The Stages and Phases

Since he was born, Dougle and I have always tried to be parents who enjoy each and every stage that Canaan goes through. We don’t want to be parents who wish their baby stayed a baby forever, rather we want to be parents who cherish each new phase of growth. For the most part, it has been exceptionally easy; we get so excited at each new thing that he does or is about to do. Until Now. This newest phase is not so fun: it is the clingy phase. From birth, we have made an effort to let lots of different people hold Canaan and play with him, so that he gets used to being with many and new people. But now, he will have none of it. He has started to cry when I drop him off in the nursery for Bible Class- which he used to love. He doesn’t want to go see anyone and gets worried and cries when anyone other than his favorite six people hold him. I realize that this is just a temporary thing (hopefully). In a way it makes me feel good that he loves to be with people he is familiar with, but I also wish he would enjoy other people too. I’ve heard that Canaan will probably go through another one or two clingy stages after this one, so I guess I’ll have plenty of time to learn to cherish them. So, until it is over, I am trying to soak in all the hugs he gives me (when he is turning away from someone he doesn’t want to go to) and all the times he chooses me over others.

Another interesting thing is the way that he will do things for a few weeks, and then decide he doesn’t want to do it any more. For instance, walking. He would take 20-30 steps easily across the living room from one person to another. And he was very proud of himself too! Now, he doesn’t want to take two steps to get from one person to another, but instead will go down to his hands and knees and crawl the distance! What a funny little boy!

Also as a side note: Canaan has learned to climb the stairs. So now, we must always use the gate, or we will find him 6 steps high in a flash!

The Tonka Truck

Mommy and Daddy bought Canaan a Tonka Truck. It is really cool, because pre-walking babies can stand behind it, hold on, and walk. Then, when they get older, they can sit on it and ride. It also makes the coolest sounds. It has a blinker, a horn with four different sounds, a gear shift, and a key to start it up (the engine makes a sputtering noise when you first turn the key and you have to turn it again to make the engine rev and run). I thought it was the greatest thing and was hoping it would be a nice substitute for all of us holding Canaan's hands and walking him around the house. We brought it home, got it out, and set Canaan up behind it to walk. He did not like that idea! So, for a few days, it just sat in the living room. Canaan played with it while sitting down, especially enjoying turning it over with the wheels in the air and spinning them. (He is such a boy!) Finally, a few days later, we got it out and tried letting him walk behind it again and he loved it! He wanted to walk all over the house with it. He can't turn it on his own, so when he runs into a wall, he grunts and we run over and turn it around so he can walk across the room again! He has the biggest grin when he is walking with it. It is adorable to watch him, and Canaan thinks he is "big stuff" walking behind the Tonka Truck!

Canaan's Latest Stats

August 1, 2007

Canaan Kirt McDougle

• 9 months, 2 days old
• 6 teeth (one we can just barely see)
• 18.0 pounds (25th percentile)
  
• 28 1/2 inches long (50th percentile)
• head circumference: 45 cm (85th percentile)
• cute as a button
• perfect

We took Canaan in for his 9 month check-up yesterday. So, our boy has a big head. I think that means lots of brains. But the doctor said it was at least a pretty round one!

The doctor was impressed with Canaan's vocabulary. He said boys aren't usually so vocal at such a young age! I've always known he was smart! Canaan continues to say "uh-oh" and sometimes "a-boo" for peek-a-boo. He says "up" at times when he drops things that he wants back. He is also saying "ab" for bath every night. He loves his bathes!

Canaan also can clap. He loves the noise he can make with his hands. He also gives kisses. He gives people kisses sometimes, but more willingly will kiss his book with family pictures in it. He opens his mouth wide and leans in! Canaan has also started mimicking us when we laugh. Dougle and I will be talking with each other, laughing about something and Canaan will join in laughing too. It is so adorable.

Canaan still isn't crawling, but is extremely close. He wants to crawl so much; he gets on his hands and knees and tries, but then lands on his belly. He can scoot backward on his belly, but usually this just makes him more frustrated as he gets farther and farther from the toy he so desperately wants. Canaan also wants to walk. He loves holding onto our hands and strolling around. He even thinks he can do it on his own sometimes and lets go of our hands. Good thing Mommy and Daddy have quick reflexes to catch him before he crashes to the floor. He also runs around in his walker, around the kitchen and dining room area. Being mobile is just a crawl or step away....

Big Boy in a Big Toy

Canaan loves to walk! He has loved standing since he was just a few months old. Now, he struts around in his new walker that Memaw gave him! He immediately started walking backward, as is common when the babies are first introduced to it. Now, he likes to stroll around forward. He isn't as fast on the carpet, but can get along quite well on the flat linoleum in the kitchen/dining room. Here he is showing us how much fun he is having and how cute he knows he is!
Canaan also started sitting up for extended periods on the 11th of May. He now has started learning how to fall over from the sitting position and not hurt himself. Canaan is just wowing us every week with his new abilities and discoveries. We just can't keep our eyes off him as he grows into such a wonderful little boy! Who knew parenting could be this much fun? Who knew we could love this little boy so much?!