As I am writing this, I am in total disbelief that I just typed 9 months! For one thing, I just can’t get even come to terms with the fact that nine whole months has crept by. My baby will be a year old before I even have a chance to type another word or take another breath it seems. Time is just flying by too fast. On the other hand, I can’t believe it’s been nine months, because Liam doesn’t really behave like a 9 month old in a few (motoric) ways. Namely, Liam isn’t crawling or army crawling (despite his best efforts). He doesn’t roll to get around, although he is capable of rolling. He doesn’t like to bear weight on his legs either. This worried me, so at Liam’s 9 month check-up, I brought it up, and we are going to get Liam evaluated for physical therapy coming up here pretty soon.
In other ways, this month was a rough one for me, especially when it came to Liam. Liam got very sick this month. He was hit with some back-to-back viruses, including what appeared to be RSV with a nasty cough and a week long fever; that ear infection from the previous month never completely resolved until two rounds of antibiotics later; and he cut another two teeth (his top incisors). One other curious thing that happened was that his head circumference shot off the charts. This is most likely not a cause for concern, as I was told repeatedly, but it is does warrant a head MRI within the next month, just to make sure nothing besides “familial causes” (aka Jake’s head size genes) is to blame. I do hate to write a whiny post, but Liam has been acting bothered in general this month, totally unlike the easy baby I bragged about for months in the beginning. He is itchy, because of his eczema which won’t go away even with topical hydrocortisone multiple times per day. His appetite can almost never be satiated. This baby could eat a ten year old under the table! He seems to be having some of the worst separation anxiety I have ever experienced (he needs me holding him all. the. time). He has been crying more and smiling less. Overall, this has got me somewhat topsy turvy, as I feel like I didn’t fully feel the weight of a fourth child until now… in the ninth month. Am I okay? Yes, I’m fine. Just feeling a little frazzled, behind on my work/chores, and guilty to my other kids (and husband), but fine overall. And I love him like crazy. Even at 4 AM, he looks and feels so dreamy that I hate to put him back to bed after feeding him. I love the way his hair feels on my cheek and the way he smells. He still smells so good and babyish. I love rubbing his back and hearing him sigh deeply in my arms. Baby sighs and baby smells dissolve stress and anxiety. It’s a fact.
Liam:
• Pivots on his tummy in a circle
• Eats at least 8 oz. of baby food per meal, plus a high chair tray full of cut up table foods!
• Lets his opinion be known! He bosses his brother and sister around and slaps their faces when they get too close to him, especially around food.
• Can reach far in all directions when in sitting to bring his toys closer to him.
• Sits in a grocery cart and a restaurant high chair at the table
• Tries to imitate our facial expressions
• Gives wet, sloppy kisses on request!
Oh, hello Mommy. 
Why, yes! Of course, I want to play a game! What kind of game?
Oh, wait a minute. You just moved my lizard. That’s MY lizard.
Now I have to reach for my lizard. Why are you just sitting and watching while I am clearly struggling here, trying to get my lizard? Kind of rude.
Just one more inch and…
Yes! Now, you will go the way of all lizards before you.
I liked that game.
I think we’re done here.
