My oh My...8 Months!

Ethan, little buddy, this is probably the hardest entry for me to write because I feel like my little baby is growing up so darn fast.  I know we tell you all the time how big you're getting but it really seems to have come true this past month.  Seemingly overnight you've become this wiggly, rolling, twisting, chatting, sitting up, finger food eating, big sloppy kiss giving little boy! 

This month you do not have a well-baby visit with the doctor so we won't know your stats.  You go back to the doctor August 20th.

Mommy has the summer off school so you do not have to wake up early.  Most of the time you wake up between 6:30-7:00 although you've been sleeping in the past few days until around 8:00.  With the later starts to the day, you've been going to bed a tad later at night, around 8:00.  Bedtime is usually pretty easy at this point.  After being fed, I lay you in your crib where you promptly roll to your belly and fall asleep.  We really don't even attempt the paci anymore because you don't care for it.  I do leave a little blankie in there for you to cuddle with along with Mr. Seahorse just for fun.  So far I'd say the later bedtimes have been positive because it gives you more time to hang out with Daddy when he gets home from work and you get more chances to eat dinner with us at night.

You've tried even more foods this past month and seem to enjoy them all.  Your favorite at the moment is yogurt.  You love when we mix fresh fruit in with it and can't seem to get enough.  Just yesterday you tried a big chunk of cantaloupe for the first time and really seemed to like it.  However, you did end up wearing most of the juice by the time you were finished.  You've also been experimenting by eating finger foods a little bit.  You love to smear bananas and avocado all over the high chair and your face before the meal is complete.

Naps have actually been very easy this month.  Mommy has learned that we should stay home and play until you get a good morning nap and then we get to go out and play.  You usually take two naps a day for a total of about 3 hours.  All Mommy has to do is feed you and you fall right to sleep.  This has made you a much happier baby during the day and Mommy gets a chance to get things done around the house or take a nap myself.

You are still wearing 6-9 month clothes and size 3 diapers.  You are wearing more and more big boy outfits now rather than sleepers and onesies because you have absolutely no patience for having your clothing fastened shut.  Diaper changes have also become more of an adventure.  Not only do you attempt to roll right off the changing pad but you've also recently discovered your... um...additional body parts and you can't keep your hands off it!

It is absolutely amazing to me how many skills you've accomplished this month.  You've perfected sitting up all by yourself for long periods of time.  When you get sick of sitting up, you brace yourself for the fall and lay back.  Laying on your back entertains you for a brief period of time until you are ready to roll about the room.  You've recently used this new skill to dig into daddy's book collection, to cuddle with your fur sisters, and to play with new toys.

Lately you've started pulling yourself up on chairs, bathtub sides, Mommy's shoulders, and while holding onto other people's fingers.  While holding onto our hands you've been able to take a few little baby steps as well!  Everyone was so excited when you started clapping to show excitement and waving bye bye to people regardless of if they are leaving the room or not.

You had so much fun visiting the beach for the very first time:  watching the waves, splashing in the swimming pool, and hanging out with all your family members.  When we returned from our trip you practiced swimming even more when we visited our swim club for the first time.  You had so much fun honoring your daddy in his very first Father's Day this month.  You made daddy feel so special and so loved.  You also got to visit Great Grandpa Ciolino that day.

Just last night you spent the night with Grandpa Craig and Grandma Linda for the first time.  They say you were such a good boy at their house but Mommy and Daddy sure had a rough day with you afterward.  You visited the park for the first time and spent a little time on the swings and slide.

We also tried cloth diapers once this month but didn't have much luck.  We may try again now that we know to add more absorbent layers.

We love you Baby Boy!