Eight months Gracie Girl!! You hit a few major mile stones on this one! We can't believe how fast you are growing up, but we are loving every second of it! You love your independence and although we wish you didn't sometimes, I'll admit it's pretty great!
At this point in time, you are teething! We certainly do wish you were the kid who just one day had some teeth in your mouth without even seeing it coming, but alas that was not the case. We had a full blown cranky, snotty, feverish, child on our hands. Mama knew right away what was going on. You had a few nights with fevers of 101-102 and kept both of your parents up most of the night while you screamed and screamed and there wasn't a thing we could do to calm you down! On the plus side, it did make you a little bit more cuddly!
You started falling asleep in our arms for a little bit there and sometimes just wanted to be cuddled and nothing else. You have become a little more of a daddy's girl, but still prefer mama when you are really sad or tired. One night you didn't want to lay down in your bed so mom just held you and you eventually fell asleep in her arms. She was so tired and waited so patiently until you fell asleep so she could just lay you down and get on with her night, but the second you fell asleep all she wanted to do was hold you and watch you sweetly sleep. Those moments don't come around very often so you better believe we hold on to every second of them!
Thank goodness you are starting to sleep through the night again! You finally did 3 nights in a row right before Christmas and that was heaven sent! Mom had been complaining to just about everyone about how tired she was and how badly she wished she could get just ONE night of uninterrupted sleep and hallelujah not two nights later you did it! We had 3 months of sleepless nights and now you are doing much better! You have also been doing a lot better ever since we got into our own home and you are back in your crib!
You finally figured out how to clap on your own! We don't know how you picked up on it because we hardly ever do it, but you did! It is so much fun to see how excited you get at such simple things!
You figured out how to pull yourself up on things! It started with the dishwasher. Mom and Dad left it open and much to our surprise we found you standing up pulling silverware out of the dishwasher! Then mom caught you standing in your crib! We then watched you pull yourself up onto the couch, coffee table, into the cupboards, entertainment center, and everything else you could reach! What a fun thing to watch you figure out that you could do that!
You can now feed yourself puffs, yogurt bites, and graham crackers. You pick them up and do a great job of getting them right in your mouth without dropping them! (Along with many other things you really shouldn't be eating)
You have been able to sit up by yourself for 2 months now, but you finally figured out how to go from laying down to sitting up without us helping you! You become more independent all of the time! However, with that said, you do NOT like to be set down. Even if we are in the same room you want us to hold you and never leave your sight. Mom can't get anything done unless you are napping, but she loves to play with you so it's okay!
FINALLY cut your first tooth! After all of that hard work you did teething, it came through! It is a sharp one so you better not learn how to bite!
Last but certainly not least, you had your very first Christmas and boy was it a good one for each and every one of us! Its amazing how Christmas can get even better when you have kids! Mom couldn't start opening presents without you there, so she got you up and you were so happy all morning! You loved opening presents and crawling around with all of the wrapping paper! You now love playing with all of your toys in the corner of our living room and mom and dad really love playing with them too!
Mama has loved watching you grow and learn these few months and always looked forward to the next stage, but she is finally at the point now where she wants to FREEZE time! You are at such a fun age and we don't want you to grow up! But, I'm sure we will love the next few weeks, months, and years with you just as much as the ones right now! Love you baby girl! -Mama bear
