Eight Months

Dear Annelise,

The growing and changing that you have done this month just astonishes me!  This has been such a big month for you.  I keep going back and forth between wanting to speed everything up, and wanting to slow everything down.

You had your first Presidential election this month.  Mommy and Daddy went and voted and you just looked around at everything.  We got you a sticker, but you much preferred to pick at mine.

We've had some relatively warm days here this month, and one day I decided that I needed to take you to the park to swing on a swing before winter came.  I put you in the stroller and brought Maya and we walked to the little playground by our house.  I put you in the swing and I could tell that you were a little hesitant about it at first.  After you realized what was happening, you loved it!!!  It was windy on the day we went, and you kept trying to stick your tongue out and "catch" the wind.  You were smiling and giggling up a storm.  Now, I'm even more anxious for spring to get here so that we can go back to the park.

Solids are going very well.  You love to eat Puffs and your pincher grasp has gotten very good.  You really have liked everything we've given you, and you are so eager to eat.  I can't sit down and eat anything without you trying to make a grab for it.

You went on your first road trip/vacation this month.  We drove down to Georgia to visit Uncle Eric, Aunt Jessica, and Wes for Thanksgiving.  Mommy and Daddy decided to drive overnight and we hoped that you would sleep all night.  You did amazing!  You fell asleep about five minutes into the trip and slept until we had to stop and get gas.  You ate, played for about half an hour, then fell back to sleep until we got to Uncle Eric and Aunt Jessica's house.  Amazing!!  The trip back home went just as well.  You had a great time while we were there and loved watching Emma and Wesley play.  Your sleep regressed a bit, but that's to be expected.

Your sleep is definitely improving!  I am so proud of you because you weaned yourself from the swaddle.  I was so worried that putting you to bed without being swaddled would be a nightmare, but since you've become mobile, you prefer to sleep without it.  You like to be able to roll and move around.  The minute I put you down to bed, you roll onto your side.  You usually spend most of the night, or naps, sleeping on your belly.  I think that all of your new sleep positions are absolutely adorable!

You are now officially a mobile baby!!  You roll from belly to back, and back to belly now.  You can put yourself into a sitting position from a laying position.  And . . . you crawled for the first time while we were in Georgia for Thanksgiving!  You also started pulling up on anything you can get your hands on.  I have been waiting for you to crawl for two months now and I love watching you move around.  It is so amazing how you get better and better at it everyday.  Your favorite thing is to crawl over to the entertainment center and spin the volume knob on the receiver.  We'll be getting a new entertainment center soon that has some doors on it so that you can't get to the buttons.  Sorry!  You even know that you aren't supposed to play with it.  When you're crawling over there, you put your head down in a determined little crawl and practically sprint there.  Once you get there, you pull up onto your knees and then start spinning the knob.  When I come over, you look at me and grin.  It's a good thing you're so darn cute!

I was so surprised that you clapped for the first time a few days ago.  I don't really clap that often around you and you all of a sudden did it.  You've been giving high fives for a little bit now.  Now, you clap often when you want us to be proud of you for something, usually after you crawl a little ways.

Still no teeth!  You chew on things a lot, but I don't feel or see anything on your gums.  I think that your teeth might be starting to move around towards the surface some because you've been whiny and clingy some days.  That's not very typical of you.

I haven't really talked about it too much, but we're still breastfeeding very well.  I never thought that I would enjoy breastfeeding as much as I do.  I love that time that we get to spend together.  I feel so close and connected to you, and I feel my heart just swell with love when we're snuggling as you nurse.    You have started to tug at my shirt and put your head on my chest if you want to nurse.  I think it's adorable.  I am so, so thankful that breastfeeding has gone as well as it has with you.

I just transitioned you to 12 month clothing, but they are still a little big on you.  You are still wearing a size 3 diaper.  I'm assuming that you are around 18 pounds.  I look at you and can't believe how big you've gotten, but you still look so tiny to me when you stand up.

Every day, I don't think it's possible for me to love you more than I do, but then tomorrow comes and I love you even more.  I want nothing but the best for you.

Love you always,
Mommy