Month 9

Dear Corbin,

You are nine months old today. Marc and Becky Chapman just had their little girl, Sofia, and it's hard to believe that you were ever that small and peaceful. You are so big and active now. You crawl fast, now, and you discover new noises to make all the time. Your consonant sounds are increasing. You say, "ra ra ra," or, "da da da," or, "ja ja ja," instead of just, "ah ah ah." I haven't heard a, "ma ma ma," yet, but that's okay for now.

You are in one of the stranger wariness stages that they talk about. You smile at people that you know, but if someone else tries to hold you or talk to you, you just stare at them or even cry. You don't seem to have that problem with most places, though. Your grandma Lam took you to the zoo the other day, and you seemed to enjoy it. (Although, to hear her talk about it, there's wasn't much to enjoy. I think this is one area where Minneapolis definitely loses out to Madison.) You also started swimming lessons three weeks ago, and you were definitely a little wary about that, but you also spent a day at a daycare near my office and you had a fun time there.

This month seemed to start and end with sickness. Grandpa Lam is still getting over his pneumonia, and I've had a terribly sore throat for the past week. You had a little fever a week ago, too, which was probably due to a little ear infection. I thought that we might see one of your teeth come in this month, but nope. You're still gumming the world to pieces.

You've become much better at eating finger foods. It's practically impossible to just feed you from a spoon anymore, because you demand to do something with your hands, and if it's not stuff Cheerios into your mouth, it's play Tug-of-Spoon with us. So the tray of your high chair is usually littered with Cheerios, Craisins, and little pieces of cheese, apple, banana, toast, pear, or whatever else we have in the house. And anytime your mouth isn't full of your latest fistful off your tray, we spoon in our latest pureed creation. We've got homemade chicken soup in the freezer for you next, and that might be the last puree for a while. Pity, because the blender's gotten more use in the past four months than it has in the past four years.

Next week is your first Thanksgiving! We'll be having Cornish Hens instead of turkey this year, and both sweet potato and pecan pie. At least, I hope I get some pie. I'll have to fight your grandpa Lam for the sweet potato and your father for the pecan, and they can get pretty fierce. Wish me luck.

Love,
Mom