Has it been 9 months already?!

A whole 9 months has passed since Oliver was born but sometime it seems like just yesterday that we were bringing home our 5 lb 3 oz baby from the hospital. We don't have the official 9 month stats for him from the doctor yet so we'll post that when we have it but trust us...he's huge! Well, at least we think so but there have been some independent assessments that corroborate with us.

The truly amazing thing about having kids is watching them absorb everything around them, and the other amazing thing is seeing what excites them and captures their attention. For all the wonderful toys out there we have found that a simple paper towel role or tub kneeler or Mama's glasses or Mama's watch or Mama's ring can keep a baby amused just as well or even better. Of course with these types of toys Moms have to keep a very watchful eye on the baby and can't just go to the bathroom like she can when he's in a jumper but they are good for those moments when you just don't know whatelse to do.

Here are just a few milestones Oliver has hit in his 9 months of life:

Holding himself up in a standing position on the coffee table. (this sometimes results in a death defying fall backwards which most often will culminate in an egg on his head, but who am I to deny such joy to my child?)


Oliver has also learned to use a highlighter and calculator. Perhaps he has some accounting profession in his future. I'm sure Angie will have lots to show him.
Oliver is also on his way to mastering crawling with the help of the pugs.
What better way to celebrate being 9 months than to celebrate the birth of another future friend. Our good friends Karen and Trish gave birth to a healthy, beautiful boy on Friday June 26th. Oliver welcomes Carey Patrick Voorhees to the world!
The happy and proud Moms.
A smile already...looks like they are going to have their hands full with a happy baby...we should all be so lucky!

While we were visiting Carey at Beth Israel hospital we thought it would be nice to see some of the NICU nurses that took such good care of son when he was born.

This is Grace. She was always so clam and really helped us through some emotionally difficult times in the NICU.
This is Beth. She kept our spirits up and made us feel like everything was going to be OK.
On Saturday night we went to the epicenter of fun...Auntie Q's house! Auntie Stacey was also there and had a little face-to-face time with Oliver.
The happy boy in his carrier.
Oliver the rock star! Notice the faux-hawk hair.
The woman at the source of all this fun...Auntie Q.