8 Months

Dear Parker,

Each month I pinch myself in disbelief that you can be growing up so quickly.  It still feels like just the other day your daddy and I were holding you in the hospital as we welcomed you into our family.  We would just hold you and stare.  Or put you in the bassinet and stare.  There is none of that these days, because you are a wild man around this house.  I am following you room to room and baby-proofing the house in stages as I realize all of the things you want to get into are unsafe (you seem to LOVE any cord, any shoe, Jack's tennis balls, and Jack's food/water bowls).

So last month you started crawling, and each couple of days I noticed how you are getting faster and faster.  Then, I started finding you standing up all over the place- your crib, the door, the bathtub, holding onto Jack, etc.  Then you realized that if you hold my hands, you can walk on your 2 feet around the house.  So, why would you crawl?  You make it clear that you want to walk everywhere now.  You are even using your heels instead of walking on your toes now.

Stats
Height: ~27" (50th%)
Weight: ~20lbs (50th%)
Teeth: 5
Eating: ~5 5oz bottles of breastmilk a day.  You are such a great eater- you have 3 meals a day.  For breakfast it's whole grains or oatmeal mixed with milk and fruit.  Lunch and dinner you have a variety of vegetables.  And we have introduced Puffs lately.  At first, you worked pretty hard just to pick one up and it was rare to make it into your mouth.  Now, 9/10 times you get the puff quickly and into your mouth.  Your hand/eye coordination is really improving!
Sleeping: You were starting to sleep ~11 hours a night.  Then we went out of town, and are paying for being off schedules with you waking up at night at least once.  We'll get back to all night.....hopefully!

You are starting to babble more these days.  You say "mamamama" still when you are in the mood.  At times, I just hear you experimenting with noises, but no other clear and discernable consonants yet.  Once you have your palate repaired, I am curious to see if you start making more sounds.

I found you looking at Jack the other day

This month, you clearly reach for us with your arms when we approach you to pick up.  You use your hands to feel our faces, and I'm pretty sure you know how to give kisses.  You grab my face and put your lips to mine- which usually ends in me wiping away a ton of drool!

You are just so playful, and when I watch you every day, I feel like I can just see the wheels turning in your mind, discovering more about the world around you.  You turn to your name.  You turn pages in books, looking behind pages in pop up books.  You see us leave the room, and you crawl after to find us.  When I called home the other day, you went crazy trying to get to Dad's phone because you heard my voice.  He said you smiled every time I spoke.  You are really becoming a little boy, full of wonder and curiosity!

Life has become drastically busier with your mobility.  But it has become increasingly more and more fun.  I am filled with pride watching you grow, develop, and express your personality.  Your Dad and I love you so much, and you continue to make us laugh.

All my Love,
Mom