9 months out

Alexander is now 9 months old! Where has that time gone? 

Too cool

He has now been on the outside the same amount of time he has been on the inside.

Gorgeous cuddles

9 months pregnant

9 months outside

He is growing up to be such a cute, cheeky, curious little guy. He loves commando crawling and definitely loves pulling himself up. The only problem is that he doesn't remember that he can't balance without holding on so he is getting quite a few bumps on his head. Poor little guy.

Very pleased with himself!

He has even started to pull himself up in his cot. 

Sitting...

And now standing.

But everyone always comments about how smiley he is and it is true.

He has started to eat food on his own too - just small things like sultanas, cut grapes, sliced apricot and peaches. He seems to enjoy feeding himself and over the last couple of weeks he has started to get good at picking up the food and putting it into his mouth.

Enjoying sultanas

With Alexander turning 9 months though it makes me a little bit sad. I love him. I love watching him grow up. I love his cuddles. I love feeding him. I love his smile. I really enjoy having a baby around, and as he grows up, I don't have that anymore. A couple of weeks ago I passed on the capsule, bassinet and the baby bath to some young mums from a group of girls in need through church. I was really sad to pass them on. Even though I'm really glad that they are going to be used by others and that they're not just getting chucked out, there are so many memories with them. I just went through my photos and found the first time each kid used the capsule, the bassinet and the baby bath.

Daniel's trip home from hospital. We had no idea of how useful this capsule was going to be!!

He was so little in the bassinet

His first bath at home. Daddy loved this special time with him

Eliza in the capusle, ready to head home from hospital

Eliza's first nap in the bassinet

She was so relaxed in the baby bath

Alexander's ready to head home from the hospital after a quick feed in the garden

His first nap in the bassinet

Enjoying his first bath at home

 The capsule was used sooooooooo much! Having each kid be quite sleepy when they were little, they spent a lot of time sleeping in the capsule when we went out to places - to church, restaurants, friends' places. I was very sad that Alexander is too big for it. I am sad that we aren't going to use it again. It's funny to think that when we bought it we were worried it was going to be a waste of money. Now I think it's one thing that each person should get before having a baby (if they can afford it).

The bassinet was sad to part with after having each baby (including Oscar) sleep in it from when they first came home. Each kid slept well in that bassinet. The bassinet reminds me of how little they once were. It's sad that they won't be fitting into it again. I'm so glad that we had the bassinet to use when they were newborn.

The baby bath I was least attached to although it reminds me of the precious time that James had with each of the kids - Daddy bath time. I'm so glad that he got to give each of the kids their first baths. I'm so glad that he did most of the baths at home. I remember being worried about bathing Daniel the first time that I needed to because it was always something that James did and I was worried that I wouldn't do it properly or I'd hurt Daniel. James was always so relaxed and comfortable doing it. 

I don't want another kid. I don't plan to have another kid. But it is just sad that that stage of my life has finished. I'm sad that I won't experience being pregnent again. I'm even a bit sad that I won't experience labour again and the precious experience that is (although I think that's a bit more because I won't be doing it again). Having babies is such an amazing thing. The way that your body adjusts and adapts when pregnant and when breastfeeding is fascinating. I will miss it but I am also looking forward to what the future holds and watching the kids grow up. (Sorry for my rambling).

Anyway, now that we don't have the capsule anymore, Alexander is pretty happy about his new car seat.