Happy 8 Month Birthday little lady! You are growing up so fast, I can hardly believe it. I've already started thinking about your first birthday party!
We'll begin with your 8 Month photos and throw in some videos a little later.
We have to hold the sign to keep you from grabbing it off the floor and eating it.
Love this one :)
Clapping!
Daddy had to work all day, so Aunt Tina got to be in your monthly photo again!
Here is what's been new with you:
Your hair is really starting to grow in and we always laugh at the little "point" of hair that you have at the base of your skull. Also you have some random longer strands of hair that go over your ears and we joke that they keep your ears warm. I adore your sparse hair :)
Also, big news for this month is that miraculously you have been WAY better about napping. Don't know how or why, but you suddenly decided that it's not worth the fight and you've stopped crying at nap time! You take two naps a day, for one to two hours each. You don't always fall asleep immediately, but you barely ever cry, and that has helped mommy's nerves immensely. One of the most heart-wrenching sounds in the world to a mommy is the sound of her baby crying. I hate it (and you know it!), so I do whatever I can to make it all better. But that has lead to another problem. Daddy laughs because now when I walk in the room and don't pick you up, you cry. Uh oh. But when I give you something to play with, you are usually able to amuse yourself for a while.
You are sitting up with no problem and we don't worry about you toppling over as much anymore. You can also stand for a short time while holding onto something! For those reasons, we finally lowered your crib this month. We don't want you hurling yourself out of there!
You love to clap and imitate when other people clap. It's fun because you know the word, so you'll do it on command! I still need to get a good video of you clapping, because it's so fun to watch.
We've discovered that blowing kisses gets you to laugh, and that continues to be Mommy and Daddy's favorite sound in the whole wide world.
You still love to babble and I swear I've heard you say "Mom Mom". Maybe it's all in my head, but those are the syllables that you sometimes say when you are upset and want to be picked up. Coincidence? I think not. ;) "Da da" is still your favorite word though :)
Your current favorite thing to do is hang out in your doorway jumper. You LOVE it, and it gives those little legs quite the workout!
You are eating more solid foods than last month, and we are up to 3 meals a day like a big girl! I make all of your food at home and we've been trying something new every week. In the morning you have a fruit (usually mashed banana) and rice cereal. Lunch and dinner both consist of one fruit and one veggie with some rice cereal mixed into one of them. Pretty soon we're going to start you on some meats too. What fun, huh?!
You are nursing 4 times a day, and I think we'll park it there for awhile. Once in the morning, twice during the day, and once before bed. You spit up so much less than you used to and I think it's a combination of spending more of your time upright and having more solid food in your belly. You no longer need a bib at all times, although you still spend a lot of time in them because you are a drool factory. But we do have the occasional days that we declare "bibless" to give you a break.
You still sleep all night for anywhere from 12-13 hours straight! Mommy and Daddy love that, so keep it up, OK? I love putting you to bed and getting you up in the morning. Those are my two favorite times with you.
I look forward to seeing your little smiling face every morning. I try to get up before you (between 6 and 7) so that I can have my coffee and breakfast before we start our day. Then you usually get up between 7 and 8 (sometimes later, you lazy bones!). I walk into your room and as soon as you see me, your face lights up like a firefly. I love that more than you could ever imagine. You make my face light up too, Addy Marie.
At night after I feed you we turn off the lights and I stand next to your crib holding you for a minute or two. And recently you've taken that time to suck your thumb and snuggle into my chest. You are not much of a snuggler in general, so I love those precious moments with you at the end of the day.
Addy, you can't even begin to imagine how much you are loved. Your whole family looks forward to every minute they get to spend with you, and that fact fills my heart with joy. You truly are the light of our lives. I love you so much that it brings tears to my eyes for no reason sometimes! I hope that every mother feels the intense love for their babies that I feel for you. It's the best feeling in the world. I thought I knew love before you, but I had no idea. You are my precious baby, my bestest bud, my little girl.
I love your forever and for always.
Love,
Mommy
She is just the cutest little nugget at this age - that video of her giggling is priceless! I can't wait to visit again at the end of October!!
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