to the fullest...: James: 9 months

James turned 9 months old on August 28th which was right before we moved out of our apartment in Ames. That week our sweet friend Alex, of Everlasting Love Photography, gifted us a family photo session. (This is the same friend who gave us maternity photos, newborn photos, and another impromptu family session a few months ago!) Such a blessing to have all these pictures given to us and so much fun! You have to check her out for weddings, senior photos, family portraits, etc. she does an awesome job!

Though they weren't taken on the exact day James turned 9 months, I couldn't not use these photos for this post. They are just too perfect.

Happenings during James' 9th month:

Picked up Cheerios and put them in his mouth all by himself! I just thought I'd try it out at the end of July not really expecting him to be able to feed himself yet, but he surprised me and popped them into his mouth like he'd been doing it his whole life.
Teeth #5 & #6 showed up: next to his top front teeth
Walked down the aisle with Auntie Kellie in Auntie Ashley and Uncle Taylor's wedding wearing a baby tuxedo. The cutest thing I've ever seen.
Pooped in the bathtub for the first time.
Started scooting forward on his tummy! Very slowly, but definitely had purposeful forward movement.
SLEPT ALL THE WAY FROM BEDTIME UNTIL MORNING FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!!!!! *trumpets resound and an angelic chorus of hallelujah breaks forth* The first night it happened I told myself it must have been a freak accident because I didn't want my high hopes to be dashed after going to bed expecting a full night of uninterrupted sleep only to be awakened at 3 am by the little guy wanting a meal. After three nights of sleeping all the way through, I decided it was no accident. He was done with night wakings! Needless to say, after 8.5 months of waking up 1-4 times a night (by the end it was only 1-2, but still...8.5 months of doing that is a very long time) I was ecstatic.