3/4 year old!

So much personality lately! It's just amazing to see a baby wake up to the world and learn to interact!

 

Carsen is generally a chill lil guy. He seems to like others; doesn't get anxious when getting handed off. He's adventurous and curious; I took him a library story time where they open up this room after to free play. He takes off exploring toys, interacting with other kids. I took my eyes off him for half a minute and he was literally crawling out the door into the library lobby. But if I call him, he'll turn to look then head back toward me, almost to me but conveniently finds something else cool to look at. He's just so fast! And big! We're told that all the time. Especially when he's next to his friend Katie, who is super tiny and petite for their age. He looks like several months older.

He's... an ok sleeper. I've heard of babies taking these long naps. No, he takes 2-3 (though with the time change off daylight savings, he's trying to drop his late afternoon) naps greatly ranging from 30-90 minutes. He's gotten pretty regular with a 6-7am wake up, needing a 8 or 9am nap and taking a longer afternoon nap (sometimes). He does go to bed between 7:30 & 8pm and generally sleeps 10hrs so that's great. A little more sleeping in and a little more napping would suit me better. He used to nap really well if I held him, but he's so squirmy I think he has a 45min max now. Bummer cause it's one of my fave things. He's so soft and smells so good.

We finished our first swim lessons. They were just about playing in the water, though in doing them, I realized how much I prefer unstructured play. They did a lot of songs and games more geared toward the 12-18 mo olds. Carsen wasn't all that interested, more so in my bubble-blowing. Matt teased that we're "the slow ones who hold up everyone else." Whatever, YOU try squatting in the water for 45 minutes trying to walk in a circle when Carsen is thrashing and fussing. I'd rather just do what he wants. Plus, honestly, I can't remember the kids' songs I used to know so it was hard to follow along ;)

 

Look at the teeth!! He has six total now!

 

At his 9mo appointment, he's 29inches tall and 20lbs and had "a growth spurt in his head." I keep finding clothes that I'd bought that he's either too big for already or just about to be... Look at this adorable hat! It finally got cold enough to wear but Big Head Heberling can't fit it.

He's still pulling up on everything, and sometimes lifts his leg like he's going to climb. He can climb the stairs, assisted because otherwise he tries to turn around and would fall back. He's started to more often "furniture cruise" and once or so has stood for a few seconds on his own. He tries to walk on his toes or outer feet though, but I think really he just needs to gain some confidence before he walks.

Oh, and he's clearly said "dada" now to Matt. We've also heard him say "dog," "all done," "mehhh" which I think is milk, "bahbah" though he doesn't say it much. And I think he tries to say "du" in the bathtub for duck... but no "mama" :(  He understands quite a bit more though. Doesn't use any signs yet, except he might be doing the one for milk.

I really can't imagine how much MORE busy it gets when he starts walking; he's already so active. Guess we'll see.