8 Months

Really? Eight months? Meaning in just four short months she is going to be one? And a toddler? No. I'm not ready for that.

This little (okay, not so little) girl has turned into such a great baby. She is always smiling unless she is hungry or tired. Or if she realizes her mama is not holding her. She babbles a lot and really wants to repeat little words. She says Dada and Mama and sometimes tries to say bye-bye but it doesn't come out quite right. She dances to music and grins so big when we sing or play her favorite songs - "I Like to Move It" and "Peanut Butter Jelly Time." She also knows how to give a high five when you ask for one (especially when Papa asks for one).

She is so so so close to crawling but just hasn't quite figured it out. She gets up on all fours and sometimes scoots forward without really realizing it. She also likes to stand with help. Her favorite toys are a baby laptop toy and a pop up toy where the little animals pop up out of their doors when you push a button. She is not much of a cuddler and rarely likes to just be rocked and held which is so different than what Kyler was like. That's probably the hardest thing about her right now since it's difficult to comfort or calm her at times. She is sometimes more comfortable in her bed, stroller, or car seat than in our arms. But she still gives us some sloppy kisses and grabs on tight when she is lifted into my arms and excitedly buries her head into my neck.

Still no teeth but we think she has really been working on them. Usually when she is screaming at night and the Orajel quiets her immediately. She has also had some very loose stools for about a week now which we are pretty sure is from teething since she is eating, drinking, acting, and sleeping fine. She is eating mostly regular foods now, cut up into small pieces. Once in a while we still do baby cereal or baby food along with whatever else we have. And she has started drinking a couple of bottles of whole milk each day. She is nursing the rest of the time. She does great drinking from a sippy cup and doesn't seem to prefer a bottle to them much which is good news for weaning from the bottle in a few months. We just need to get her to be able to pick the cup up and hold it herself.

Myelle is in size 2 diapers and fits best in 9 or 12 months clothes. She is a little chubber. I am going to miss the bare baby feet and seeing those chubby thighs when it cools down and we have to cover her up more. We are still sure she is our last (unless we get the surprise of a lifetime), but it definitely makes Brett and I sad that all of the baby things she does that are so cute will be coming to an end sooner than we will be ready. The babbles, flapping excited arms and feet making little circles, the leg up in the air and toes in the mouth, the gummy smile, baby laughs, and on and on will truly be missed.