Another month has disappeared. Stats at this check-up: 29 inches at the 75th percentile for length, and 18.5 pounds falling around the 15th percentile for weight! Apparently we have a long lanky baby. Last month all Zach’s big accomplishments were physical. He started pulling up, climbing the stairs, cruising the furniture, and walking with toys. THIS month is all about personality and problem solving, but that’s not always good for mommy and daddy. Zachary is now discovering new ways to control his world, which especially means us and is adamantly starting to assert his own opinions.
One (especially annoying) area Zach where has decided to assert himself is at meals. My pliant baby who ate everything I placed in front of him is suddenly gone. Now this boy decides from meal to meal what he will eat. If he loves black beans today, he may very well scream in protest if we serve it tomorrow. Tonight he ate an entire sweet potato by himself, last night he refused all food, and we were serving favorites. There is no discernible pattern. He just seems to want me to know that he will only eat when HE wants to.
Getting More Attention On Demand
Zachary has also discovered how to solve the “problem” of not getting as much attention as he feels he deserves. If his daddy and I happen to be distracted for a minute, Zachary knows a quick crawl toward the stairs will get him instant attention. As of today he’s never gone beyond the first step without a chaperone. Without fail we find him crouched there looking over his shoulder for one of us to come get him. This has turned into a favorite game of his. Of course the baby gate puts a damper on this game, and Zachary has also learned how to protest (loudly) when we take something away, or block him. Another “exciting” milestone.
Oh how I miss the simplicity of a 2AM feeding. There was never any question what he needed at 2AM. he needed to eat and then sleep. It was easy, albeit exhausting. Today it is a guessing game, that we only win about 50% of the time. And finding a balance where he gets what he needs, but still learns he cannot always have his own way is a new and fascinating challenge for us!
Cuter Than Ever!
All that said, he’s ALSO cuter and more interesting than ever. His games are more fun and more complicated. He loves books now, but already insists on us reading HIS favorites. There is a willfulness in this baby that I hope will serve him well later in life even as it aggravates us now 
Tags: 9 Months, Growth Update, Photo Gallery
Such great pictures for this month, you have outdone yourself honey! he looks so happy in his bus in the yard, I love it