Rocky

The city agency has deemed Nate qualified for the early intervention program, which is both disappointing and useful. It's all about the stomach muscles, according to the physical therapist who evaluated Nate. In a few weeks we will be assigned a therapist to come to the house and work him out. Yes, like a dog trainer. But the good news is it's free and now an expert will hopefully resolve what seems to be not a huge but worth-addressing problem. In the meantime, we got some tips to help the cutie get stronger...and Michael is of course taking this part very seriously.

Folly

July was a fun month for Nate. He spent the July 4th holiday at Love's Folly, basking in the glow of his grandparents. It was a love-fest between grandchild and grandparent. Among other things, Nate hung out and played with boxes and balls in the living room, swam in the pool, hot-tubbed, touched actual grass, took a nature walk and felt trees and leaves. He had a blast.

Avocado Take Two

Last week we revisited the avocado...

We took Nate to his 9 month check up. Stats are... 55% height, 25% weight, 36% head size.

The doctor thought he needed to be pushed in terms of rolling and tummy time; it's something he should be more interested in at his age. She told us to call a city agency that evaluates whether and how to help kids catch up physically. Weird! There was no real cause concern the doctor insisted; we just needed to help him. Fine fine fine, we'll call the city agency. But... Really??? Look at how cute he is!!

9 months

Nate is 9 months old. He's chatty and smiley and still totally unamused by being on his tummy. He's suddenly extremely ticklish near his armpits. He's sitting up but falls backwards easily. He's mostly a delight to be with what with that big grin with 2 little bottom teeth poking through.

Cousins

We went on a family-tour vacation this week, beginning with Grandpa's 70th birthday celebration in Huntington where we went to the beach for the first time (!) and got to hang out with the cousins. It was the first time the kids were all old enough to do the same things--well, at least bathe and watch Peter Pan in bed. It was a great weekend....

The Farm

After seeing Nana and Grandpa, we visited Opa and Simmie at Love's Folly Farm where Nate got to swim, play in the grass, see a couple deers and go boating (as well as get marooned on a sand bar and rescued by the "Triple B.") He also attended more farmers markets than most adults do in their lives. And played this suspenseful game with Opa...