8 months

Dear Ellianna,

This past month continues to bring with it so many changes.  As I look at you, I am amazed at how much you have grown and continue to grow.

Developmentally, you are now commando crawling on your tummy.  Your favorite motivation? The remote control.  You have also mastered sitting and love that you can now watch your dogs from a new position.  You still topple over but you are catching yourself more often than not.  You are also trying to transition from your tummy to sitting but just haven't quite figured it out.  You have pulled to stand in your crib which means we will be lowering your mattress this weekend as I don't want you to tumble out.  Your object permanence is emerging, which is good and bad.  You have become very aware if you are in the room by yourself and quickly fuss for attention.  The good part is that you are now searching for your toys after you throw them out if sight.  You have become more aware of your environment and will look towards the door when you hear it open to see who is coming.  You also enjoying playing with the light switches and turn off the lights but we are still working on turning the lights back on.  You are a mover, in our arms-your bounce up and down, when sitting on our lap- you move those arms and legs, and in standing-you are bouncing your legs.  We finally bought you a walker and the same day, you figured out how to move forwards.  You aren't walking around the house yet but its only a matter of time before you begin chasing your dogs around!

Your favorite toy remains a hanging colorful butterfly

 and you are now into any type of tag.  You can sit  for minutes analyzing a tag.  You enjoy playing peek-a-boo which has made clothing changes fun as you wait for me to pull your shirt over your head and there is already a smile on your face to greet me.  You are also trying to talk and are making a 'hiss' sound but I'm not sure if you are trying to say, 'yes' or 'si.'  You continue to love bath time and you are now sitting in a bath chair.  You love being outside. You also stood in the pool this past month but the water was only 80 degrees so neither your daddy or I were willing to get all the way in.  But you loved the water and you loved being that close to your dogs as they jumped in and out of the pool.

This past month we have added green beans, asparagus, spaghetti squash, turkey, apricots, and peaches to your list of foods.  You have accepted all of them.  Your favorite food remains any type of squash while zucchini and carrots are disliked.  You are now drinking water from a straw! 

We still strive to follow your daily routine.  By 8:30 at night, you are ready for your bath and bed.  Due to probable teething pains, sleep during the night hasn't been as consistent as I'd like but this past month has been an improvement from last month.  When you are with us on the weekends, your naps are consistently 2 1/2 hours after waking up from the previous nap.  Length of naps remain 20-60 minutes, with one nap setting a record of 2 hours! 

I love the time that we spend nursing and it makes me sad to know that I almost gave up in those early weeks.  I love the bond that we have and it just warms my heart when you seek out nursing after being apart all day.  I suppose the plan now is to continue until your first birthday or you are ready to wean.  I'll be so happy if we are able to make it to the one year mark, a goal that didn't seem possible in the beginning yet with each passing month is becoming a more likely reality!  This past week was slightly cooler in the evenings so you cuddled into me more than usual at night and I loved it.  You love to keep your face warm and burrow into the nook of my armpit.

You are picking out your outfits for the day as I give you two options, and whichever your reach for is what you wear.  You are wearing almost all 6 month size clothes with the occasional size 3-6 month, size 3 diapers.  Bottles remain at 4 ounces and you are eating 3-4 ounces of solid food at your meals.  Your weight is about 17 pounds, length of 28 inches, and head circumference of 17.5 inches.  Your hair is thickening nicely, remains with a reddish tint, and I can't wait for it to start growing in length.

You remain a very happy baby, often shrieking and talking while awake.  Even on our walks, you are babbling about something.  And we are loving your open mouth kisses :)  As one of the songs on your lullaby CD says, 'You make us smile, you bring us joy; too much for words to say.  You fill the world with happiness, you bring us love each day.'  With each passing month, we love you more and more.