Devon at 9 months

This week Devon turns 9 months old, and from now on he will have lived outside my body longer than he lived inside. The past couple of weeks have marked a massive change in Devon, he has started to make the transition from baby to little boy right before our eyes.

The big news is Devon is now on the move, either crawling or pulling himself up onto two feet and walking along the edge of things, or holding our hands. He loves it, and has started exploring every inch of the house.

The moment when you see your baby pull themselves up to standing and edge themselves along the sofa under their own steam is pretty bittersweet. Having a small baby is exhausting because they are so dependant on you for everything and part of you longs for them to grow up. But now as I see Devon roaming around by himself I realise how short and sweet those baby days are. Surprise surprise Nick and I have started discussing when to have the next one!

You would think all this exercise would make Devon sleep well at night! Alas his sleeping is worse than ever. Gone are those 5-6 hour stretches and he's now waking every 1-2 hours. I'm blaming teething (in the last three months the total tooth count has reached six) as well as all the development changes he has been going through.

So to say I'm tired is an understatement, but I'm surprisingly unbothered by it really. I know he will sleep better eventually (I truly believe sleep is something, like walking, that babies learn to do by themselves when they are good and ready, and that shouldn't be forced upon them by so called 'sleep training').

He's a little star when it comes to food, this week he was picking raisins up and eating them all by himself. The baby-led approach has suited Devon really well, he eats all sorts of things. Although he may ignore something on his tray, if he wants to pick something up and can get it in his mouth, he will eat it. And if he wants a drink he will take the food out of his mouth, take a sip out of his cup, then put the food back in.

He never eats that much in terms of quantity, but I trust him to know better than I do how much he needs. He's still breastfeeding loads, I don't think he's cut down at all since he has been eating food but I also don't think that's a problem. If anything it's good, because I know breastmilk is the best food possible for him, even now, and it is considerably less messy.

Devon's personality is really starting to shine now too. He's wary of strangers, but loves his Daddy and Nanny who both get hugs and laughs. I get kisses but also smacks to the face and chest while he feeds. He LOVES the cats who unfortunately don't like him so much now he can chase after them. He's also a sensitive little soul, other babies crying often start him crying. Sometimes if we are eating out he will roar at other diners, quite loudly. He is starting to like the pushchair more and more, although he is even happier in one of our many, many different baby carriers. He likes swimming although he takes it very seriously. If he drops food on the floor he waves it goodbye.

Life with a baby is tiring, but wonderful!