Today Carter Lee turns 9 months old!!!
Look how big I am!
Showing off his new teeth!
Happy baby boy
It is so hard to believe that Carter has been with us the same amount of time that he spent growing inside of me! I am amazed at just how perfect God’s creation is. It is hard to even fathom how the Lord has everything perfectly planned out. The little guy that Carter has grown to be is an absolute angel from above. He is fun to be around, interactive, curious, laid-back, pensive, opinionated and just absolutely precious! I can’t imagine anyone else that I would rather be around all day, every day. Thank you, Jesus, for this baby boy. We praise you for he was fearfully and wonderfully made!
Our 9-month old this morning
A few highlights from this past month:
* Carter is now taking four 6 oz. bottles of formula each day about four hours apart (still 7am, 11am, 3pm & 7pm). He is holding his own bottle and can even do so one-handed! We have reduced the amount of formula in each feeding due to the increase in solid foods that he is eating. Speaking of…
* We are no longer mixing all foods with yogurt! Woohoo! Carter is eating 2-3 “meals” a day and is still somewhat of a picky eater. We added a few new foods this month - strawberries (mixed with apples), pineapple (hated, I think because of the texture), purple carrot (mixed with other fruits & veggies), pumpkin puree (mixed with cinnamon & a little vanilla or plain yogurt), broccoli (mixed with apples) – just to name a few. He has also begun eating puffs – sweet potato, blueberry and organic greens – and strawberry yogurt melts. This means that he is learning to “chew” which is so cute to watch. We have been modeling how to chew for him by opening & closing our mouths as we eat puffs in front of him. They are actually delicious!!! He has also learned to pick them up off his tray and actually get them into his mouth. He mastered this last weekend during our trip to Temple.
Eating puffs at Grams & Grandpa's house
A few foods that Carter LOVES: pumpkin puree; pears; prunes; applesauce (only if mixed with other foods); yogurt; cinnamon; apples & blueberries; apple cinnamon oatmeal; apples, carrots & mango; strawberries & apples; broccoli & apples; oatmeal; sweet potatoes (if mixed with other foods); blueberries, pears & purple carrot
A few foods that Carter Lee does NOT love: pineapple; avocado; peas; butternut squash; peaches; mangos; carrots; spinach, pears & peas
I guess he liked what I gave him this day!
Yummy food!
Using his sippy cup
He HATES pineapple...and yes, he was gagging :)
Eating pumpkin puree - one of his favorites, which is fitting for the season!
Close-up pumpkin & cinnamon face
LOVES the Plum Organics Blueberries, Pears & Purple Carrots
(who knew there was such a thing as a purple carrot!)
* Sleeping about 11-12 hours at night with a bedtime at 7:30-8pm and usually waking up around 7:00-7:30am. This has remained pretty constant and it is such a blessing to us!
* As far as naps go, the “usual” is a morning nap around 9-10am (2-3 hours after waking up) that lasts 45 minutes to 1.5 hours and an afternoon nap sometime between 1:00 & 3:00pm that lasts for 1 to 2 hours. Same goes with last month that Carter’s sleeping schedule is not always predictable :)
I think he looks like such a big boy in his plaid shirt!
Sitting in a big boy chair
Laughing at Daddy
Carter still loves to play with his feet
This month Carter:
* Is still trying to crawl…but honestly, I don’t think he is too interested. If he wants to go somewhere, he rolls around the room. He just doesn’t seem to “get” or really care much about crawling yet. He does get frustrated when he wants something and it is too far out of his reach, but he just whines and shakes his legs behind him when he is lying on his tummy. He can get on his hands & knees and “rock” back & forth, but when he tries to move, his legs fall out from underneath him. For now, I am enjoying the lack of mobility. I am sure he will figure it out one of these days :)
* Can sit up from lying down. He surprised me one afternoon during his nap when I saw him sitting up on the monitor! He usually only does this in his crib, but he can also do it when playing on the floor.
* Can stand up by himself if holding onto something else (side of the crib, piece of furniture, etc.). His balance is not great, so we tend to “spot” him so that we can catch him when he lets go and tips over. He can only hold on for a few seconds and then he gets tired and will start to lean on his chest.
Because of the two milestones above, we officially lowered Carter’s crib to the bottom level on October 23rd. It is different, but better safe than sorry. We didn’t want him to be even close to being able to get out on his own :)
* Has two teeth! The bottom right came in on 10/8/11 and the bottom left followed about one week later on 10/17/11. His two-toothed smile is just about the cutest thing I have ever seen! The teething period was not too bad this first time around, although I have heard that the top teeth are worse. He was focused more on having something in his mouth to chew on and was a little more fussy than normal. He also woke up a few times during the night right before they came through. Overall, we do not have much to complain about. Maybe some more will show up soon!
* Has developed his own sign language! Tyler noticed one day while feeding him that he does certain things when he wants something. For example, when he wants another bite, he moves or lifts his (usually right) hand. When he wants a sip of water, he makes a whining noise and when he is done eating, he pulls at his bib. It really is amazing and I am so glad that Tyler caught on. He has also started to sit up and bang his head on the side of his crib when he wants me to come in during his nap (usually when he poops before he falls asleep). I guess he knows if he cries that I will not come get him, but I don’t blame him for not wanting to sleep in a dirty diaper. Yuck!
* Started wearing shoes and LOVES them! The first time we tried shoes on at Target, he was literally laughing and squealing in the stroller. I think he thought it was a new game to play. He has only worn socks on his feet (or gone barefoot) for the most part, so this is a whole new world for him. It is a good thing since the cold weather is slowly arriving. Our two pairs of Pedi Peds are getting a lot of wear! I am glad that he does not fight me while putting shoes on because I do have a hard time getting his pants on both of his legs these days :)
Look at my cool shoes!
* Loves to play games! His favorite game is “chase” where one of us holds him and we chase after the other parent…or the other parent chases us around the house. It is so much fun and he laughs the entire time! Carter also loves Peek-A-Boo and will even play by himself with a burpcloth, our sheets or whatever else is nearby. He is also very ticklish!
* Learned to push the garage door button to open & close it when Daddy leaves in the morning for work. We usually have to help him apply pressure so that the door actually goes up and/or down, but he thinks it is so fun and then watches the door move.
* Discovered the Pampers box as a new favorite toy!
Watching Praise Baby in the Pampers box
* Is very vocal!!! His favorite (and only real) word is “dada” and he laughs & giggles at many more things now. During some of our games, he laughs more in anticipation than he does at the action or thing. I keep trying to get him to say “mama”, but he will just look at me with the sweetest eyes and say “dada, dada, dada”. One day!
* Continues to love bathtime and graduated to the blow-up ducky bathtub. With this move came a crazy amount of splashing! I usually have to dry my legs & feet off with a towel when bathtime is over and we often have to wipe quite a bit of water off the floor. This is such a joyful time! As much as he loves the actual bath, Carter’s favorite part might be the process of getting out of the bathtub, into his warm towel and in front of the mirror. His face lights up when he knows this is coming! He also discovered his “friend” in the mirror this month. They like to talk to each other, kiss and high five (as seen below)…
* Will try to copy things that we do - mostly noises & sounds, but I am trying to teach him to wave, clap his hands and play “So Big” & “Patty Cake”. He hasn’t quite gotten any of them yet, but we will keep working on it!
* Always loves Daddy time!
* Enjoys free play with his toys. A few favorites are his Poppin' Pals, stacking cups & rings, rattles, Sassy family picture books, Mommy’s sunglasses, remotes, Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Workbench, any type of ball and anything that makes a fun noise when it shakes!
* Continues to love his exersaucer
* Is still enjoying his Mother's Day Out program at Park Cities Baptist. Most of the time when I pick him up, he is asleep. He doesn't cry as much when I drop him off now because the people and the room are more familiar.
* Uncle Tanner babysat for the first time on October 16th so that we could have a Date Night to Seasons 52. Carter did great and we are so thankful for Tanner's generosity!
* Wears some 6-9 month, but mostly 9-12 or 12 month clothing and has graduated to 12 month pajamas (due to his length) and size 3 Pampers Cruisers
* Is still enjoying his Mother's Day Out program at Park Cities Baptist. Most of the time when I pick him up, he is asleep. He doesn't cry as much when I drop him off now because the people and the room are more familiar.
Sleeping baby after a fun day at school
Happy boy after being picked up!
Asleep again when I got there to pick him up!
* Uncle Tanner babysat for the first time on October 16th so that we could have a Date Night to Seasons 52. Carter did great and we are so thankful for Tanner's generosity!
Tyler in front of the fountains at The Shops at Legacy
* Wears some 6-9 month, but mostly 9-12 or 12 month clothing and has graduated to 12 month pajamas (due to his length) and size 3 Pampers Cruisers
Big Boy Pajamas
* Has had quite a few outings recently:
Hanging out with Stella (10/4/11)
1st Basketball game - TC Scrimmage (10/7/11)
Trip to Temple for Moon Daddy's knee surgery (10/8/11)
First football game - Highland Park vs. JJ Pearce (10/13/11)
Dinner with Greyson Bowman & Kendall Conklin (10/15/11)
Moms & Babies
Melissa & Kendall, MH & Carter, Katie & Greyson
Family walk around the neighborhood (10/18/11)
Trip to the Dallas Arboretum with our Square One playgroup (10/21/11)
Relaxing in the pumpkin patch (10/21/11)
Halloween Party & Magic Show at The Meridian
with Mimi, Lissy, Aunt Sally & Jenna (10/29/11)
Swinging with Buddy, Grams, Stanley & Jenna (10/30/11)
Cousin Love (10/30/11)
Bedtime Story with Grandpa (10/30/11)
Lunch at Lissy & Moon Daddy's house (10/31/11)
My 1st Halloween!!!
Lissy & Moon Daddy with Carter & Jenna Mae
Dr. Carter
Our doctor & our pirate girl
Getting ready to go Trick or Treat
Grams & Dr. Carter
These two kiddos have two sweet daddies!
Trick or Treating in Sally & Lee's neighborhood
Hugs with Aunt Sally
Monday nights with Uncle Tanner (11/2/11)
All bundled up for our evening jog (11/3/11)
I cannot say this enough – Daddy & I love you, Carter Lee Johnson. You are such a joy and delight to our lives, on the good days and the bad days. We hope you will forgive us for the mistakes we are making along the way, but we are so proud to be your parents! Happy 9 months!!!
Checking out his books
I want one of those!
Playing with Mr. Giraffe
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. - Psalm 139:13-15
