8 months crept up on us faster than we could have ever imagined. As the months fly by I keep asking myself...Will this really be our last baby? Is this the last time for all of these firsts? Ugh. The decision is so hard to make and not that we have to make it right now, it's that, "I want to know feeling." I definitely can't part with anything, not yet anyways. He has 3 totes of clothes in his closet, a baby bath, baby sling for the tub and countless other things. Everyone says, "You'll know when your done" (meaning having children). I sure hope whatever the decision maybe, it hits me hard and soon.
EIGHT MONTHS.
Likes:
- Sitting independently
- Grabbing for anything and everything (his capability for reach from the sitting position is out of this world).
- Hanging out in the buff--every morning we strip him down to his diaper so he grab his toesies
- LOVES being held and walking around
- Playing peek-a-boo & being tickled
- Is totally amused by watching his big brother act crazy
- Puppy dog kisses
- Ladies in general
- Eating
- Splashing in the tub in his new bath chair
- Snuggling with blankets
- Spinning in circles and being held upside down (those giggles are the best)
Dislikes:
- Having to wait for food
- Getting dressed
- Diaper changes
- Car seat
- Laying flat (unless he's got his toes)
- Being held in the baby position
- Left alone in a room
- Tummy time
Biggest Achievement of the Month:
- Sleeping in his crib in his own room. It happened. First we started out nap times in his bed (which went OK) and one night I laid him in bed. I started to think he looked to squashed in his bassinet and just looked so much more comfortable all sprawled out with his hands above his head. At first I don't know if it was harder on him or harder on me (likely on me). Honestly two rooms down felt like 10,000 miles apart. It's been a couple weeks adjusting, but I think we are on the road to success. If I had to put down the stats I would say he's sleeping through the night about 3 out of 7 days per week. That is HUGE progress being made people, HUGE!
Biggest Challenge of the Month:
- Sleep. But did you read the paragraph above? Yes, the boy slept through the night for the first time since January! Alleluia! Making progress, so I'm not complaining!
Sleep: It's finally on the right track to happening! Yes, yes, and yes! Naps are getting more predictable. Generally speaking if he wakes up at 4 or 5 he'll down a bottle go back to sleep until 6:30/7:00. In fact, I slept in until 7:05 yesterday! Give me another Alleluia! Then he naps in the morning about 9/10 for an hour or a little longer, afternoon about 1/2 maybe another hour or so and evening about 6 pm to 7. He's usually tucked into bed by 9 at the very latest depending on whether or not he took his 6 pm nap. From now until about 18 months his bed time will get earlier and earlier and he has longer awake periods. Right now overall we send out kids to bed later and that is because #1. It's still light until 9 pm, #2. It's summer, it's nice out, we spend all winter and spring hibernating and #3. We both work full time, we would like to hang out with our kids as much as we can especially when they are little and we are still on their "cool" list.
Personality/Temperament: He's a happy baby! If you would have asked me when he was 6 weeks old I would have told you a much different story. He loves life, loves his family, loves being the center of attention. He also loves watching, it's as almost if he is paying attention to what your conversation is about when your talking to someone, he's definitely sucking in every ounce of his surroundings.
He's least happy: It's a tie between being hungry and waiting for food. I've accepted I'll never ever be fast enough.
He's most happy: Playing in the bath tub/pool...he's half fish I swear.
Baby Talk/Communication: Crying is his best form of communication in wanting to get something. He is very expressive is smiles, giggles and happy coos. He isn't doing a lot of baby talk, but does like to imitate noises we make. I think next month we will begin early sign language, but I don't remember Harrison picking it up until he was about a year old.
Eating: Have you seen his thighs? Yep, don't think he has ever missed a meal! Most people's reactions when they see him? "He looks healthy." Yes, a very healthy appetite indeed. He'll eat anything you put in front of him. His only request, warm milk...not cool, no luke warm...but WARM, WARM. And you think you can sneak one of the luke warm bottle by him when your out in public? Not happening. A side from solid food he is eating about 4 to 6 ounces of formula.
He's nursing every once in a while. He gets so distracted (by anything and everything) while eating so it's gets frustrating for the person trying feeding him. This prompted me to start slowing down with feedings and start backing away from pumping. I'm down to pumping about 2-3 times a day. I hate to sound selfish, but I am honestly enjoying this new found freedom from the pump. I can't tell you how many times I've had to arrange my day around pumping or how many car rides/back seats I've spent pumping. I plan to completely be done by 9 months if not sooner---it's a slow/steady process.
Sizing him up: He's a heavy guy. At least 20 lbs, I'm guessing (Harrison was almost 20 lbs at 12 months). We have his 9 month well check-up next month. I don't know why, but for some reason I always think my child looks younger than another child of equal age. To me, there is no way he looks like he is 8 months old. I don't know if it's the lack of hair, the extra rolls he carries around or what it is, but really he looks more 6 months to me. Adjusting his prematurity we can place him at 7 months. There, see he is older than he looks. Maybe this trend will follow him in life.
Teeth: He's all gums. I don't expect teeth for another month or two at the very earliest. I hope to enjoy these gummy smiles for as long as possible!
Motor Skills: Tummy time is not welcomed by open arms with this guy. He hates it in fact. He doesn't attempt to roll over unless you put him on his belly. Physically his shoulder strength is weak. I think it's probably about equal to Harrison's at this age and we worked with him everyday. We are working on building this skill. I requested they do more tummy time with him at daycare and we work on it every evening at our home. Welcome back to baby boot camp! It's not that I am so eager for him to crawl (I'm enjoying this un-mobile period of time), it's the more this is where you need to be physically. You always want see your child succeed so giving the the tools to do it with only help them achieve that.
Out & About: Thank goodness for no stranger anxiety yet. This guy practically draws in a crowd no matter where we go, especially with the ladies.We ate at Perkins the other morning and I think every waitress went out of their way to come talk to him. The couple behind us was just leaving as we arrived and a gentlemen turned to his wife and said, "Oh man, we are leaving at the wrong time, look a baby just arrived." They actually spent a good 5 minutes chatting with us and sucking up his smiles. I can't remember people being so bold with Harrison. Just the other day, about 5-6 people stopped to talk to Miles while I was grocery shopping with him. I think I am going to have to start planning social time into our outings.
Firsts of the month: Drinking from a sippy cup.
Fave baby gear: Double stroller we are borrowing from our neighbors.
I haven't done an official 8 month session (but I have big plans for one)---if #1 I can find what I'm looking for and then #2 convincing the other half to let me get it.
Here is our littlest man!
