9 Months Old!

How is it that Brennan is already 9 months old?! We often find ourselves in awe when watching him play, learn, and investigate the world around him. We are so very blessed!

~He pulls himself to standing on almost everything...couches, dining room chairs, toys, bathtub, and crib railing. Since he's pulling himself up in bed, his mattress is now on the lowest setting.
~He continues to love eating! Currently, he nurses/has a bottle 6 times a day. He has a fruit for breakfast, a fruit/vegetable/grain for lunch, and a vegetable and grain for dinner. He eats a combination of homemade and store bought food. Recently, he hasn't liked the texture of homemade veggies. We plan to try different cooking/pureeing methods to see if it makes a difference. He also enjoys eating fruit puffs and Cheerios, although he hasn't mastered feeding himself. After refusing to drink from a sippy cup, we removed the valve in his cups for a few days. He's doing much better and is drinking more water with his dinner.
~Brennan loves books! He enjoys looking at them by himself and being read to. He's able to lift flaps and turn pages. Recently, he's begun to talk quietly when looking at books by himself. We like to think that he's reading them to himself.
~When verbally prompted and sometimes modeled, he waves hello and goodbye. He also likes to give "high fives".
~He's a very proficient crawler. His speed increases every day and he's able to move around on different surfaces-carpet, tile, bathtub, and hardwood floors.
~He's wearing 12 month size clothes. We'll have more specific stats after his doctor appointment next week.
~We joke that he is a "demolition man." Usually, when he sees toys stacked, he'll quickly crawl to them and knock them over.
~He goes to bed between 7-7:30 and wakes up around 6:30. At times, he'll wake once overnight to eat. Since he's unable to gracefully return to laying from sitting, he may need help laying back down if he sat up in the middle of the night. He takes 2 naps during the day, ranging from 1-2.5 hours, at 9am and 1pm. He also takes a cat nap around 4:30.
~He's finally taken a break from teething after cutting 8 teeth in 2 months. We brush his teeth daily with a baby toothbrush. He doesn't mind brushing his bottom teeth, but will quickly shut his mouth and turn his head when we brush his top teeth.
~He continues to be very observant and loves to investigate. Although, if he's focused on a book, he doesn't notice much else around him.
~After a long day at work, nothing is better than coming home and having Brennan's face light up in a huge smile and crawl directly towards you upon your arrival!