Just popping in to say hello! I am due for our 9 month update and struggling to find time to write it. So I’m going to have to make this one much more brief than usual, but I guess it’s better than nothing!
Baby talk:
Baby talk is in full force. She says dada, mama, yaya, nana, baba, etc. on the regular. It’s super cute! She calls Eric, me, Sketchie all dada right now…haha…but occasionally she’ll say mama when looking at me (or when crying)!
She loves to scream at the top of her lungs when she’s tired. I call it a protest cry! It sounds like AHHHHHHHHHH, AHHHHH, AHHHH.
When she’s happy after a good sleep, she “sing-songs” her baby talk (see this video). Melts my heart every single time. I said to Eric it’ll be so sad when she doesn’t talk like this anymore! It’s such a cute stage. I’m glad we caught it on video.
She still loves to growl. She growls when she’s being a “stinker” and wants to play or be silly.
We just never know what sound is going to come out of her mouth! She is quite vocal!
She still likes making “poooooof” noises by blowing air through her lips.
Her personality is emerging more and more these days. She is very active, always wants to be moving, and dislikes being held more and more. She stopped going in carriers and wraps months ago because she just squirms and wants out. She is happiest when she is on the move and playing. Loves going out and seeing people so we try to do that lots! We’re also joining a baby activity class soon. She is also very curious, observant, playful, and easy going (with a fierce stubborn streak). When she wants something, she wants something. Sounds just like her mama!
Waving:
She LOVES to wave. At us, the cat, strangers. It’s maybe the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!!! Melts my heart.
Sleep:
She has slept through the night about 4-5 times over the past 9 months (but who’s counting?? haha…ME!). However, she is only waking up to feed once a night now. It could be worse, but I’m ready to start sleeping again. I often struggle to get back to sleep after the overnight feed so I can be up over an hour before I’m finally back to sleep. My mind is on my work usually, so I need to find a way to turn off. I feel pretty burned out lately.
Before 8 months hit, Adriana used to go down to bed quite easily. The past couple months putting her down at night has been a struggle. She will often fuss or cry and refuse to go to sleep. Sometimes it’s a good 1-2 hours before she is finally asleep. She seems to be going through big developmental leaps right now so I’m sure those don’t help. We have never sleep trained and I hope things improve naturally.
Still taking 2 naps a day. Lately she has been refusing naps once in a while which she never did before. It’s still hard to read her sometimes. Is she sleepy or not? Overtired or not tired enough to nap? I would’ve thought we’d have it down by now, but every week it changes! We take it day by day. When she does nap they tend to be 1 hour each. Once in a while we’ll get 2 hours out of her, but 1 hour is the norm.
Breastfeeding:
I’m still nursing on demand. I think she went through a growth spurt a few weeks ago and she was eating every hour or so. Very tiring on both of us!
Teeth:
No teeth yet. I can’t believe it. I think we have finally given up saying, “I think she is going to cut her first tooth any day now.” Maybe she will be one of those late bloomers that cuts a bunch of teeth at 11 months?
Food:
Solids have been very challenging. We are doing a mix of purees and baby led weaning. (I don’t think you have to choose between one or the other). She doesn’t seem to be super interested in eating yet though…it kind of breaks our heart because we put so much time and effort into making homemade purees and steaming finger foods, and most of it is thrown out or spit out.
We’re still working on the sippy cup. She loves to blow into it (to make a loud bubbling noise and then all the water shoots out) instead of sucking the water out. She is such a stinker, I tell you!!! I think she gets a real kick out of it.
We gave up on bottles. It just wasn’t happening after trying for 7+ months consistently. That’s why we moved on to the sippy cup. I’m hoping she will take to the sippy cup soon. I honestly can’t believe I have been exclusively breastfeeding for 9 months now! We have her 9 month check up next week and I’m going to talk to the doctor to see if she has any tips.
On the move:
As I mentioned in the 8 month update, she is crawling. She’s quite fast now and we have to watch her like a hawk! She’s into everythaaaaang!!! We did some baby-proofing last month, but there will be more to come.
Celebrations:
I mentioned in a blog post that we celebrated my grandparents 50th anniversary last month. Over 100 guests came out…it was like a wedding! So awesome. It was such a great day. Anyway, at the end we had a huge family photo. Adriana was already over-tired and needing a nap badly, so she yelled AHHHHHHHHH AHHHHH through the entire photos. We got some pretty hilarious photos of my mom and I trying to soothe her (while avoiding a hot flash, no doubt). These are the photos you look back on and howl!
Father’s Day was also awesome! I treated Eric to a huge pancake breakfast, and Adriana got him some nice sentimental gifts.
Well that’s all for now. My sister and her family are visiting the next couple weeks so we’re looking forward to having them here with Adriana! I’m feeling quite burned out with my recipe development for the second cookbook (I’m about 90% done…the last bit is always the most difficult), so I think it’s just the mini break I need.
Hope you are enjoying the start of summer! More soon.
My son didn’t like the sippy cup but loved using a straw cup at about 10.5 or 11 months… you’ll be able to try that soon, she might like a straw. :)
Yes a sippy cup with a straw is much easier. Babies can use a straw early as they learn the sucking motion no problem. I nursed my son 1 year, he never took a bottle either, and was able to use cups with a straw quite young. Good luck with this and the book can’t wait to get a copy! :)
I taught my bottle-averse babies to drink from a straw too by squeezing a juice box. The juice squirting into their mouths would make them start sucking on the straw. Then I could use straw sippy cups.
Make that food but freeze some of it! She may love it in a month!
Love the updates and so happy you all are doing well. I have a recipe request for your new cookbook….
Could you include a recipe for a Carrot Cake and maybe a German Chocolate Cake as well? Those are our family’s favorite cakes and I would love a good veganized version of both but especially the carrot cake.
Hang in their mama! I know it can be rough! Thanks for taking the time to share an update. My two cents regarding solids – do not fret. I had (what I thought was) the worst time with my first baby. He wasn’t interested, I hated wasting food, worried he had a serious “texture issue” (laughable now), probably gave myself a ton of gray hair. With my second baby, now 10 mths, he is just now starting to show more interest. I decided to take it easy and go more slowly this time and REALLY remember that Under One, Just For Fun. There is plenty of time after age 1 for texture and flavor. I did really easy stuff like boil sweet potato wedges and broccoli, peel and roast zucchini wedges. That’s about it. If it’s gonna get thrown out, don’t bother with all kinds of awesome stuff that takes more work to prepare. Some sips of smoothie, tiny amounts of baby oatmeal. She will come around, and then you can put more thought into what to feed and have more fun with it.
I let the food stress me out as much as the sleep which was just silly looking back. The sleep is the REAL struggle. No tips on that. I SUCK at baby sleep :(
Angela,
I’m writing this becasue I feel for you and your situation. I am much older, close to 50, and have been through the baby stage a while ago. I’m old school and chose a scheduling method that had room in it, wasn’t rigid, versus demand which was just starting to get popular when my kids were babies. It really helped me and both my kids slept through the night at 8 – 10 weeks and my sister’s kids were the same. They followed what I did. It’s not too late, I would focus on food versus breast feeding at this point. She will sleep longer with solid food in her tummy and she will then be happier. My kids definitely slept less when they got overtired and when they refused to go down for naps was usually when they needed one the most. Have you read the book Happy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child? It’s scheduling to an extent (not like Babywise) but leaves room for the fact that each child is different. That book was my go-to during my first child’s baby years. Another problem with them not eating as they approach a year old is that they start to get very particular about what they will eat and that tends to stick with them until they are older. It becomes a texture thing. I highly recommend that you try to stick to the food and don;t let her just fill up on milk. I know it’s frustrating but with all parenting issues (as you will later learn) sticking it out and being persistent pays off in the end. Nip it early, in other words. Put her down early if she is getting crabby, my kids went down at around 5 – 5:30pm, my husband and I could have a nice dinner together and they would typically sleep till 5-5:530 the next morning. I am an early riser, so it didn’t matter to me. If that is not for you, put her to bed a little later, but typically the later they stay up, the harder it is to get them to sleep because they get overtired. And let her fuss in her crib, it’s good for them to be ok with being alone in their bed, otherwise they will end up in your bed later and you and your husband will have no time together. Maybe you already do some of these things, so just ignore me if you do (I haven’t read all your posts), just wanted to pass down some advice, hope that was ok with you.
I have no children or even a husband for that matter, but hang in there Angela. Everything comes around in due time. I know you’re exhausted, but I think it’s kinda cool Adrianna seems to be doing her own thang! She sounds like a fun and independent and awesome little girl. Just remember she’s the exact child you’re suppose to have. Good luck with your upcoming family visits and the cookbook!
Here I am, nursing. One week before nine months and still not eating foods. She sleeps next to me and refuses, no matter how tired, to sleep in her own bed. The upside is that my little one is my fifth and I am ok with this. Each of my children have grown into sweeties that eat healthy foods, eventually sleep on their own, and love life. Enjoy every moment. Then have more.
Have you tried infusing essential oils like lavender to relax her at bedtime?
Our babies are the same age, haha. There is some crazy sleep challenges since my daughter hit 8 months and started crawling, etc. I think this past week was the worst. She’ll still reluctantly tolerate carriers and wraps thankfully. Sometimes the only way we can get her to sleep is bouncing in the carrier.
I don’t know if you will see this but get a sippy cup with a straw. My daughter refuses bottles but she’s loving the weighted straw cup we bought her.
Anyway, it’s so tough just waiting it out and letting them learn. Don’t be discouraged, we usually just give her a bit of what we’re eating.
best wishes!
Hi Angela! My 8-1/2-month-old LOVES her Zoli drinking cup with the weighted straw! (https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/baby/gifts/bot-sippy-cup-pink-6oz/896368002233-item.html?ikwsec=Baby&ikwidx=3) Maybe Adrianna would like it too?
Thanks for your openness about all things related to bringing a baby into your world! It’s been great to read about someone else’s experiences!
Best wishes,
Tammy
I absolutely love these updates of yours! I have a baby boy who is 10 months and I can relate to so much of what you are going through. He seems to have a very similar personality to Adriana: “very curious, observant, playful, and easy going (with a fierce stubborn streak)”. I can also relate to the food issues you’ve had… my boy wouldn’t eat pureed food until about a week ago. It was like a switch went off and now he loves it. I’ve also been trying solid finger-food and he chews and spits most of it out just like your daughter (even with his four teeth). Props to you for continuing to breastfeed…I am too. I love it at times but have moments where I can’t wait for it to be over. Thank you for sharing these updates! Take care :)
My baby girl just turned 10 months old and after exclusively breastfeeding for 9 months, feeding on demand and not being interested in baby food, my DR suggested giving her solids – I started with brown rice puffs and avocado and now she’s eating small pieces of whatever we’re eating – toast, chickpeas, peas, rice, pasta, etc. She now is just starting to have pureed food that she feeds herself with reusable squishy bags (I bought sqooshie brand, but there are tons out there!).
I love reading your baby updates, keep sharing!
Hi Angela,
I just found your website but I think I am following you in instagram. Thank you very much for posting recipes and about your baby. I am transitioning to become a vegetarian and I have a nine month old baby as well. I hope you can share some of your recipes for your baby as I am struggling with what to feed her. Best Wishes!
P.S. How can I order your book? I am from thePhilippines.
Hi Barby,
Thank you so much. Your best bet is to try Amazon.com, as I believe they ship world wide.
If it helps – here’s something that I feel worked with our kids when they were babies. We always served them the same food exactly the way it is served for everyone else in the house; also at the same time on the same table (we did adjust the taste and spice and the food itself to suit the babies’). You can only imagine – the table and the floor around them was way beyond just messy. But they watched us and wanted to imitate and enjoyed their meals and we thoroughly enjoyed watching them making all those messes. In between, we fed them too. The whole face, hair, hands… all covered with whatever they were ‘eating’. But they never were fussy instead always were excited about eating and even today, they say, dinner time when everyone is together at the table is their most favorite time of all!
Unsolicited advice warning- feel free to skip!
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child is tried and true for our family so far- I have the kindle version. Basically- more sleep begets more sleep. Not sleep training per say but tips to do to get her to sleep better. You might get her to drop that middle of the night feed but I suspect she may be hanging onto it because you’re breastfeeding and she isn’t eating much in the way of solids yet.
I would try not to worry about the solids so much. Eating food in the first year is more about learning how to eat than nutrition.
My mother said I went straight from the boob to the sippy cup at like 7-8 months- apparently I hated the bottle too!
Agree with the straw idea. But also instead of trying to give her smoothies and things, start out with a little apple juice. Breast milk isn’t thick and it’s sweeter than formulas. So to get my daughter weaned I started with plain apple juice in a bottle and then gradually added a little formula at a time to get her used to the taste. You could start her off with a cup (straw is a good idea) and just put some apple juice in it. Then try a different juice. Just once a day and then gradually add different things – probably I’d try fruits first or other sweet things to get her used to the new flavors. Then you can gradually add other things mixed in with the fruit and/or juice. Maybe grind up some oatmeal and mix it with the fruit juice – like a baby food muesli but finely ground and just a bit at a time and then gradually add more and more so it starts out very thin like the juice and then gradually add more so it gets a little thicker as she gets used to it – need to do it gradually so she doesn’t balk at the strange new flavors and textures. Make it enjoyable and sweet to start so she looks forward to her glass of juice every day. Then try adding more fun things a bit at a time. Try carrot apple juice or some other sweet juices and then gradually mix in other things. The solid food will help her sleep – she is hungry and ready for something heavier in her stomach that’s why she’s having trouble staying asleep.
I’m 60 now and after I figured it out with my first daughter, it was a breeze with my 2nd. Also, a note. Oats may give her some gas. My daughters got gas even when I ate oats when I was nursing – a little bit of a tummy cramp that passed quickly. The key is to do just a little at a time.
Honestly, I feel like we have the exact same baby!
Nursing on demand, not interested in solids, won’t take bottles, won’t take sippy cup, engaged and active, won’t be “tied down” in slings or wraps…oh, and mine haaaaates hats, anything too constricting, etc.
And I get the solids thing. It hurt my feelings when she wouldn’t eat my lovingly prepared dishes. And ditto on the gag reflex. So frightening.
Sadly, my daughter is still waking multiple times a night to feed. She’s hitting milestones like crazy, but still very much a mama’s girl.
Oh well. Lucky they’re wondrous beings.
Hiya! I chanced upon your blog looking up something else and just thought this post was so sweet. Also very reminiscent of our 9 month old at the moment! We gave up on bottles around 7mths and thankfully the growth spurts are farther apart these days otherwise I’d not leave the house! Wishing you and your family all the good health and happiness the years may bring
Mary x