8 Months

Our Sweet Evelyn,

Another month has flown by and you're now 8 months old. Just when I didn't think it was possible, you have become even more of a delight this month. Your personality (and temper) has developed a lot this month. You have matured and grown tremendously. All of this growing has brought a lot of fun, but also some challenges.

The biggest thing that happened this month is that you have mastered crawling. I think it was just a day or two after you turned 7 months that you started crawling. One day you were doing a scooting/sliding action across the living room floor to get to Wesley, and the next you were crawling across the bedroom floor. You have figured out how to get what you want pretty quickly. Last week, you figured out that you can move a lot faster if you get up on your hands and feet. Honestly, you look a little like a gorilla, but it's still cute.

Crawling has brought on the need for discipline. Like a normal child, you are very curious about what is around. For the most part, you are over playing with the lamp cords. Wesley's bowl is still very tempting to you, but it has been better since we moved it. It's neat to watch your little mind work as you figure out that you're not supposed to be doing something. You enjoy following me around the house, but get mad if I don't acknowledge the fact that you worked so hard to crawl from one room to another following me. We enjoy playing a little game in the kitchen where you grab onto my pant leg and I have to get free and run to the other side of the kitchen. You think that's just hilarious.

This past week you have started pulling up to standing more and more. You were doing it here and there before, but now you will crawl right over to the couch and pull yourself up. You also like to pull up on the tile ledge of the bathtub and against the mirror. I've considered spanking you for pulling up because I'm not quite ready for that milestone.

We have been having more fun with food this month. Food is still very much fun and entertainment for you. New things you have tried this month are: peaches, blueberries, black-eye peas, frozen green peas, black beans, mashed potatoes, chicken, turkey, ground beef, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, pumpkin pie (thanks to Daddy), and chocolate pudding (again thanks to Daddy). You love peaches and blueberries in the morning. Frozen peas are a lot of fun to keep you entertained while I'm working in the kitchen. We celebrated your first Thanksgiving this month. You had your own little feast with us at the table. You had turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato, broccoli, green beans and carrots.

You have started to really like fun, silly songs. Of course, all of the classics are fun (ABC, Twinkle Twinkle, Row Row Row Your Boat, etc). Pat-A-Cake is one of your very favorites. You usually start clapping your hands as soon as we start singing. You also like "I'm a Little Teapot, " complete with the motions. A medley of any of the songs will usually work to keep you happy for a few minutes if you're on the verge of getting upset.

I am very thankful that you are very content to entertain yourself on the floor for quite a while. Since I like to enjoy holding you for naps (and that's about the only way you will sleep for more than 20 minutes), I have to get things done while you are awake. You will usually play with toys, crawl around following me, or chase the dog for 30 minutes to an hour before you get bored. You love to play with balls. You will play fetch with yourself, throwing the ball and crawling to get it. When you get tired of playing by yourself, you are happy to get on my back in the Ergo and ride along while I work.

Your temper has become more apparent this month. You will throw a temper tantrum if you get something taken away from you. We have started disciplining for throwing fits, which happens quite often. It's the most pathetic thing when you stick that poochy lip out. You have also started throwing yourself backward when you're mad. That's a lot of fun...not.

I'm pretty sure you're going to be a talker. You are constantly jabbering, from the moment you wake up until you fall asleep at night. And most of the time it's loud! You have added two new sounds this month: "na-na-na" and "mmmm." We're still trying to figure out if "na-na-na" is "no" or "Mama." You certainly hear both a lot. You say "mmmm" when you're eating something especially tasty.

You are such a happy baby. For the most part, you really are easy to entertain, you just need to be busy all the time! You can sleep for 30 seconds and be awake and happy for 2 or 3 hours. It's crazy. You love to laugh and smile. You are ticklish under your chin, but only when I pretend to "eat you." You are also ticklish on the chubby part of your thighs and booty. A good squeeze there can get big, belly laughs out of you.

You and Daddy love to play and be rough together. You love when he tosses you high in the air. It makes you squeal with delight. You also love when he puts you on his shoulders. You just smile and pull his hair. Daddy and I love to just sit and watch you play or play with you. You have become a lot of fun. We love throwing the ball and watching you crawl to get it, getting you to "talk" to us, playing peek-a-boo, or letting you crawl all over us on the floor.

You're a delight and pure sunshine. I love having you crawl around at my feet. I love when you want to cuddle after you've been spanked. I love when you come crawling toward me with your mouth open for a kiss. I love you, sweet girl, even when I've had to correct you for the fifth time in three minutes.

 

 

 

 

6 Months

Weight: 17 lbs 14 oz, 79th percentile
Height: 26 1/2 inches: 73rd percentile
Head: 16 1/2

My Girl,

You're six months old now and just as precious as ever. This has been such a fun month, yet one that has made my head spin. You are learning and growing faster than I can process. It seems like you are learning something new every time I turn around.

You have become a pro at rolling now. You can flip from your back to your front quite easily and do so often. It's a little more uncommon for you to go from back to front, but you can. You are much happier being on the floor now that you have figured out you can choose if you want to be on your back or tummy. When you are on your tummy, you are constantly tapping your left foot on the floor. It's rather cute.

It's amazing to think that just 4 months ago I was fighting with you to do 5 minutes of tummy time and worried about your torticollis. This month you have learned to get up on all fours and rock back and forth. You put your head down and it's obvious you are trying to figure out how to crawl. You can scoot backwards, but haven't figured out the forward motion yet. I'm not in any hurry for you to figure it out. I know that once you start crawling you are going to be into EVERYTHING! You also like to try to get into a sitting position from all fours. It usually results in you falling on your face. You're a tough little thing though and don't put up much of a fuss. You continue to scoot around on your back quite well.

Up on all fours

This is what happens when you can only go backward

You have also mastered sitting unassisted this month. It's so nice to put you down with a few toys and let you play while I take care of something else. Mum bought a new toy for you to play with on the floor and you do a great job sitting and playing with it. You still occasionally fall backward or tip over if you're reaching for something. You are trying to sit yourself up from lying down, but you can mainly get your head and shoulders up and get frustrated.

We have reached the fun stage of you grabbing at everything! When I hold you, your hands are constantly going for my glasses or necklace. Your stretch arms can reach things I would never imagine you can reach. It has become difficult to hold you on my lap while I eat, because you are swiping at the plate, throwing my napkin down, trying to grab my drink, or sticking your hand in my plate.

Trying an apple

We have been playing around with some food this month, but you still aren't showing much interest. You have tried apples, blueberries, carrot, celery, honeydew and sweet potato. Each time you take a few licks or maybe one small taste, but get bored quickly. Most of the food I've put in the mesh feeder, but some we have fed you off our plate.

Your personality is really coming out now. You are such a happy, social baby with a strong will. You jabber and "sing" all day. Sometimes I catch you staring at me and you will smile at me with one glance. You love to play pat-a-cake and sing silly songs. The jumper is still one of your favorite activities and now you enjoy playing with your new ball-popping toy from Mum. You like to mock your Daddy when he makes noise at you. It's fun to think that in just a few months those babbling sounds will turn into words. I know you have a lot to share!

You have learned that your mouth can do all kinds of fun things. You like to blow spit bubbles, stick your tongue out and suck on it, and try to give kisses. You're not very consistent with the kisses, but if I make kissing sounds and say "give me a kiss," you will often open up and attack my face. It's sweet and slobbery.



See my tongue?

Another delightful month has come and gone. Another month full of smiles and giggles. Another month full of sweet kisses and warm snuggles. Another month of joyful days. I love you to the moon and back. Keep growing, sweet baby!

 

Eating paper is a favorite hobby

 Other milestones I want to remember:

• Sitting in shopping cart
• Paying more attention to Wesley and pulling his hair
• Sleeping in crib for part of the night and co-sleeping the rest of the night
• Transferring objects from hand to hand
• Reaching for toys and working to get toys out of reach
• Got a second tooth on the bottom
• Playing with and using a sippy cup (usually with a little water, sometimes pumped milk)

5 Months

Weight: estimating 17 1/2 pounds



Princess,

You can't be 5 months already. It's just not possible. I must admit that I've been a little sad to see you turn 5 months. That means you're just one month away from being half a year old. I'm trying not to blink too much, because I know you will be one before I even know it.

This month has been full of changes. You are growing and changing every day. It's hard for me to keep track of all you're learning, because you are learning something new nearly every day. I thought I took a lot of pictures and videos before, but now it's my only hope for remembering this special time.

We started this month by transitioning you from the car seat stroller to the jogging stroller for walks. You love being able to see out and look around as we walk. You enjoy taking in the sights for about 15 minutes, then carry on with your nap. You look so big, yet so tiny in the stroller.

As I wrote last week, you also transitioned out of your rock n play at night. We've tried the pack n play some, but most nights you end up just sleeping in bed with us. It does make nighttime nursing a lot easier and we love having you close to us. In addition to not sleeping in the rock n play anymore, we also had to wean you off of being swaddled with the Miracle Blanket. We're using a sleep sack now, but you're still adjusting to your arms flailing around and waking you up.

This month you have become too big for your bouncy seat and swing. You sit in your high chair in the kitchen while I'm working or at the table while I'm eating. We also added a new toy...your jumper. Boy do you love that thing! The funny thing is you always fuss when we put you in it, but then as soon as we turn on the music and give you a little starter bounce, you love it! You've figured out how to play with most of the toys on it, even turning the pages on the little book part. You love the jumper so much that you rubbed a little blister on your big toe this week from so much jumping!

You have finally rolled over some this month, though I wouldn't say you've mastered it. You did it 3 times on day and a few other times here and there. Being the little turkey you are, you will get your whole body over except for the arm under you, but then flip back and give up. I'm not in too much of a hurry for you to get it down, because I know that you will be rolling all over the house. I'm satisfied with knowing that you do know how to do it.

Your main mode of independent transportation is scooting on your back. You bend your legs and push off with your feet, inch-worming around on your back. You can go pretty fast and get around quite well. I let you scoot around on the carpet at church last Sunday and you came home with a rug burn. You are constantly scooting off your play mat or blanket on the floor. It makes you very frustrated when you scoot into the corner of your crib and get stuck.

One of the biggest changes this month is that you got a tooth! One little tooth on the bottom. Thankfully, it wasn't too miserable of an experience. I am thankful for your amber necklace to help with the pain. Sleeping has been a bit sporadic and you have been nursing more frequently, but you haven't really been very fussy.

You and I took a trip up to Illinois to meet some more of your family this month. We flew on a big airplane and you did great! I was so proud when we landed in St. Louis and two men behind us were shocked because they didn't realize there was a baby in front of them. You had a great week in Illinois and got thoroughly spoiled. You were able to meet your Great Grandpa and Grandma Corn and spend some time with both of your cousins.

You are a joy and a delight, my girl. Your personality is developing more and more with each day. You love to smile and laugh. Your smile is absolutely contagious. Just this month you have started smiling at everyone you see as we're out and about. You love when your Daddy comes home and gives you kisses. Sometimes you like to play hard to get and turn away from him right as he's going to kiss you. You continue to discover your voice more and more. You jabber up a storm and squeal constantly. This past Sunday you squealed through most of evening services. Your jabbering has started to include some "da-da" sounds. I have been quick to let you know that "ma-ma" is a better sound to make.

There is so much more I could tell you, yet not enough words to say it all. As I tell you countless times a day, I love you, I love you, I love you. You are my sweet girl and my joy. I love spending my days with you and kissing you as much as I want. I will never get tired of feeling your soft skin on my lips and smelling your sweet milky breath.

 

Other things I want to remember about this month:

• Graduated from infant insert to just sitting in the baby tub (supported)
• Started reaching for and playing with bath toys
• Started playing with/chewing on Sophie the Giraffe
• Reaching for toys out of your reach
• Watching Wesley and smiling/laughing at him
• Can sit up with Boppy pillow behind you
• Love to pull yourself up to standing when we hold your hands
• Started reaching hands up if I go to pick you up

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Months

Weight: 16 lbs, 83%
Height: 25 inches, 72%
Head: 16 inches, 50%

Our sweet girl,

You're four months old now and just a bundle of joy. You instantly light up with a great big smile in the morning, which makes it pretty hard not to smile right back. Mornings are definitely your happiest time. We've started a little routine of changing your diaper first thing, then I put you in your crib for a little naked time and air out from the night. Oh my, does that make you happy! After you've had enough naked time, I put you in your bouncer in the kitchen with me while I make breakfast.

This month you've become much more interactive. You will laugh the sweetest little belly laughs that make this Mama's heart happy. You're starting to show more interest in your toys, mainly your dancing ant thing. Unfortunately, it suffered an untimely death last week, but we're working on getting a new one. I have to admit, I was a little sad when it stopped working, because it's the first toy you've shown an interest in.

Tummy time is easy breezy now. You don't need to use the Boppy at all and you just have a good ol' time. You're starting to pull your legs up under you and scoot just a little bit. You look so big holding your head up and looking around. When you're on your back, you've started pushing off with your feet and scooting around backwards. You can get off your blanket in no time. The days of just putting you down on the bed while I run to the bathroom are over! You are so close to rolling over too! You did roll from your stomach to your back one time. You can get on your side with one leg kicked over, but then fall back.  

 

 

We've started going to story time at the library once a week and you love it. We read books together at home all the time and you enjoy that, so adding the fun of other kids is just extra exciting. You like to watch the other kids playing and singing. I was surprised by how much you like the songs with the hand motions (Patty Cake, Twinkle Twinkle, ABC). I'm excited to make a little reader out of you!

Daddy and I have loved getting to hear your voice more. You have learned how to squeal, which is adorable. You jabber constantly and add a little squeal here and there. Sometimes when I have music on in the car, you will let out this long jabbering/moan sound like you're trying to sing along. At least that's what I make of it.

We took you to the beach for the first time this month. Honestly, it was not enjoyable. It was super hot, even though we had a nice tent. There were bugs flying around and biting me. You kept getting sand on your hands and rubbing it in your eyes. You wouldn't nurse because you were too hot. We only stayed about an hour and a half. We'll save the beach for when you're a little older and it's not the middle of the summer.

You experienced your first long church meeting weekend this month and did great! I have to admit, it was a lot of fun picking out all the dresses you would get to wear and dressing you up for 5 services. You did so well during each of the services and didn't seem too out of your routine. You are still a bit of a Mama's girl (but growing out of that more each day), so you didn't want too many people to hold you during the weekend.

You had your first long car trip this month. We took you back to Mississippi to see your Papaw and Great Grandma Kate and to meet Uncle Bryan, Aunt Jenn, and Cousin Everett who were visiting. I was nervous about how you would do in the car for that long. You did great on the way there. I sat with you in the back and played with your toys and read you books. You only cried for a few minutes each time you fought your nap, but then you slept great. The trip back home was a different story. I think you got a little too spoiled during the week in Mississippi. You were much fussier and spent a big chunk of the drive screaming. It was a little miserable at times.

 

You stopped taking your pacifier this month, which is completely fine with me. You never were very attached to it, just wanting it on occasion when you would be going to sleep. I would always have it with me anywhere we went and carry it around the house all day, just in case you NEEDED it. Thankfully, you decided you don't want it at all anymore and it's so liberating. One less thing to worry about when I'm packing the diaper bag.

You are such a sweet, happy, healthy baby girl. I love being able to stay home and spend every day with you. From the moment you wake me up with your big smile and we snuggle in bed to the bedtime nursing and snuggling, I try to just soak up the moments.You melt my heart with your smile. One of my very favorite things is to kiss you on your cheeks and mouth and just take in your sweet, milky, baby breath. Kissing you is something I do about a thousand times a day. My favorite is when you've fallen asleep and your lips are all poochy. So sweet!  In some ways, I'm sad that you're growing out of the newborn things and developing more. But I'm also excited for each new thing you learn.