8-Month Update

I'm a little late on doing this, but that's because it's Spring Break and we've been super busy!  Here's what you're up to this month:

• You weigh 17.5 pounds and are just over 27 inches tall.  You are wearing mostly 6 month or 6-9 month clothes and size 2 shoes.  You wear size 2 diapers and recently began fitting into swim diapers so we could officially take you swimming!  We went this week and you had SO much fun.
• You still sleep for about 5-6 hours at night, wake up and go right back to sleep after having a bottle.  You take 2 good naps a day, with the occasional catnap here and there.  No matter how many or how long your naps are, you are ready for bed between 8:30 and 9:00 every night.  You have the cutest way to let me know you're sleepy - you rub your eyes and curl up into whoever is holding you for snuggle time.  Although you tend to get fussy when tired as well, it is completely adorable.
• Still no teeth, though I swear they've got to be coming soon.  You gnaw on everything, as well as suck on your lips and such all the time.  Good thing is you're not ususally fussy about it, and I hope it stays that way when teeth finally do make their way in.  Having no teeth doesn't stop you from eating, though.  You eat sliced bananas, french fries (sweet potato ones are the best!), mashed potatoes, and crackers.  You also love your baby snacks, and we still haven't found any baby food that you won't eat except peas.  We're working on a sippy cup, but we're not pushing that too hard yet.  We just wanted you to get familiar with what it is, which you seem to understand just fine.  You know you're supposed to drink out of it and can get it in your mouth on your own, but you have trouble tilting it up without some help.
• You have perfected rolling, and can even steer yourself quite efficiently to an area of your choosing.  You set your sights on a toy and you're impossible to stop!  This past week you began getting onto all fours and thinking about a new way to move (i.e. crawling), but you're not quite sure of the mechanics.  The result was a push-off with the legs and a faceplant.  Once your arms get with the program, you'll be off for sure!
• You LOVE to "sing."  Your favorite at the moment is "Pat-a-Cake," which your Aunt Shannon spent many, MANY hours teaching you.  Now you know how to clap along, and can even get us to sing it to you when you randomly start clapping on your own.  You'll giggle and clap until we sing it (and we always do!).  You also like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Pop Goes the Weasel" as well as playing Peek-A-Boo, especially with Daddy. 
• Though you're still a social butterfly, you've gotten used to playing and exploring on your own now.  You have your own play area in the living room, and Daddy and I can put you there with your toys and watch you have the best time.  You seem to love all your toys pretty equally, so it's hard to say if you have a favorite or not yet.  It's just fun for us to watch you as you discover how things work, which ones light up/play music, which ones are good to talk to (your stuffed animals), and even that you're supposed to "read" books by opening them and looking.
• You can say "Dada," "baba," and "Mama" now.  Though I can't be certain, I do believe you understand who your "Dada" is.  You do use it at times when Daddy is not around, but you rarely use other words when you're talking to him directly.  You'll even reach for him and say, "Dada," which obviously makes him melt.  When you ride on his shoulders, you'll pat his head and say it - so I really think you know what that one means.  "Baba" and "Mama" are a different story, but you've only just begun to say those anyway. 

You've grown so much in the last 8 months, and with the speed you're learning now, I'm sure next month will bring even more big changes.  We love you lots, sweet girl!!!