T-Minus 121 days to 1 year

In other words, Happy 8 Months, David!

If possible, you are even cuter and more fun than ever before!

You have learned a new trick this month...I have found you in your crib standing watching the mobile go round and round since you figured out how to turn it on. (And this requires some skill! It actually takes pushing the button twice to turn it on)

You are now pulling up on everything, and I mean everything! I was out of the room for a minute last week and came back in to find you on the first step of the stairs attempting to scale the second step! Since then, you have managed to get up a couple of steps but with Mama's supervision. You often crawl now with your feet flat on the floor and your bottom up in the air because you so desperately want to stand. I also regularly find myself dragging you around the floor as you pull up on my legs at least a dozen times a day. You will even let go with one hand. So close to standing on your own! (Well, I should add, you can stand on your own for a couple of seconds. We even have it on tape! But never longer than that...yet.)

You will cruise the furniture if you see something you want on it, but not just to get around yet. You will walk though, when we hold onto both hands and walk with you. And when not walking, you are showing your natural curiosity and exploring every corner of the house! You also chase after the vacuum cleaner...

What a great investment your activity table was! You find it the perfect height to pull up on and this is probably your favorite toy at the moment. You also really like any ball (either to put in your mouth or to chase around the floor), your little tikes workbench, and you are showing even more interest in books as Mama reads to you.

We have changed your schedule quite a bit this month, moving you from 5 bottles a day before to more formula at each feeding and now only 4 times a day. This normally means 7:30 or 8:00 am, 11:30-12:00 a.m., 3:30ish, and 6:00ish p.m. We have reverted back to a bedtime of 6:30 since Mama and Daddy need their time together. This new schedule also means your naps have changed a bit too. Mostly still about 3+ hours of napping a day, normally split into at least a one hour nap and a two hour nap. (or as below, even succumbing to exhaustion in the stroller on the way home from storytime.) You do not nap well out of the house, though, as a general rule.

You still love your bath time! In fact, any water is OK with you--whether tub, sink, bowl, outside etc...You don't even mind it in your eyes. You just shake it off and keep playing, i.e. crawling, in the tub.

You got your two bottom teeth this month too! But not before some crankiness, a huge loss in appetite temporarily, and a little bit less sleep.

Your feeding horizons have broadened to take in some bites of Mama's table food occasionally and other rarities like dirt, sticks, bluebonnets, leaves etc... Just a couple of days ago, you also added cut-up grapes, watermelon, and cucumbers to your list of edibles. You are quite capable of finger-feeding yourself, but the feeling of grapes and bananas in your fingers somehow does not appeal to you. You are quite happy eating them though if Mama feds them to you.

Did I mention you suck your thumb often now? With those teeth? Ouch!

Mama has finally given up on putting you in your 0-3 month clothing (with only a very few exceptions) and even many of the 6-9 month outfits are getting snugger. You have a pair of 12 month pjs that you fit quite nicely!

You went to your second car show this month as well as several storytimes, a Sunday school picnic, an Easter egg hunt (no interest in the eggs), your Daddy's softball game, your first Walk for Life, your first playtime MDO with friends, your first time to dye Easter eggs, your first professional photos, and are now enjoying (or sometimes enjoying-- if not too tired) a new Sunday school class after promotion to the "crawlers" class mid-way through this month. It's about time, I suppose!

Dying your first Easter egg

You are also now riding in your big boy carseat (still facing backward). You have much more room to chill out and lounge!

You are exhibiting your will quite strongly at times now. However, along with that, you are also beginning to understand how to obey. Mama had removed a painting from over your changing table for several months because you wanted to touch it and had knocked it off the wall several times. Last month when I told you "no, don't touch," you just laughed and tested the waters again. A few spankings later for other things has taught you to obey so when I put the picture back on the wall this month, you obediently removed your hand when I told you not to touch. How pleasing your obedience is to God! (and your parents)

You love your Daddy! You smile every time he walks into the room! (and what fun you have when he plays with you!) But not to leave me out, you also light up when I come in and get you out of your crib in the morning.

We love you, David! Can't wait to see what joy next month brings...

Happy 8 Months!