8 months

Dear Adelyn,

I don't know where all the time has gone! I know it was just yesterday that we brought you home from the hospital and now you are 8 months old. Last night I was holding you and rocking you to sleep, you are teething and in so much pain all I could do was rock you and eventually you fell asleep. But I was rocking you and I remembered when you were a newborn and would sleep on my chest. Now your legs reach all the way down to my hips. You have grown so much! I am cherishing every minute I get with you right now. I know it will not be long before this stage is over and we are in toddlerhood. You amaze me everyday with what you are learning and how you grow. I swear if you wanted to crawl you could. You sure like to trick mommy into thinking you are going to at least. You will be on all fours rocking thinking about moving and then roll over at the last second. We are beginning to think you are doing it on purpose ;) Oh but boy can you get around! You use a combination of rolling and scooting and what your daddy likes to call wallering. All I know is that I look away for two seconds and you are five feet to the right and getting into something.

 

This is exactly what I am talking about. I went to the bathroom for a minute came back and found this... You had gotten into the magazines and were looking though a scrapbook. You love books and I think you liked this one because it has lots of cool textures in it. Luckily nothing was harmed and it wasn't too much of a mess. It just means Daddy and I need to get going with the baby proofing.

Lately you have not been my "perfect sleeper" not that I am complaining becasue you still sleep a lot more than some babies your age, but it has been different. I think it has to do with you teething and us trying to transition you to your crib. You have also gotten to be what can only be described as whiny. Again I think teething has a lot to do with this and also the fact that you can't communicate your needs to us yet. While we understand it has been difficult some days (especially the days you decide not to nap!) I have decided to try and teach you some sign language so you can tell us what you want. Your daddy thinks I am crazy, but we will see how it turns out. You haven't signed anything yet, but I am hopeful. I have read a lot about it and people say it works wonders. I guess we will see. 

You now weight 20 lbs! You are such a healthy girl, and boy do you love to eat. I have stopped giving you pureed baby food. I tried making some on my own for a while but I have found you really just prefer to feed yourself. Plus it is helping with your fine motor skills and makes it easier on mommy come meal time. I can sit you in the high chair give you some soft finger foods and eat my own meal while you feed yourself. It is all part of what is called baby led feeding and I am a huge fan of the idea. Some of your favorite foods are zucchini and squash, peaches, plums, blueberries (you love them frozen), bananas, broccoli, and of course you still love the puffs and yogurt melts. I keep trying to let you experience new things as often as I can. you had green beans for the first time last night and I think you really liked them. You make a huge mess but it is still totally worth is in my book.

Here you are eating plums. I think you really enjoyed them.

Just look at those fine motor skills. You amaze me!

You with a whole peach. You devoured this thing! I had to pry it from your hands so I would get the pit out.

You have really started to warm up to Sam recently. You find him fascinating and I can tell that you are going to be best buds. You haven't quiet gotten the whole being gentle thing yet but Sam is so good he lets you pull on his fur and scratch at this face and never even blinks an eye. You light up every time you see Sam and I just know he is going to be your best protector and friend.

We went to the park for the first time the other day. Daddy was in an interview for a job at the Sheriff's office and we were across the street from the park so I decided to take you out for a swing. You were not crazy about it at first as you can probably tell from the picture, but before long you were falling asleep. At this age the park is not the most exciting place, but I know it won't be long before we are going to the park regularly and you are all over everything.

You love shopping. You really are usually so great when we are out in public. You love to observe everything! Here you are at Target wearing Aunt Becky's sunglasses.

We are so proud of you. You grow and learn something new everyday. I love every second of being your mom even on the rough days, but especially in moments like this :)