Daniel- 9 Months Old Already!

I can't believe Daniel is already 9 months old! Time is flying by so fast. Yesterday he had his 9 month check up and here are his stats:

Weight: 17lbs, 3 oz (5th percentile! At 6 months he was in th 18th so this is quite a drop)

Height: 27 3/4 inches (33rd percentile, down from 76th at his 6 month checkup)

Head circumference: 17 1/2 inches (26th percentile, right about where he has been)

Yes, we're a little worried about his weight. He has only gained about 1.5-2 pounds in the last 3 months and only grew a half inch taller. The doctor said it's fine as long as he doesn't fall off the chart. I'm trying to feed him a little bit more during the day since he has finally stopped waking up 4-5 times a night to eat!

Other than the weight thing, he is completely healthy and growing well! We're so glad!

I also talked to the doctor about Daniel's eye. He had a clogged tear duct when he was about 3 or 4 months old. Since then his eye has been watery and goopy quite a bit. It waters most days for no reason (he hasn't been crying or poking at it). I got a referral for a pediatric opthamologist to see him and was told that it might be weeks before we would get an appointment. Luckily, I called this morning and they had a cancellation for this afternoon so I was able to take him in right away. His tear duct narrows and what should be draining out his nose is the water and goopy stuff that keeps coming out his eye instead. If it doesn't clear up on its own by the time he's 14 months old or so then we'll have to get a tube put in. But I'm confident it will clear up. It's already better than it was a month ago.

Daniel has become quite the little crawler. He loves to move around and follows Benjamin and his mommy everywhere in the house. He is starting to pull himself up on the furniture and our legs and is a pro at standing up in his crib and wailing for someone to come get him.

He has finally started sleeping much better at night and usually only wakes up twice- once to eat and once to get a binky and a snuggle in before he falls back asleep. Jonathan is enjoying having his spot in our bed back (he chose to start sleeping in the toy room on the futon because Daniel was taking over his space in the bed.) I love having Jonathan back in our bed to snuggle with too :)

Daniel loves to eat "solids" We've been giving him all the vegetables (sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, carrots, etc) some meats (beef, chicken, and turkey) and he LOVES crackers and things that he can pick up and put in his mouth himself. He is getting formula from a bottle during the day now and is drinking it like a pro. He even holds the bottle by himself. Daniel gets mad when he sees other people eating something and he can't have it too!

And as always, Daniel is so happy and loves to laugh. Lately he has been getting the giggles every time we walk under the trees outside in the parking lot by our car. He looks up at the leaves blowing in the wind and the sunlight coming through and just giggles and giggles. What a great reminder to love the simple things in life we sometimes overlook. Other things he loves to laugh at are animals (especially dogs) and of course, Benjamin.

We love you Daniel!