Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Eight Months.

Dear Naomi,

Today you are eight months old.

Yep, that's right, count it: EIGHT.


Good grief, be still my heart. Four months away from the big One Year? Really? I can't believe it. I truly can't.

You, little Mouse, are one bouncy bundle of joy. Let's get to it.

Sleep:

You go to bed around 7:30 and sleep until 7:00. You take two long naps and one catnap, but that catnap is subjective every day. Sometimes you need it, sometimes you don't. With your early bedtime, that last nap usually isn't necessary. But, in some instances (like today, in fact!) where you wake up early from one nap (by, say, getting your foot stuck between the rails of your crib), you need one more nap to hold you over until bedtime! You have taken to a routine like a champ and we are thrilled for it. You are, too.

Eating:



This month you decided you liked puffy snacks and yogurt melts. We introduced them two months ago and you scoffed in disgust, so I waited a bit and now you love them. Watching your little unsteady hand tryyyyyy to pick up a puff is the most precious thing ever. You examine it and then it begins the long and unsteady journey to your mouth. You're doing so well! You are a sippy-only girl now, taking formula five times a day (breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, bedtime) and eating solids three times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner ... and now, snacks!). Your breakfast usually includes oatmeal and a smashed up banana. I could feed you smashed bananas all day and you would not complain one bit. You also like baby food prunes. Good for you, though, honey! For lunch you typically eat one fruit and one veggie, and then the same goes for dinner. Your snacks include puffy snacks, yogurt melts, and Mum-Mums. You gaze longingly at the food on our plates, so there are days where I'll toss some of our rice and veggie into the food processor and you eat what we eat. You tried cornbread this month and thought it was yummy, too (until you took a massive bite and gagged ... you didn't like that too much! Little bites, baby girl, little bites!). No teeth yet of which to speak. Gummy baby girl.

Development:

You are getting stronger and stronger when it comes to rocking on all fours, but you have yet to commit to crawling. You also love to reach waaaaay out in front of you for a toy, even if it means doing a face plant.

However, your newest trick is to "scoot".


While seated, you suddenly begin bouncing up and down, lifting yourself off of the ground, and in doing so, you actually move forward. It is HILARIOUS and adorable. You can make your way across the wood floor with no problem. It's quite efficient, really--you're able to maintain your poise whilst moving. Such a lady.

You love to bob your head from side to side and will do so on command if I say, "Shake it!" You've discovered that your voice can reach great volume, and you choose to exercise this newfound talent frequently. You also like to do this hilarious open-mouthed "HA!" sound. You giggle and smile constantly and it's pretty adorable.


We've had another new development as well: HAIR! You hair is finally coming in and it is a lovely shade of baby dark blonde. It's tough to tell. Straight out of the tub freshly-dried, your hair is blonde. The next day, it's darker. So, meh, dark blonde. Either way: Beautiful!


You can now wear your clips without a headband; however, your hair isn't quite thick enough to keep them in for very long, so we still employ the headband for most outings. It took you a while to realize that it is within your power to remove said headbands or clips, an ignorance for which we were very thankful! You have now discovered how to remove them; however, for the most part, you leave them be. Your babbling has kicked it up a notch, with lots of "MAAAAMMMMAAAAMMMMAAAMMMAAA's" when you are in distress. I'm going to go ahead and say it: You are a Mama's girl. You have yet to experience stranger danger, but, when we are at home, you want me. It is truly a precious thing. You like your alone time, but when you're done, you're done. I love this stage, where you are more and more independent, and thusly your personality emerges bit by bit. I feel now like I am getting to know you as Naomi, not just you as Baby Naomi. Your facial expressions, your preferences, your voice ... I'm so excited to see you continue to develop and become a little lady.

This month you also moved into your new car seat (woot!) thanks to your length. You're still a lightweight, but you're a long lightweight, and when we saw your feet dangling over the edge of your infant seat, we knew it was time to make a change. Your brother moved into a new car seat that will eventually convert to a booster, and you are now riding in style in his plushy convertible seat. Backwards, of course. You love the change. The seat swallows you up and you don't mind one bit!

Sigh. Mouse.


You seamlessly joined our family and opened up a dimension of extra joy we could not have imagined. Your exuberance is contagious and there is nothing greater than peeking over the edge of your crib to see the most precious grin spread from cheek-to-cheek on your sweet face. I know God has big plans for you, little Mouse, and I feel blessed that He has chosen us to witness them. I'm so proud of you already and thrilled for what is ahead.

We love you, baby girl.

Love,
Mama

5 comments:

  1. Eight months?!?! She is so precious. Such a good girl.

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  2. Oh goodness, is that last photo the cutest or what??? Sweet little smirk!

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  3. I can't believe she is 8 months either!? Crazy. You make mommyhood look easy with 2 kiddos. Gives me hope :)

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  4. i have decided that i NEED naomi's wardrobe. seriously i love ALL her clothes!!

    haha

    can't believe she's already 8 weeks!!

    xo,
    christen

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  5. I love how serious she is...reminds me of my oldest. What a doll.

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