Carson-- 9 & 10 Months

[I've been running so behind writing my blog posts so Carson is getting a double month update now.]

It is a fact that I have super cute kids. I mean, let's just be honest-- they're adorable. It is also a fact that I have rather high-maintenance kids.

Carson is only completely happy when he is being held. His preference is for me to just carry him around with me while I do normal daily tasks-- unload the dishwasher, do laundry, etc. It is extremely rare for him to cry or fuss while being held, even when he is tired or hungry. When I put him down he will occasionally play for awhile independently, but as soon as he realizes he hasn't been held in a few minutes he immediately comes crawling  back. If I leave the room he comes crawling after me, sobbing like his heart is just breaking in half. He does like to play with Carver and sometimes he will get involved with him and I can have a little bit of a break.

Crying, hanging on me, pulling on my leg, whining....all.day.long.

But, I spend most of my days either holding him, or with him trailing behind me crying.

Carson is still not sleeping through the night. He has a set bedtime of 7:30 p.m. and he usually wakes up twice during the night. There have been some improvements though. He does sleep exclusively in his crib in his own room. He is typically very easy to get back to sleep, he eats for 5 or 10 minutes and then falls back to sleep. In general, it could be worse, but SERIOUSLY-- time to move into a new phase. I haven't slept more than 3-4 hours in a stretch in well over a year.

At Carson's nine month doctor's appointment he had only gained 1 lb in three months-- and dropped from the 75th percentile (in weight) to the 25th. Yikes. We had started introducing food right at 6 months but he just had no interest. This lack of weight gain is a little concerning, though finally in the last few weeks he has started to eat much better. He is great at feeding himself snacks like puffs and yogurt melts and this has helped tremendously with his contentment in restaurants and at mealtimes.

I'm going to blow this one up and put it on my wall. Might be one of my all-time favorite pics of the boys.

He is also now sitting in high chairs at restaurants! I know, I know, I should have started this months ago. But, curiously, he was not sitting up on his own (on his bottom) until about a month ago. He's been sitting on his knees for several months, but I just wasn't sure how he would do in a highchair. But, he seems to love it!

Still only two little teeth. Thankfully, he has finally stopped biting me while nursing.

And, speaking of breastfeeding-- I am super super annoyed that we are still exclusively breastfeeding. He gets angry when I (or anyone else) offers him bottles and he is still trying to figure out a sippy cup. I'm not sure how much more I can take. Not a fan of breastfeeding and really not a fan of exclusive breastfeeding. I'm about to lose my mind.

Carson likes to "talk" and seems to be constantly making new noises and sounds. He laughs easily and is the most affectionate baby I have ever seen. And he loves looking out the back door. And unloading the cabinets.

As much as I complain about the breastfeeding and the lack of sleep and space I am thoroughly in love with this boy. He is an incredible blessing and gift. I look at him and feel my heart swell-- it is almost painful this love I have for both my boys. He is difficult in the sense that he is extremely needy, but we are so entwined that I feel like he is an extension of me. By this age Carver was so fiercely independent, and Carson is so attached-- parenting the two has been completely different experiences.

Two more months and we'll be celebrating his first birthday. I'm planning to celebrate by (finally) losing weight. Yay.