So on February 5th, the exact date you turned 9 months old, we took you for your 9 month check up at Dr. Fleiss’. You measured 29 inches tall and weighed 19 lbs 10.8 oz. And boy have you grown. In your height, they said that you were in the 95th percentile. That’s pretty darn tall. And you’re still growing. Yikes!

You continue to love to eat as well. You’re discovering different foods and starting not to like your baby food. You love noodles and sweets. Like chocolate (daddy shakes his head).

There goes raising you on a healthy diet!

And as you can see, if it doesn’t get all over the place, it doesn’t belong in your face.

So the day before Valentine’s Day, I had to fly up to Oakland, home of the Raiders, for work. It was planned so that I would be able to fly back the next afternoon in time for your first Valentine’s day, and I didn’t want to miss that. I also didn’t want to miss being with your mommy either.

Being the romantic that I am, and also since I knew that I was going to be out of town, I ordered to have a large bouquet of flowers sent to your mommy on Valentine’s Day while I was still in Oakland. So while I was in meeting after meeting, I keep wondering when your mommy would get the flowers, wanting to call her, hoping to hear her be all surprised and lovey-dovey. So between meetings, I would call and see how she was doing. She’d just say “Okay,” with a melancholy manner. I said, “Oh that’s nice,” trying not to sound too dissapointed. I wondered, “When she was going to get the flowers?!” I know that the flower shops are usually really busy on Valentine’s, but I hope that they don’t miss her before she leaves work. I didn’t want to ask her either and ruin the surprise.

As the day reached mid-afternoon, my meetings end and my co-workers and I headed back to the airport. I thought I’d call your mother again, and our conversation was pretty much the same. No flowers! Argh!!!!

I was also hoping to get home in time so I could do something special for your mommy. Maybe cook her a nice dinner or go to some fancy restaurant or something. After some traveling boo-boo’s by my co-worker who planned our travel arrangements to the airport; some walking; some near muggings in downtown Oakland; we finally arrived to the airport and just made our flight.

I arrived back home later than I thought. There was so much traffic. I got dropped off in front of our apartment at 7:30pm. It was dark and I walked up to our door and you and mommy were there to greet me with smiles, hugs and kisses. It was good to be home. Mommy surprised me with a wonderful home cooked meal that was amazing. I just loved it. And you loved it too. Especially the Belgian Brownies that just melted in your mouth. YUM!!

So then I asked your mommy, “Did you ever get any flowers?”

She broke out with a uproarious giggle and exclaimed, “Yes!” She continued, “I knew you were wondering about the flowers when you called. And there they were, sitting on my desk. But I just loved them! They are so gorgeous. I’m sorry, I just thought that it was funny hearing you wonder if I got them or not.”

So you gotta love you mommy’s “unique” sense of humor.

Happy Valentine’s Day!