9 months!

Otis turned 9 months old yesterday, meaning that he's now been officially out of the oven for just about as long as he was in. Although sometimes I wonder whether he questions whether or not he should have just stayed put in his cozy little belly haven, Ryan and I are super happy that he decided to bust out and join us on the outside. It's unbelievable how much our lives have changed--for the better, despite the crazy roller coaster ride it's been--over the past 9 months. What's also unbelievable is how much our love for our amazing little fella continues to grow with each day--just when we think it must be absolutely impossible to love him any more, and that our hearts are already full-to-bursting.

Here are the 9 month stats:

• As of last weekend, Otis now has two new teeth up top, front and center, bringing the total to 4. He doesn't chew on teethers, but tends to like to stick to his fingers and his plug (pacifier). We used a little clove oil diluted with olive oil to help numb his gums on the days when they seemed to be really bugging him, and it's anyone's guess whether the amber teething beads really help to soothe and quell the pain, but we figure they can't hurt anything.
• As of March 5, Otis weighs 24.4 pounds and is 30 inches long--about 95th percentile for both AND for head circumference. He may be big, but at least he's proportionately so. He's wearing mostly 18 month-sized clothing these days. (When are baby clothes-makers going to get smart and start selling clothes by SIZE--weight and length--instead of AGE?)
• Otis is awesome. (No surprise, I know.)
• We're beginning to think that it may be time for Otis to have his first haircut...especially now that his hair has begun to look (and move) like a toupee. Any volunteers? 

[Gil has been complaining about his complicated life; Grandma wanders into the room]

Grandma: You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster.

Gil: Oh?

Grandma: Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride!

Gil: What a great story.

Grandma: I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.

[From the movie Parenthood, which we should probably watch again now that we're actually parents.]