Noah - 10 months!

It honestly feels like I wrote this post (Noah's birth story) just a few weeks ago. It's unbelievable that I'm already planning his 1st Birthday Party. Unbelievable. But what a fun 10 months it has been.

I say it every month - Noah is a great baby. A seriously cool little dude that melts my heart and makes me laugh at the same time. 

At the beginning of his 9th month, Noah said his first word....UP! For a couple of weeks he would throw his hands in the air and bounce when I came around. "Up?" I'd ask. After a few days of this Mr. G and I were in the living room and I heard Noah blabbing something but I wasn't really listening. Mr. G, however, was staring at him in disbelief. I looked over and Noah had his hands in the air and was saying "Up. Up. Up. Up." 

Now when he wakes up he stands in his crib and repeats "up" until I go in to get him. Mr. G and I are guilty of watching him in the video monitor saying "up" over and over. It's just so darn adorable. 

He loves being tickled and being chased - or with daddy's help, being the chaser. The "monster" as his big sissy calls him. And he drums on everything that will allow his little hands to make noise. Over-turned buckets, boxes, tables, you name it.

Noah also started dancing (bouncing up and down) to music. He'll stop whatever he's doing when he hears a tune and starts to dance. Brother has some sweet moves.

Interestingly during his 9th month Noah started feeding himself with only his left hand - which makes Mr. G go all "Hallelujah, praise Jesus!" Apparently lefty's are water polo gold and daddy can't wait to get that boy in the pool.

When Noah started pulling himself up on furniture when he was 8 months old I was scared that he might be a 9 month old walker. I wasn't ready to chase after a walker just yet. Luckily it didn't happen last month but he is walking using his push car. He strolls around the house pushing that sucker.

Here's a little clip of him walking. It's not his best effort because the cousins and sister were distracting him, but I wanted to share it because he also hears music on TV (Charlie Brown Christmas) and starts to dance a little.

(And of course after I wrote that he doesn't touch the decorations, 

he grabs onto the reindeer for the first time)

He still nurses 5-6 times a day and eats 3 meals and 2 snacks. He hasn't refused anything that I've given him to eat but he enjoys feeding himself.

And sleeping is getting so much better. I was just about to lose my mind waking up and feeding him in the middle of the night. Last month he started sleeping until about 5am but he is currently battling his 3rd ear infection and 1st major cold and is absolutely miserable. His temperature has been over 100.0 for 3 days straight and because he can't breathe through his nose he only sleeps in 15 minute spurts every now and then. Last night Mr. G and I played the "your turn to drive him around the block" game. No fun. I hate when my babies are sick.
He (normally) still naps 2-3 times a day. He needs three but doesn't always get that last one because we are busy in the evenings with small group, water polo games, ballet, etc.

Oh yes, and he puts everything he gets his hands on in his mouth. Noelle never combed the carpet for small objects to swallow (although there was the barrett incident). If Noah can potentially choke on it, he'll stuff it in his mouth. So I vacuum every day before nap time and constantly sweep his mouth if he looks like he's trying to chew on something.

Noah,
You're such a little love. I truly adore everything about you. I can't wait to see what new things you learn this month. I'm thrilled beyond words that you are my son.
I love you,
Mommy