8 months

I don't know why, but Will turning 8 months old makes me suddenly feel like I need time to slow down!  (I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm barely getting this post up while he's still 8 months old.  But I digress.)  I think probably because most of our struggles have subsided, and that one-year mark will be here before we know it.  Not to mention the holidays are going to make the next two months fly by.

Will has been creeping for several weeks now and started rocking on all fours 3 weeks ago.  He's yet to take that first step (no pun intended) in crawling on all fours though.  He likes to get up in a push-up position as seen here, and does it often.

It truly amazes me that babies grow and change so much so quickly.  I feel like I keep saying, "he's at such a fun age!" but that's because it keeps getting better!  I love experiencing every day with my little man and learning more about who he is.  Here's what I know so far.

He is curious and observant.

He is easily amused.   
(He would do nothing but play with this all day if we let him.)

And easily distracted.

He thinks I'm hilarious.
(pardon the self-inflicted scratches)

And he loves to bounce. 

(Oh my word.  If I knew how to take my voice out of this one, believe me, I would.  But let's be honest.  We all act like fools if it will make a baby laugh.  Am I right?  Or am I right?)

He is quite the creeper.  I mean, the kid is fast.  And he's not even on all fours yet.  He's not quite sure about the hard woods yet, which is fine by me.  It keeps him somewhat contained in the family room.  This was the first time he ventured into uncharted territory.  He doesn't go any farther. yet.

He loves getting and giving kisses.

 

He's ticklish.

He loves playing airplane with his daddy.

He is smart.  He's figured out that if he pulls the bumper down, he can see out of his crib and looks for us.  Heart wrenching. (And since it's taken me a couple of weeks to write this post, he's now ripped the ribbon off the bumper.  The bumper is also essentially ruined because he's pulled on it so much the pad is all squished.  Why do boys have to be so destructive?)

He takes bath in the big boy tub now and has so much fun splashing in the water!

He loves his exersaucer.

But not all the time.

(This is his "Mommy, I don't want to wear my cape anymore" look.)

If I had actually published this post after he just turned 8 months, I would've said he still just had to two bottom teeth.  But last week Wayne noticed he has FOUR teeth coming in up top!  Two have already broken through the surface, and we can see the other two just under the gums.  (I'm hoping that explains the waking-up-around-midnight-and-taking-one-to-two-hours-to-get-him-back-to-sleep he's done every night for the past week.)

 

Speaking of sleep deprivation, I'm thankful to not be in this stage anymore, but there's always something.  Oh, how I miss going to bed and not wondering what time I might be awakened.  But no matter how tired I am in the morning or how incredibly difficult it is to get out of bed sometimes, seeing this goober face smiling back at me always makes it worth it.

 Seriously, I have no idea where the silly grin was coming from, but he was rocking it when we were taking his 8 month pics!  I'll let them pictures speak for themselves.  (Oh, and please ignore the wrinkled sheet in the background.  I'm not a pro.  And I didn't feel like ironing.  Lesson learned.)

He is in size 3 diapers, weighs close to 17lbs and is wearing 9 month clothes.  He nurses four to five times a day and eats 3 solid meals a day.  I'm so thankful that he eats solids so well since we've had such a difficult time with nursing.  His favorite foods so far are sweet potatoes and apples.  In fact, he loves sweet potatoes a little too much.  We've had to cut back...he was turning orange. :)

One last picture for your viewing pleasure.  This is him looking at his reflection in my phone.  The look on his face makes me laugh!  Who doesn't love a goofy grin?

We love you Willy-bud!!  You are such a blessing to your daddy and me!