John Shea at 9 Months

It's been a month now that we've been back in the States, and it has been such a busy, full time with our families, which is why I have spent very little time here on my blog. I've been missing this space! How are you all!?

It's been so, so good being with our family. We are really grateful we've been able to have this time together. After three years of us living out of the country, I think it's fair to say that our families have deserved our full attention these past weeks. John and I are flying to California at the end of the week to reunite with Cam, who is currently driving our u-haul from Colorado with his Dad. We are so excited to look for a home and settle down (ha! for a matter of months atleast).

This week our baby doll turned nine months old! A few Moms have told me, "the days are long but the years are fast," and that couldn't be more true. Some of the things I want to remember about this age:

He's learned how to hug. YES. I love picking him up after he's woken up in the morning or from a nap and he wraps his little arms around my neck so tight. I love when he won't let me put him down so we can snuggle. He still gives us open-mouthed kisses and looks thoroughly pleased with himself when we say "ohhh thank you for the kisssss!" as we wipe off his slobber.

He is crawling (creeping) everywhere, pulling himself up, scooting after us. New toy? Lint on the floor? Leaf outside? Grass? Your hand? Your hair? Everything goes straight from his chubby little fingers to his mouth, to be taste-tested.

He loves solid food. We have yet to find something he doesn't like. If we are eating it, he wants to eat it, too. Currently at the top of his list: avocado, scrambled eggs, avocado, veggies, cheese, pizza, avocado (boy after my own heart!), bananas, chicken and ice cubes. He is fascinated by ice cubes.

He started sleeping all the way through the night about a month before we left Japan and then after 32 hours straight of traveling / crossing the international dateline, he reverted back to sleeping like a newborn. Ahh, we saw that one coming. But we're so close to our move to Monterey and to giving him his own room, routine and consistency again.

He smiles at literally everyone. Socializes with everyone. Public places are where he lights up. His gummy smile is huge, contagious, joyous and the sweetest thing I have ever seen. He understands humor and laughs when we laugh.

He cries when I dress him. Who needs clothes!? He would much rather be butt naked.

When I walk away from the vicinity of where he's playing, like for a glass of water or my fasted sprint to the bathroom, he immediately drops his toys, calls out after me, and scoots his little body as fast as he can in my direction, crying the whole way. If I translate his baby language, I imagine he's yelling, "mama! why you want to leaaave meee!" (name that movie)

I sometimes find myself wishing I could keep him this little always. He is too precious for words. I am so thankful for our sweet boy, and pray hard for him, especially as I'm rocking him before naps and bedtime, when it's quiet, his hair is combed over, he's warm and near-sleeping in my arms and smelling like baby shampoo. I pray for us, too. That God would make us strong parents and give us the wisdom that we so badly need with all of our short-comings and failures. Every month and stage is a gift, both challenging and wonderful, but this age so far is my favorite.