Aria Grace: Eight Months

Goodness the time just keeps flying by!  Eight months old and still as cute and sweet as can be! 

Weight:  You've crossed the 19 pound mark, and are close to 20 if I would have to guess. Thighs and cheeks to die for.

Standing up in your crib.  Time to lower the mattress!

Sleep- Does anyone want to guess how my mission to get you to sleep through the night went?  Ding, Ding!  A miserable fail is right!  I just can't get past the point of getting even less sleep waiting for you to cry it out than I do if I just get up and feed you.  And it's way more awful trying to ignore your cries.  I do need to move the rocker into your room (it is still in our closet from when you slept next to our bed.)  I've gotten in the habit of feeding you laying down in the guest bed in your room, and I think sometimes you just want to cuddle.  We'll see if it makes any difference.  Can you tell I'm not holding my breath?  But in all honesty, I can't complain.  I know it could be much, much worse!

Eating-Most of the time, you love to eat.  Unless you are tired, then a lot of shrieking is involved.  Puff snacks are your favorite and you are really good at picking them up and feeding yourself!  You have done really well with most new foods.  You've made the biggest fuss about a potato/pea/green blend I made.  Sounds delicious, right??  Can't say I blame you, but we'll try it again later.  You are still nursing well, but get distracted so easily.  Most of the time we have to find a quiet corner, because otherwise you want to check on what Lyle is doing every ten seconds.  I have slowly been introducing a bit of dairy back into my diet (i.e. cheese a few times....oh that piece of pizza was amazing!) and you seem to be doing well.  We will hope you are over your sensitivity!

Likes-Mama especially, but anyone smiling at you will do.  Your little voice is so cute and when you are playing you get to talking with lots of ooohs and ohs!  You also have become a little insistent if you want someone's attention and give a little shriek so we look at you.  Lyle's toys, small pieces of dirt on the floor, crumpling paper,  picking grass, and dancing to music.  You also love to flip over while getting your diaper changed.  It is impossible to keep you distracted, and so I have mastered the art of diapering you on your knees.

Milestones-  You officially get into EVERYTHING!  Nothing is safe.  Your favorites are eating cords, pushing buttons on our TV receiver, and ejecting DVD's while we are watching them.  You love Lyle's toys, especially his trucks, legos, and the doors on his big barn.  You also are learning to climb and stand up on things.  At Grammy's house you love to climb over the bottom shelf of the coffee table, and at home you are pulling up on toy baskets and bouncy seats.   

Fun Firsts-Your top front teeth have poke through!  They didn't seem to give you quite as much trouble as the bottom ones.  A couple restless nights and a little drool.  We headed down to our small county fair this week, and so far you are a little unimpressed.  It probably has something to do with the fact that the heat index is 106 degrees. Ooof.  We've gone swimming a couple of times and you are a big fan!  You just hang out in your float or in our arms and splash around.

This is not a fun first, but you were exposed to pertussis (whooping cough) this last week, but have made it through unscathed after a round of antibiotics.  We are keeping the prayers going for the next couple of weeks that you don't get sick!

Sharing toys at camp.  It's a little hard to see, but your hair is growing in the back!

Lyle Update: Still the best of friends.  It makes my heart so happy. 

What a fun summer it's been!  Looking forward to a little cooler weather, so we can be outside and enjoy it! We love you miss Aria Bauer Grace (as Lyle introduces you to everyone)!