8 Months

Dear Nolan,

Today, you are 8 months old! You are growing up way too fast. This age is a lot of fun, but I think I've said that every month! I'm not sure of your weight, but I'd guess around 18.5 pounds. Compared to a couple of other babies we know around your age, you are a little smaller... but you are definitely in the "average" category as far as percentiles, clothes, etc. go.

**8 month photos here**

So, what are you up to?! Well, you are definitely up to something all the time! You now roll constantly... all the way across the room. You get up on your hands and knees and rock back and forth, but when you actually try to move you still scoot backwards. You've stood on your own (holding onto something) for a few seconds at a time, and you've gotten yourself to a sitting position from laying down. Diaper changes are a big hassle now as you always want to roll around or sit up. Your hand-eye coordination is getting better, as well as your pincer grasp. You can *almost* do it! Whereas you used to play with the whole toy, now you concentrate on little moving parts of them. You spin the beads and pinch the ribbons instead of just shoving the whole thing in your mouth or waving it around. Speaking of waving, I think you are starting to! When you get excited, or when someone comes/goes, you often wave your left arm up and down. You haven't involved the hand yet, but I'm sure it's coming!

You are SO determined. You don't like to fall over when you are reaching for something and the other day I watched you reach and squirm and scoot for a book for a good 5 minutes. You finally got it. :) I have to restrain from getting things for you and catching every little fall so that you can learn to do things yourself, but it's hard. You are very inquisitive. A plastic easter egg that is attached had you trying to pull it apart for at least 10 minutes. That led to you throwing it across the room, falling backwards, and banging your legs on the ground. Oh yeah, you have a little temper too. ;)

You are loving solid foods now! You eat two meals a day- oatmeal with a fruit/fruit mix in the late morning, and veggies and a little fruit at dinner time. You eat about 4 ounces each time. You aren't loving green veggies, but want every last bite of the orange ones. I haven't found a fruit yet that you won't devour. You are also loving "puffs" broken in half. You're still breastfeeding of course. It's going well, except that you now like to pinch me the entire time! I keep your nails trimmed short and I still have itty bitty bruises all over the back of my arms. Silly boy.

Sleep... well, isn't that the area that's just "meh" every month? :) You were doing better, but then you got sick again. Then I got the bright idea of trying to move you to your room and that was terrible. You're actually only waking up about 2x a night to nurse and you go right back to sleep... the problem is that you like to take up our whole bed and you like to kick us. I don't mind so much though (shhhh, don't tell daddy!).

You had a BIG month as far as travel and outings go. We went to WV and visited our old friends and went to a baseball game. We then went to KY from there for my cousin's wedding. You had a good time but it was hard to keep you on a schedule, and we suffered from it the following week. You actually slept pretty well in the hotels, which surprised me. You went to your first birthday party and enjoyed watching all of the big kids. You even had your first (tiny) taste of cake! Hey, what's a party without cake! :) You got to play on the swings at the park for the first time, too. At first you weren't so sure (in fact, you cried) but then it got better and you LOVED it. Now you squeal and laugh and it's adorable. We love taking you to swing! As the weather gets nicer, I think we'll be doing it more and more often.

We celebrated Easter this month. You were very spoiled with 4 Easter baskets and some books. People sure love you! You really liked checking out all of your new goodies and playing with the grass. You did not love the Easter Bunny so much, or momma dressing you up as a bunny to take photos. Maybe next year!

You're just a great little baby. I love you so much and it's obvious that you're pretty smitten with me as well. You give me kisses and pat my back. You snuggle your head into my shoulder and reach for me constantly. You light up (and whine if I don't come immediately) when I come into a room. I love this age. As a newborn it's hard to see the love back from your baby, but you sure show me now. :)

Always remember how much we love you. We would do anything to make you happy.
All my love, forever and ever,
Momma