9 Month Old Link Summary

Nine month old Link was really fun. He was full of smiles and laughter, speed and energy, snuggles, and lots of spunk. Here are some highlights:

• An expert crawler at this point...sometimes he crawls so fast he's almost flying. One of his new favorite games is to be chased. We say "I'm gonna get you!" And he crawls away as fast he can squeling in delight, only to pause to sit and see if we are following, laugh, and speed off again. He plays this with his brother as well.
•  Cruising around anything that will support him...and sometimes not support him. He's so close to walking. And he gets into anything and EVERYTHING he can reach.
• He is able to climb up stairs now. Not so much down...we haven't actually let him try that yet. But when he does go down a step, he's insistent on going face-first. Once I can get him to turn around and go backwards down steps maybe I'll be more willing to let him try more than one step.
• Has a lot to say, but not a lot of words. He makes all kinds of sounds and is "talking" all the time. But so far his only consistent words are "Mama" and "Dada". Meo and I are convinced that he's said "yummy" and "kitty" as well.
• He is able to roll a ball back and forth with us.
• Link loves drumming, playing his piano, and being sung to!
• Link eats pretty much anything; he's a really great eater!
• He learned how to clap his hands this month, and does so a lot when he's happy. He's so cute!
• Link's hair is really starting to grow...particularly in the back. I have a feeling he will need a little trim just in the back so he doesn't spend his toddler years sporting a mullet. We'll see.
• Overall, Link is super friendly and outgoing...he will crawl up to people and play with them no matter where we are. He does have his moments, especially when he's tired, where he will jut want mama though and I treasure those moments. 
• He's so independent and already fantastic at entertaining himself.
• Still napping twice a day. Usually his morning nap is while I walk and am wearing him in the Ergo carrier. Afternoon nap starts out in his bed, but when he wakes up he goes in my bed and we finish the nap together. At night he begins in his own bed, but once he wakes up I just hold him and knit until I'm ready to go to bed too and he's content to just sleep that way. I like the extra cuddle time with my little independent baby.
• Link loves playing peekaboo.
• He's very good at sneaking into the cat box, and when he knows he's doing soothing naughty he looks around and smile mischievously if he gets caught. Meo loves when Link is being naughty and will jump up and down and laugh and squeal with delight.
• Has very good hand-eye coordination...he can sometimes even do simple puzzles! 
• Link and Meo are starting to play a lot more together and it's really amazing to watch!