9 months old, what?!

 We have had a busy yet relaxing month.  Mostly Emmett, Cyris and I have stayed home and played and kept house while Greg has gone to work and played with us in the evenings. Emmett gets in to everything these days.  

This box kept him entartained for quite sometime, a good peak boo box.

Our biggest adventure this month has been potty training!  I got the book Diaper Free before Three by Jill M. Lekovic.  It is such a great book.  The author is a pediatrician and a mom so she know what she is talking about.  We started June 30th and since then I have hardly changed any poopy diapers.  What I do is put him on the potty when he wakes up in the morning and he usually poops then and then through out the day if he looks like he is straining to go poo I put him on the potty.  Some people have told me that I am not potty training him, he is just training me but that is just silly.  The way I think about it is for the first couple of months of solid feeding we feed the baby with a spoon to teach them what it is and how to use it, we dress them for the year or two so they can learn how to do it themselves, and this is the same way I feel about potty training.  By teaching him so young I will avoid the resistance to the potty that crops up when you wait and potty train a 2 year old.  Another benefit to starting early is he will be done potty training sooner.  Studies have shown that it takes the same amount of time or less (depending on the resistance of your toddler to the toilet) to potty train a child when you start so young.  In countries besides America children are potty train by 18 to 24 months.  In America children are not potty training on average until 30 months or later.  As Dr. Lekovic states "Isn't it sad that we have 3 and 4 year old who can swing on swings, climb monkey bars, talk in full sentences and write their names but they cannot use the toilet". 

 Here is Cyris the spoiled dog.  When we first got Cyris the rule was he could not be on the couch.  Well not the couch is his and me and Greg sit on the floor. 

 Here he is, out 9 month old!! 

 Weight: 19 lbs 10oz (25th percentile)

Length: 27 inches (15the percentile)

Head: 17 inches (5th percentile)

He has tried honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon, yogurt,tomatoes (didn't like), cherries, spinach, strawberries, braised beef, chicken, cottage cheese all pureed.  3 days ago I gave him some finger foods.  He doens;t like them to be put in his mouth, he likes to do it himself.  Today he finally got it donw how to get the food in there.  He has had yogurt melts, sweet potato and banana puff cereal, and little pieces of pear.

Emmett crawls everywhere.  The best way to describe his crawling is the butterfly stroke on land.  He has also started pulling himself up on this and balancing on his knees.  

 

Cyris and Emmett have become buddies this past week.  Cyris will play so gently with Emmett and Emmett squeals whenever he sees Cyris.  Unfortunately Emmett would rather play with Cyris' toys than his own.

Emmett gets into everything!

Today we went to Mendon days.  It was a lot of fun.  When Greg sat down on the bench Cyris just jumped up next to him and laid down.  I am pretty sure Cyris does not know he is a dog.

 Emmett tried out his new bumbo.  He kept looking upside down and my mom and grandparents behind him.  He loves hanging upside down so this is an added bonus to the bumbo chair.

Emmett played on the play ground for the first time.  He was too busy watching all the other kids to bother looking at the camera.

He also got to play with a little bunny.  His bunny privileges were taken away when he got hold of the ear and picked it up.

 Our most exciting news is on Monday we are flying to DC!!  Greg has a job interview with the Defense Logistics Agency in Harrisburg PA.  We are going to spend a few days with my dad who is stationed at Andrews AFB, head to Harrisburg on Thursday for the interview, and then surprise my Grandma Koontz in Before PA and stay there until Saturday.  I am SO excited to go yet a little nervous for Emmett on the airplane.  Wish us luck, I will post about our trip when we get back!