9 Months and 3 more until the BIG 1!!!!

Karsten Liam,
I cannot believe you are almost one! Every time I think back to how old you are, I keep thinking you are still 6 months!!! You are growing up way too fast and are getting sooo big. Every time you turn a month older, you learn something new, and this month was not any different. The day you turned nine months, you stood up at your favorite toy all by yourself!! We were watching you play, and I happen to turn my head to look at something else (more than likely I was yelling at one of the dogs) and Will says to me, Look!! And there you are, standing at your toy, like it was nothing!!! Then of course this morning, I go into your room and you are standing up in your crib! I guess we should get to lowering that now.....and perhaps finish baby proofing the house! I am just so in awe of the things that you do and how fast you learn them. You are so amazing to us. I just can't grasp how you are able to learn so much in such a short amount of time. Just don't start walking anytime soon, okay? Let momma process this a little longer....a little longer than you let me process your crawling abilities. Capesh?
This month you started dancing to music. You have certain songs that you love to hear and will bounce up and down to them. You love "petting" the dogs. Even though that means you grab either a fist full of hair or an entire appendage, we know you are loving on your puppies and I am sure somewhere deep down they understand your intentions. You are so cuddly. You will be playing right next to us, then suddenly, you will stop what you are doing, leave your toy, and power crawl over to us to give us a hug and an open mouth kiss. It is the sweetest thing and we cherish every slobbery kiss you give us. You are getting better at waving good bye at the appropriate time, although you don't always do it. When you are angry, which usually happens when we are changing your diaper, you start to yell "Da da da da da da da da" in varying tones and pitches which seems to sound like you are cussing at us. We love it, and just laugh, and usually join in. With your new moving abilities, whenever you want one of us to pick you up, you crawl right up to our legs and grab onto our jeans and try to pull yourself up....you haven't been able to do so yet, but I am sure it will happen soon.
We love you so very much, and can't wait to see what else you have in store for us this month. We are so excited for all the possibilities there are in store for you in the months and years to come. Happy 9 month birthday!!!!