"Happy 9 months Elijah Brooks"!

My sweet Elijah Brooks is now 9 months old!  He is crawling all over the place now and is "cruising" along the couch holding on with only 1 hand.  He has such strong legs!  He received a fantastic report at the doctor this week.  He is a whopping 22 lbs and 30 inches tall...., which puts him in the 99% for his height!  Praise the Lord for a strong, healthy boy. 

He is still drinking breastmilk (although I have pretty much had to stop nursing because of my hand situation.., the pump and I have become very good friends)!   He has come a long way in his eating of solid foods too.  I haven't found a fruit that he doesn't like and he is really starting to do so well eating his vegetables.  He didn't like green peas last month, but now that he can pick them up himself (Mr. Independent), he has decided that he likes them!  He loves cheese toast and yogurt too.  According to his blood work this week, he is slightly anemic, but nothing that a vitamin supplement won't take care of.   He has 2 bottom teeth and has 4 top teeth coming in at one time!  All 4 across the top have decided to emerge at once.  I guess it's better to just get it over with at one time.  He has actually turned into a very good sleeper, despite the rough months at the beginning.  He takes 2 good naps a day and is sleeping 10-12 hours a night consistently.   He continues to love music and people..., loves, loves, loves people!   He has not experienced separation anxiety...., yet!  I am told that it will come, but so far, he has never met a stranger.  His personality really has not changed that much...., he is still a very happy and laid back little boy.  He is starting to show when he is frustrated though...., he will clinch his fists together and shake them when he is mad!  He makes the funniest noise too..., I can't explain it, but Jay and I just die laughing when he does it.  He LOVES his mommy and daddy, which just melts our hearts.  He is starting to cuddle and nestle up under our chins when he is tired.  I could sit with him like that for days.  Sometimes he wants to be rocked, but other times he very much just wants to be put in his bed.  He is getting so easy to read now, which helps so much.   I am sure part of that is just his age, and part of it is that we just know him so much better.  He is not demanding of our attention...., he sits and plays so well by himself.  Jay's mom told me that Jay was the same way.  We love to sit and play with him obviously, but I am thankful that he is content not being stimulated all of the time.  

As always, I could write for days about him.  He is the love of our lives and we thank God for our most treasured blessing every day.