A week of new tricks and big changes

Last week was such a big week for Noah (2 weeks ago now) 

It's true when people say that babies do things in their own time and sometimes learn everything all at once. Noah has come on leaps and bounds in just one week and we've also made some big changes. It makes me realise he is slowly becoming less and less a baby and more like a toddler. It makes me want to cry.

Crawling - Last month Noah became mobile when he discovered he could manage a backwards bum shuffle. Last week he ditched the bum shuffle and started crawling properly. After so many months of trying to teach him how to crawl it was incredible to watch him finally figure it out, it was like something had clicked into place. Those first few crawls were ever so adorable as he was all wobbly and his hands would make these clumsy footstep sounds with his hands. It didn't take long for him to get the hang of it because the next day and he was crawling everywhere and at a super speed. I think he feels so much better in himself now that he can move about easily. 

First tooth - He cut his first tooth! We had been able to see his teeth through his gums for months on end and thought we would of cut his first tooth sooner. At 11 months we finally have that first tooth (which is on the bottom right) and the second one isn't far behind. It's going to be so strange seeing him with teeth after so many months of that gummy grin. Our teething experience has been a nightmare so far as he's really struggling. (He now has 2!)

Cows milk - He had been going off his formula and I felt he was ready to try cows milk. He had had it on his cereal and in cooking before so I was certain he wasn't allergic and with just a matter of weeks before the "recommended age" I decided to go ahead. At first we offered him a bottle that was just cows milk which he drank an oz of then looked at the bottle in disgust and wouldn't have anymore. I then did half cows milk and half formula and he refused it point blank. The next day I decided to do 4oz formula and 2oz cows milk and as the week went on I decreased the formula and increased the cows milk. We have now made the full switch and he now loves his cows milk. He is now drinking more milk than he ever did formula. We've had no reactions and his nappies have been fine. Very happy with how easy it was for us to make the change. 

Not sterilising - When we switched to cows milk we also decided to stop sterilising too. It seemed silly to switch milk and not stop sterilising because as a rule parents seem to do this at the same time. We now wash his bottles in the dishwasher and then rinse them with tap water after the cycle. It seems to be doing the job. I won't miss sterilising but I did feel a little strange packing away the steriliser (just like I did when I gave Noah his last formula bottle) as it seems like an end of an era.

So now my baby is crawling, has two teeth and is on cows milk! What's next for Noah? 

He's crawling.... and he's standing!

To say that Noah is a lazy baby is one big understatement. Where as he is quick to learn new things like how to clap, wave, dance, point and kiss, he is very lazy when it comes to anything physical. He always has been.

I feel a lot of it is down to me because I never gave him enough floor time and would always have him on my knee or snuggled up in my arms. We had been living in a house that was almost fully wood and tile floors so I didn't feel comfortable putting him down for long. Even with a padded play mat it was still a hard surface and I was a bit over protective. 

In the past two weeks Noah has come on leaps and bounds, it's like something has clicked into place. He is now crawling! At long last! I wouldn't necessarily call it a crawl as it's pretty much one of a kind. It's more like a backwards shimmy cross between a bum shuffle? It may not be a normal crawl but it certainly gets him from A to B and it's extremely cute to watch. 

Not only that but in the same week he has also learnt how to pull himself onto his feet from the sitting and kneeling position. The first time he did it we were both in his new nursery and he was kneeling against his baby walker. He then pulled himself up and got onto his feet! I was clapping and squealing "clever boy!" You should of seen the look and the smile on his face, it was priceless! 

Balance wise when he is against something it's perfect and he can stand there for a good 15 minutes at a time. His balance is a work in progress when he stands unaided but we are getting there and practice daily. He will walk a little when holding onto your fingers and when he has a sudden burst of bravery he will let go to see how he fares! He pretty much wants to stand up all the time now and if he's not on his feet he's shimming over to climb all over you! 

It feels like he has learnt so much all at once and it's really hard to keep up with him. I think moving into the new house has really helped with his confidence as he has been able to spend a lot more time on the floor. What with us having lots of carpeted rooms and with every room being virtually baby proof (lack of furniture!) 

I'm immensely proud of him and I know one person who is even more proud and that's Noah himself. When he puts his new skills into action you can see the sense of pride and happiness on his face. 

Babies are marvelous aren't they?! 

Babies and their milestones

As a Mum you are always worried about something or other when it comes to your baby. Noah is almost 9 months old now and is not really showing an interest in crawling. He will hold himself in the crawl position and sometimes rock but that is as far as we are. I see babies younger than him crawling and some even cruising and in the back of my mind I can't help but think shouldn't he be doing this by now? That being said I know babies do things in their own time and there isn't a "right time" for them to achieve their milestones. He is happy enough to sit their playing and I don't have to worry chase him about just yet!

While he is a little slower when it comes to mobility he sure makes up for it mentally, he is so quick! He seems to be learning something new everyday and he can now; clap, wave, dance, kiss and cuddle. Which he will do if you show him or even ask him to. He can say mama, mam, dada, dad and hiya. He knows what the words; juice, milk, bottle, mama, dada, dodo, light, trees, sky, dog mean and will look directly at them if you ask where they are. He's a clever cookie. 

I've read that babies tend to focus on one area to learn first before they move onto the other and that is the case with Noah. I think we will be a while until we are crawling but I think when he does learn then that will be it and cruising won't be soon after!

At what age did your baby sit, crawl, cruise and walk? At what age did they say their first word?