Tomorrow, Matthew turns 9 months old...
9 months and he still our Little Baby Moo.
Even if I could have written the formula for a child like Matthew, (2 parts sweetness, 2 part smiles, 2 parts chubby-kissable everything) I don't think I could have imagined it would be possible to create a baby as sweet as Matthew.
He's everybody's little love, and the target of many kisses, raspberries, and cuddles, because he takes it so well.
Matthew, is really growing both quickly and also staying like a "baby" all at the same time. His personality is really shining through, as both very sweet and compliant, but also determined and not interested in being anybody's doormat. If there's a toy he wants that is taken away from him (who would take it away, I dont know :)...) he'll make a statement and go after it to get it back...and if Matthew wants to be laying down and you have him sitting on your lap, he won't be shy about just launching backwards until you put him down.
But maybe it's his roly-poly physique, or the fact that he still doesn't crawl but just sort of swims/sidewinds/inch-worms...oh forget it, I can't possibly describe how he "crawls"...it involves his whole body, head, tippy-toes, sides..it is a sight to behold...anyways, Matthew is still just our little baby and it's the strangest thing to imagine he'll be walking around someday, maybe even by year's end (nah, this kid is kind of a late bloomer in the motor skill department, I'm predicting January!)
Matthew loves to read books.
If you open a book and read it to him, he'll shriek at every page like it's the greatest thing.
He loves big-boy toys, like cars, and even bigger-boy toys like phones if he can get his hands on them.
He loves cords...a big no-no in our home, but he still finds them and makes a stink when I don't let him have it.
He loves his brother, and will laugh the hardest at him, but also is captivated by his dad. Whenever Michael Sr. is nearby, Matthew will lunge to get at him, even if it's just to have his hand on his arm. So sweet.
Matthew is a good eater and really only turns his nose up to food when I get too repetitive, like too much oatmeal too often. He definitely doesn't have a picky palate yet and will often eat what the family eats (pasta, taco meat, etc). He isn't really picking up food though, so maybe that stacks the deck as it is much easier to just not bother picking up food than try to refuse the spoonful that is coming your way.
Matthew's sleeping is excellent. He is a slightly early riser (usually around 6:30, but Michael was like that at this age too), but a great napper and easy to get to sleep and stay asleep. And he's as sweet as can be when he wakes up from a nap every single time.
So, at the 3/4 of a year mark, we continue to be overwhelmed with our little Matthew. We never knew what our family was missing before he got here, but the joy, love, smiles, and sweetness he fills our life with is beyond words. In fact, the spunky nature of his brother is without a doubt tempered by his sweet nature. Matthew inspires abundant kisses from Michael, and I think really keeps him grounded in a loving state-of-mind, even when he is frustrated.
What a blessing!
