Baby Mim - 8 Months

Dear Mim,

Another month gone, in the blink of an eye.  I can't believe the months are just slipping by, one after another and I'm so helpless to stop them.  You are growing up right in front of me and I cannot believe my eyes some days when I look at the long, happy, round baby you've become.  Your newborn-ness has disappeared and it's been replaced with an excited curiosity and sweet personality that makes me reluctant to ever put you down or be out of your sight.  You are such a happy, lovely little thing, with your bright eyes, easy smile and fantastic giggle.  I just love spending time with you. 

Your personality is really starting to shine these days.  For the most part, you're easy going and love being toted around while we chase after your brother.  He is your favorite thing in the world and as long as you are around him, you're happy.  You love being part of the action and have started insisting (with very loud vocal objections) that you always be included, no matter what the activity.  Seriously, you do not need to be involved with changing your brother's diaper, but you will scream your head off if I leave you out of the process.  And god forbid that I sit you down to wash my hands or do anything without you on my hip - you are not having it.  You insist on being carried everywhere. 

I think part of the issue with you needing us to hold you is that you have no desire to learn how to crawl.  I'm convinced you'll skip crawling all together and go straight to waking.  You roll like a champ and can rock on all fours, but you haven't figured out the concept of crawling and haven't even shown any interest in it.  Standing, walking and bouncing, on the other hand, are your jam.  You love to stand and will pull yourself up on anything (anyone) you can get your chubby hands on.  

But regardless of your demands, you are still a total sweetheart and cuddler.  Ever since you were a teeny tiny baby, you'd lay your head on our shoulder when tired and just snuggle in and love.  You still do that and it's one of my absolute favorite things in the entire world.  I hope you never stop doing that.  You have started giving kisses and hugs, which totally melt my heart.  Your big sloppy wet open mouth kisses are so sweet.  You love giving hugs to anyone around, and will go back and forth, from person to person giving hugs and then reaching for another.  You love hugging the little neighborhood girls and they all squeal with delight and fawn over how adorable you are.  You were the hit of the party last weekend with a group of 6 year-old girls gushing over you while you giggled and kicked out of excitement!  I have a feeling you're going to be quite the social butterfly.

This month you've become quite the little eater.  You love food!  We're still doing BLW and most of the time you can't shovel the food in fast enough!  You've chowed down on everything we've given you and we haven't found anything you won't eat yet.  We started with lots of fruit and veggies (plums, baked apples, steamed carrots, bananas, pears, watermelon and asparagus) and have moved into carbs and meats.  You can take down a watermelon chunk like it was nothing and whole bananas disappear off your tray!  But the first time I gave you steak, you sucked/chewed on it like crazy and screamed when I tried to take it away after 20 minutes.  I love it!  

You still take bottles throughout the day as well.  We finally moved you up to a Level 3 nipple and you can take down a full 8 ounces in less than 10 minutes.  You are sleeping really well these days. You go down (with a bottle) at 7:30 p.m. and then have a "dream feed" bottle sometime between 10:30 and midnight and then sleep until 7:00 a.m.  It's really hard to complain about that schedule.  I usually stay up late and give you that last bottle and it's such a sweet special time for just the two of us.  You are always so warm and snuggly and make the most adorable little noises while you eat. You also still hold my hand while you sleep, which I can't get enough of. I will be so sad when our dream feed snuggles end.  

Other than the screaming and yelling, you're also trying to figure out talking. You say "dadadadadada" on repeat, but laugh when I try to get you to say "mamama."  Not happening.  You babble, coo and squeal at your brother like crazy to get his attention.  He loves making you laugh and will fake laugh, which cracks you up.  You love getting him to laugh too, which you usually do by accident and then squeal with delight.  You two are so funny to watch interact.  He's still learning to like and tolerate you, but the sharing's getting better and sometimes he even likes having you around. 

So basically, you're just perfection.  I'm probably going to give you a complex because I'm so obsessed with you.  I just can't get enough.  You are such a joy to have in our lives and I don't know what we ever did without you!  Thank you for being my baby.

xoxo,
Your mama

Likes:
- saying "dadadadadada"
- bouncing
- steak
- standing
- being held
- cuddling
- being tickled
- watermelon
- pulling mommy's hair
- screaming
- mirrors
- petting the dog/cat
- music
- hugging
- giving high fives
- rolling
- your brother

Dislikes:
- being put down or left alone
- getting your nose wiped
- getting out of the bathtub
- the carseat
- crawling