8 month update

Will!!  You are 8 months.  Well into being 8 months actually, since I'm over 2 weeks overdue on this update.  I'll try to focus on the things that happened last month even though you're changing every day.

Most notably, this month you really went from "kinda mobile" to "way more mobile," and yes, that changes things.  I'm really not sure how a second kid survives all the choking/house/older sister/life hazards.  On went all the outlet covers (you can reach them), eyes are now always peeled for tiny beads and little doll shoes and pieces of trash (my neighbor caught you with a hair tie in your mouth when we saw her out on a walk.  I had no clue).  I think we're all going to survive, but I have to admit, the heightened vigilance is pretty tiring!

terrorizing Addie's calico critters while she slept. wuahahaha

 So yeah, you're into lots of things, but that's also really fun.  It's so exciting to see you so excited about so many things, and able to get yourself around to explore.  You're still only army-crawling, which is pretty efficient though very messy with a Golden Retriever around, despite my best daily vacuuming efforts.  Crawling also opens up that door that never really closes... discipline.  Right now that just looks like training (over, and over, and over), but no, it's not OK to touch the dog bowl.  But back on the positive, you're able to join sissy to play, and I find you two together all the time.  Warms this little only-child's heart to no end!

this is how we like to wake up addie from her nap.

You love food.  All food.  I haven't found anything you don't love yet, and you're eating pretty much anything we eat (minus the hard crunchy things). When you're hungry you smack your lips really hard, which is so funny.  You can feed yourself and enjoy it, and I enjoy that too.  Some of your favorites are bananas, cheese, crackers, SQUEEZY PACKS, oatmeal, avocado, pizza, and pasta, but really I could keep typing because I'm not sure anything wouldn't make the cut as your favorite.

Sleep is still good - naps are consistent now at around 9 and 1:30, for 1.5 hours each.  You go down easily and quickly, and the best new thing you do (and started on your own) is SOAK my whole face with a huge kiss right before I put you down, which you also find hilarious and always end up cracking yourself up over.  I can't make this stuff up.  You're down for the night between 6:30 and 7, and this month still wanted to eat once during the night, which I was making you wait until after 2am for, much to your chagrin.  (At the time of writing this you slept all the way through the night two nights in a row, so maybe we're close to that being a real thing?!)

actual waking-up face every day.

No teeth on the day you turned 8 months, but you did get one two days later, which would explain the revived geyser of drool and committed finger-chewing.  Otherwise I didn't really see any signs of it coming.  Being a late tooth bloomer makes me a little worried they'll erupt at once, but hey, one down, so good job.

 

Your smile, laugh, and happy personality are so readily apparent.  Grocery store, church, post office - you have joy to spare and share.  What a blessing you are not just to us, but to everyone you cheer up with that soaking-wet grin.

It's hard to believe there was ever a time you weren't here.  We love you more each day!