2.11.10: At Eight Months Old

My dear sweet baby A.J.,

Eight months old! How is that even possible? You were born on a Thursday, just like today, and ever since each Thursday has felt just a little different. You are napping right now, and 8 months ago today I was trying to nap too, but you had other ideas. I decided to get my epidural at about this time then I was able to rest for a while until you were ready to come into the world. Eight months later and not much has changed. I still only get to sleep when you decide it's okay. :)

I have to be honest and tell you the last month of your life has not been my favorite. You've given us a couple of big scares and two Emergency Room trips in two weeks. That's two too many if you ask me! We know now that you have allergies and we're going to have to watch what you eat very carefully. I'd be happy to let you eat nothing but bananas until you're 18 if it means no more allergic reactions! You also had your first stomach bug and lost a bit of weight in the process. You are all recovered now, but because of the bug you're starting this month at 16lbs. (1 oz *less* than your weight at 7 months).

But, there have been some pretty fun moments in the past month. You have learned how to master the army crawl. Now that you are officially on the move, nothing is safe. You like to make a beeline for the things you are not supposed to have the second we put you on the floor. You are especially drawn to the laptop charger, the lamp cord, and the grown up books on the bottom shelf of the book case (because the pages wrinkle on those books but not on your board books). We spend most of our day hanging out on the floor together. You crawl towards something you shouldn't have and I try to crawl faster to head you off and redirect your attention. You'd think with all of that activity you would want to take some really good naps, but not so much. More often than not you'd rather practice your crawling in the crib rather than resting.

You are now up to SIX teeth, as all four top teeth you've been working on came in over the last month. We've never really had to tell you NO before, but I think you are quickly learning what that word means since biting seems to be a fun new thing for you to do. You certainly don't like hearing that NO word and show us with big temper tantrums. Sometimes it is hard for me not to laugh because you are especially cute when you're mad!

You are still my goofy, happy, smiley little boy. People comment about it all the time and I love it. You laugh at the funniest things, like when we say "Chicken" or "Ouch" and you really like to laugh during Mama's weight watchers meeting. All the ladies there love you, even when you interrupt the meeting with your goofiness.

Thanks for making these past 8 months such an adventure sweet boy.
Mama loves you!