Dear Shep,

You’re nine months and making up for lost time every minute of it. I’m glad this post is almost a week late, because since then you have mastered every skill you’ve worked so hard on these past few weeks. You’re crawling! You are a pro at going from crawling position back to sitting, and you are bonking that head a lot less often now that you figured out how to use your little arms as the tripods they were made to be! Everything goes straight to your mouth, so dad and I had to ask Honey and Papa Bear for a vacuum for Christmas (thanks for that by the way). You are still picky as ever with your foods, and now have tasted the goodness that is a cheddar biscuit from Jim N Nicks along with orange rolls, scrambled eggs, Chick Fil A chicken (your absolute favorite), and cheese. You are down to two naps a day and after the double ear infection and surgery, you insisted on keeping your random 4:30am feeding just so that you could have some extra time with Daddy and the bottle. We will be 100% okay with you sleeping through the night again whenever you’re ready. No rush (this is sarcasm….need vocab word for the month).

Other than crawling, you had your first popsicle this month (organic strawberry – yum), your first words (Go, Dada, and Bye Bye), & started spending time chasing balls in your pack n play which lets me get about 5 minutes of free time to do those crazy mommy things like brush my teeth or take a sip of cold 2 hour old coffee. Because Thanksgiving is up ahead, you put on a killer performance at the Mother’s Day Out program and thanks to Mrs. Jessica, you didn’t miss a beat. Dressed as a little leaf “Falling For Jesus” you had me being “that mom” with my huge camera standing up and walking down the aisle just to snap a photo of you looking so stinking cute that a little tear may or may not have fallen. Seriously, you were the cutest one up there. It’s true!

You are loving the songs “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Patty Cake” & have officially let Daddy and me down by refusing to sit through The Very Hungry Caterpillar movie each night at 5:30. You will still watch if one of us holds you and lets you climb all over us, but let’s face it, that’s defeating the purpose of our 15 minutes of running around the house picking up a day’s play. You laugh at Aspyn when she plays rough with Daddy and you adore being chased by me up and down the hallway while Daddy holds you over his shoulder. Some dislikes are itchy leaves, meat, getting dressed, car rides, & anything that requires buckling in. A few favorites are apple everything, your sling, bath time with Daddy, & being outside. You spent the entire day yesterday with him outside and managed to help get some yard work done in preparation for Christmas decorations. From the stories I heard after getting home from work, it sounds like you both had the best boys’ day ever!

Thank you for such a fun month! It started off with you being about as cranky as you ever have been, and ended with you being full of more joy than I knew possible. Now that you’re able to take your cute little booty where your brain wants it to go, I’m thinking you are starting to enjoy this thing called life a bit more. I’m so happy that I get to be there for each first and new adventure. I am soaking up each and every snuggle & kissing you every chance I get. Life just isn’t as fun without you in it & I’m so thankful this season to have you here with us.

I love you Monkey,

Mommy Xx