Dear Noah,

Tomorrow you will be 9 months old. Nine months!

Today, you stood by yourself for the first time. You were playing with your “workbench” and when you took the wrench out of the compartment, you stood and looked at it for about 5 seconds, not leaning or holding anything for support. My heart stopped. Then you got distracted by the green plastic screw that you seem to prefer for chewing, and the moment was over.

Most of the time, you crawl, and you’ve started to get the idea that it might be easier to go around things than to attempt over, or look at them and cry at their insurmoutability.

The best moment in my day is when I walk in the door after work and you crawl towards me with all the speed you have. You don’t stop 2 feet away anymore. Now you keep going and pull up on my pantlegs until you’re standing, looking at me like, “Hello? You aren’t picking me up yet! What’s the holdup here?”

You’re also starting to talk. Right now, we can only understand two of your words, Good and Uh-Oh (”Guh!” and “Ohhhhhh,” respectively). But you tell us much more than that. Your favorite sound seems to be “bah!” or, more accurately, “bah!bah!bah!bah!bah!bah!bah!” but when you get on a roll, your conversation is as varied as anyone else’s.

I’ve been (vaguely) trying to teach you some Baby Sign, starting with the modified version that K, J and their kids use for “nurse” — tapping yourself gently on the chest. What you seem to have learned is that when you want to nurse, you should hit me in the chest. I should probably read that Baby Signs book again.

You seem to enjoy carvings and bas-relief artwork — the decorative trim on your crib and dresser, and the monkey and lion on your light switch plate are especially popular.

Your eating habits are also evolving. You love to feed yourself, and look positively smug when you get a cheerio from the tray to your mouth.

I’m having trouble keeping up with you! Last week and earlier this week, I kept thinking of you as 8 months old, not ready for us to start introducing foods with wheat and other ingredients that can cause allergies if introduced before 9-12 months. Um. Right. That’s you now, buddy. When I remembered that, that’s when I broke out the cheerios and you could not be happier.

There’s a new teacher at your school, and every day this week, her reports have commented on what a happy guy you are, and how much you enjoy playing with the older babies.

Today, you fussed and got upset when I tried to put you down, until Hameed and his dad walked in the door. I asked if you wanted to go play with Hameed, then tried to sit you down again, and you were fine with it. ‘K mom, seeya later. Miss Maritza and Miss Elizabeth laughed.

Other activities you’re enjoying are: playing peekaboo, clapping, playing “Dame cinco!” (”gimme five!”), splashing in the bath, dancing, and putting smaller objects inside larger objects. Banging 2 objects together hasn’t lost it’s appeal either!

We love you so much, Noah. Don’t ever doubt it for a minute.

love,

Mamamamamamamamamamamamamama