Nine Months!

My little baby Bowen,

Happy nine months! This is an important one because now you've been on the outside just as long as you were on the inside. Longer, actually! You are so rapidly becoming such a little person and I sit in awe of your constant and daily changes.

We've had a very fun and exciting summer so far. You went to your first concert: The Tragically Hip, and loved every second of it! You stayed awake for most of the show and attentively watched the band onstage and the crowd around you. We finished our Music Together program, and while it took you a bit to aclimatize to the loud music, dancing, and instruments, by the end you were truly enjoying yourself - clapping, and bopping along to the music. You even began shaking your maracas, rather than just eating them! These days you love having music on and happily bounce along to your favourite songs.

Since most of our activities have wound down for the summer, we've been keeping busy by exploring this wonderful city we live in. One of our frequent activities is the aquarium. It's amazing to watch you seeing things for the very first time, baby. You get very serious, and just look, look, look. Sometimes you just look so incredibly serious and pensive, and I look forward to knowing what's going on in there. At the aquarium it seems like the sea lions are your favourite, followed closely by the sharks and jellyfish. We've also been taking long walks along the seawall, and it's remarkable how you refuse to sleep on these walks, even though you're comfortably in your stroller. Instead, you stare at the scenery, smile at passing strangers, and delight in the birds flying overhead. We've also been playing a lot in the yard, splashing in your pool, and learning to roll the ball back and forth.

The absolute hugest change in you this month has been: learning to crawl!!!! One day you were only slithering along, and now suddenly you're crawling from one side of the house to the other! It's absolutely incredible to watch. For some reason you have an intense fascination with Sandwiches' food; the moment you're put on the floor you race towards his bowl to sample his kibble and dump out his water dish. You are also very intent on pulling yourself up to standing, and love hanging on to the edge of the bed or couch, just looking around and beaming with pride. This newfound independence is making you want to do everything for yourself: hold your own bottle, feed yourself dinner, and take off your own diapers!

This month you seem to constantly be growing and changing. I feel like every time you wake up you've gotten taller, and you continue to be really long and lean - like a salmon! You love eating, but are defenitly leaning towards fruits and veggies over any type of carb or meat. Your favourites this month continue to be blueberries, and cucumbers along with mangoes, watermelon, and sometimes eggs.

You're full of love and energy when you wake up in the mornings, and lately have taken to playing "climb over mommy" as the ultimate feat. You start in the middle of the bed and endlessly attempt to jump over me onto the floor. Gymnastics on the bed in general are something that's become the fun-filled daily norm. I have so much to write this month because you're just doing, learning, and growing so much. It's beautiful and incredible to be a part of it with you.

Happy birthday, Bowen Naomi!

I love you forever,

-Your mom