Leland: 8 months

Leland,

Now begins the time when these pictures get hard to take.  You can see you're not happy about them.

At 8 months, you are showing so much determination to get moving!  You rock back and forth in perfect crawling form.  You even venture to move your arms a few "steps"--but then your legs straighten out from under you, and you're on your belly.  Many times you let out cries of frustration.

You can go from back-to front, front-to-back rolling, and you can push yourself up to sitting.  You are trying to pull yourself up, but the legs aren't quite there yet.

At 8 months, you have recognition.  When we go in front of the mirror, it's like, "Hey!" and then you look at me, and then you look at you, and then back at me, and of course, alllll big smiles.  When I get home from work, I always say hi, and then walk to the kitchen to put my stuff down.  When I disappear, you let out a whimper, or sometimes even a full-blown cry with tears.


I call you my little monkey.  You just really seem like my little monkey that I tote around on my hip all over the place.  When I pick you up or put you down, your legs stay in the sitting position. 

You love to bang your hands on things.  You've started to show hints of a wave, and hints of clapping.

When I rock you to sleep, you still look up at me with your little concerned scowl.  It cracks me up, and even with me full-blown laughing, you won't crack a smile.  Can I admit it makes me a little self-conscious?  Like you're like, "Who do you think you are, Lady?"

Maybe you make this face because you don't really like to be rocked to sleep.  I know this, by now, but sometimes I can talk you into it.  I hold you high up on my chest, with your body in a little ball.

You're mostly sleeping through the night.  Sometimes your sleep gets thrown off by Jude.  You take 2 longs naps on good days.  But, days when we're out running errands you'll usually fall asleep in your car seat and then wake up at any sign of movement.  Even without your nap, you are the sweetest, chillest baby.  It's easy to tote you around everywhere.

At 8 months, we're putting you and Jude in separate rooms.  For the most part, it's been great.  But, he does wake you up on purpose and try to climb in your crib--both at night and in the morning--and Dad thinks it'll help everyone sleep better in the mornings.  In any case, I've painted the old office for your room, and I'm excited because that means more toys can move into your guys' rooms and out of the living room!! ;)

We're still nursing, but goodness knows you're not that into it--you know that bottle brings it quicker + you get to look around.  We're working on it.  You'll suck, and then pop off--look at Jude, Juno, try to grab a toy or phone, and then sometimes you'll latch back on.  Sometimes, you won't!  You are my little baracuda baby--with most times you being so excited you bite me.

At 8 months, you are my little skinny baby.  Jude was always such a tank!  You are getting long, spindly limbs.  You feel light, like air.  

Growing right up, way to fast for us.  We love you, LeloBear!