Nine Months

Quentin is still growing like a weed and had his nine month check up this past week. He weighed in at 22 pounds and 3 ounces and was 30 inches tall. I don't recall the percentiles but for one he was in the 95% and the other the mid 70s. He was healthy, but he did get an unexpected shot. We skipped one at a prior visit and we could've loaded up on his next visit but decided one quick one would be better for him in the long run. So he got that with a little cry and was fine shortly there after. He is at the stage now where he is pretty shy around strangers. He used to smile at anyone that would interact with him but now he's expressionless sort of eyeing people up to see what they are all about. He is certainly not interested in having strangers touch him and that goes for the nurse and doctor too. So, as soon as they took him he was crying even though we were right there holding his hand. I guess this is a good thing from a stranger-danger perspective. He's going to get some shots at the next one; chicken pox was the only memorable one. He has a couple of visits before the dreaded MMR so those worries can go on hold for at least six months. They made the chicken pox mandatory these days, but really? Kind of over kill in my opinion. Who couldn't use a week off of school anyway? In the doctor's words, "We are trying to eradicate it." Good luck with that. But by all means I wouldn't want to be the one parent that held up the eradication of a disease as dangerous as the chicken pox. The vaccine doesn't work as well as they thought, so you have to get another round at age 4 or 5 now. They found this out the hard way - vaccinated children that came down with the disease anyway so why not give em' another shot! Hopefully the second time is the charm right? The medical profession...ha!

My fall travels have started hence the delay from the last posting. It's a lot sadder this time around. Last year due to Carrie's pregnancy I was able to work around my travel schedule better but this year it's back to painful normal, which also puts a burden on Carrie to be home alone for the weeks I'm on the road. I was missing the family quite a bit this past week and was definitely ready to come home. Carrie is still looking for that manny for some light housework and a breather now and then. For everyone up north you can take another crack at summer as the weather is on the verge of turning truly enjoyable; no air condition, sunny every day and no humidity.

I think because I am a lot during the week traveling I appreciate my time with Quentin more. I was up with him from around 2-3 the night I came home and when you first get up there I pick him up and I am rocking with him thinking how tired I am and how hopeful I am that he will quickly regain his delightful dream state so I can find the comfort of my own bed. But after the decidedly uncooperative Quentin shows his hand, squirming and quite awake, I keep thinking how few and far between these moments will be. How many more times will I actually be up here or even have the opportunity to hold little sleepy Q for an hour or two? He's getting so big it won't be long before he starts sleeping through the night on the regular or is too much of a man to be held by his dad so I just appreciate being there and fantasize about who he may grow up to be. Quite entertaining and a nice way to pass the time. Could I be rocking the future President of the NFL, I mean United States? Could he be an international businessman or a settle in a small town and make a difference locally? The possibilities are endless. It's almost like sitting there with a lottery ticket before the drawing and anything is possible. Will he be a good student? Artistic? Will he have a good singing voice? It's sort of mind boggling that at one time you could've done anything, gone anywhere and been anyone. It's exciting to think he has his whole life in front of him and not a single choice has been made for him yet. He can do anything and be anyone. I can't wait to see who he becomes. I think that must be one of the most satisfying parts of being a parent.

I am going to try to get a few more postings out here before the weekend ends and with the NFL season nearly upon us Quentin and I have been working on our NFL predictions. I am hopeful I will get that video posted tomorrow. In honor of him turning nine months old I thought I would post a recent picture and one the day he came home to show how big he's gotten.