can still be a struggle to get Payson to drink his milk though, because after the first few ounces he constantly tries to roll over onto his stomach to play. Madison likes to snooze during feeding, so she isn't interested in helping out yet.

2. Payson is moving into a seated position from his hands to his knees and vice versa. As a result, we had to drop his crib down, which made me a bit sad. I feel like another chapter of the babies' first year is coming to an end. The first time we found him sitting up in his crib he had tears streaming down his face because he couldn't figure out how to lay back down - even though he knows how.

3. Hayden continues to love every bite of food we offer her. Thankfully, she quickly outgrew her initial feeding habit of chomping repeatedly before her food arrived. We had to sneak the spoon in quickly when her mouth would open briefly. Payson also enjoys solids, but Madison still wants nothing to do with it - not even applesauce!

4. The babies had their 9 month development appointment (typical for preemies) and they are doing fantastically well. At the time, their adjusted age was 6 months and their actual age was 8.5 months. They tested at 7 to 8.5 months on everything! Anything between the two dates is satisfactory, so they are doing just great.

5. Okay, one fib, Payson actually only tested at 6 months on verbal development. He is squealing, laughing, screaming and blowing raspberries often, but not yet truly babbling like the girls are. When I expressed concern, the doctor reassured me, saying "I hate to sound stereotypical, but that Y chromosome does something to boys" and as a result they don't progress as quickly as girls do verbally. Oh great, so they don't want to talk now and they don't want to talk later!

6. All three babies are scooting, hopping and/or dragging themselves across the floor. Payson frequently pivots on his stomach to get where he wants to go. They all push up on all fours, then thrust themselves forward. They'll do this repeatedly until they can reach the object they want. And Madison also drags herself with her arms, similar to an army crawl.

7. Hayden is so ready to crawl that she spends half her playtime hollering as she rocks on all fours. The other half is spent on her back, holding a toy, doing leg lifts with her ankles crossed. She can do hundreds in a row and seriously must have abs of steel.

8. Keith continues to be daddy of the year and is still enjoying his job. Life has finally eased up a little, allowing him to join some friends in a basketball league. The babies adore their daddy and can't get enough of him!

9. I still love staying at home with the babies. They are pure entertainment and the thrill of getting happy squealing babies out of bed every morning and after naps truly never gets old.