Nine-month checkup

Austin went for his nine-month checkup yesterday and he's doing well. He's now 21 lbs 9.5 ozs and 29.5 inches long -- I think he must have sprouted in the last few weeks because, suddenly, all of his pants are too short! I guess it's time to start bringing out the 12-to-18-month size clothes.

I should mention, however, that he has a blocked tear duct. An ophthalmologist told us that it's not uncommon in children -- about 6% of babies are born with it. And 90% of the time, it clears up on its own by the child's first birthday. So that's the hope, and we're massaging his tear duct regularly, as instructed. But if it doesn't clear up, he will need surgery next spring. We've been assured that it's a very quick, and effective, surgery.

He's still cruising along the furniture, the walls, chairs and anything else he can get his hands on, and in the last week, he has tried to take a few steps on his own. Unfortunately, when trying to walk from the dresser in our room to the bed (about a foot and a bit apart) he took a pretty good tumble -- and has now developed a small, but healthy, dose of fear. It should keep him from trying a stunt like that again for at least a few more days.
Regardless, he still manages to get himself into every nook in the house, as you can see in the picture he's behind the couch and under the shelf!

He's doing really well at sleeping at night now -- many nights he sleeps from 8 p.m. until 7 a.m. But some nights he still wakes around 5 a.m. for an 'early morning snack' and then goes right back to sleep until 8, or even 9! But as usual, he's still not much of a napper. On a normal day, he'll take two, 20-30 minute naps.

That's all for now.