8 months

Dear Aiden,

Where did my little baby go?  Although there are still some times that I see how young you are, most of the time you remind me more of a toddler than an infant.  You are ON THE GO, ALL THE TIME!

Just a few days ago, you turned 8 months old.  The time… it flies.  I am simply amazed at all the new things you do, and changes that happen day by day.  Just yesterday you woke up and decided that you were in the mood to chat, and off you went, babbling “babababa” all day.  You even said “mamama” a few times, too! 

This morning you realized how to keep your palms flat enough to actually clap.  For a few weeks now, you have been “clapping” by flailing your arms and sometimes bringing your fists together.  But this morning you saw how to actually do a real clap!  Wow!  (Well, other people might not be super impressed, but I sure am!)

You continue to eat very well, and you’re trying lots of fun new foods.  I just talked about that recently, so I won ‘t go into that detail again.  Lets just say that you love any food that mommy or daddy are eating, and you’ll complain until we give you a taste!  Even spicy foods don’t deter you… you want it all.

You remain such a happy and easy boy to care for.  You never cry, unless you are overly tired, need to nurse, or have hurt yourself.  We can take you out to public places for hours… to parties, restaurants, you name it.  You love seeing new places and you are so very good!  It makes things easy on us, that is for sure.  It also gives me hope that you will be very good on our upcoming cruise.  I’m not worried about traveling with you at all!

The only area which we have any trouble with continues to be sleeping.  The good news is that you have decided that your crib is not a torture cage, so you generally go to sleep in your crib without a huge fuss.  The bad news is that you still wake up pretty frequently.  I think it is a combination of teething and separation anxiety that makes you wake up and start crying.  Whatever the reason, you generally don’t sleep for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time.  The other night was awful… you went to bed at 8:30, then woke at 11, 12, 1, and 2.  I felt like I was gonna collapse! :)  But I really don’t like letting you cry alone, so I come in every time you wake up scared and I soothe you back to sleep.  That’s what mamas do, you know.  It might sound crazy, but I love when you cling to me in the middle of the night and bury your nose in my shoulder.  Someday I might even miss our nighttime nursing and snuggles!

I always bring you in bed with me in the morning after Daddy wakes up, and you love to sleep with me.  We have a bed rail on my side so I can be sure you won’t fall.  You seem to savor curling up with me and getting a few extra zzz’s.  I always wake up to your little smiles and your open-mouth kisses,  which is the best way to start the day, if you ask me!

We read to you all the time now.  You like books but you’re so active that you get easily distracted and sometimes wander off to play with other things.  One book that does hold your attention is a Thomas the Tank story that plays sounds.  You love when we push the buttons and hear the train sounds.  I think we need to get you a few more books like that.

You have started to play games well, too.  You are a pro at dropping your basketball through your little sportscenter hoop.  You like to knock over the block towers I build for you.  Peekaboo makes you giggle like mad, because you finally understand that we didn’t disappear… we are just hiding!  And you love tickles.  Daddy is your favorite person and you guys play together for a long time when he gets home from work.

Making you sit still for diaper changes or to dress you is nearly impossible.  It’s like trying to wrestle a wiggly snake!  You flip over and twist your body all around.  I’ve started using the word “no” a lot, but you either don’t get it, or are choosing to ignore me.

Obviously, we love you so much.  Every day is a new adventure and I am so grateful to be here with you everyday as you learn, grow, and mature. 

I wonder what the next month will bring!? I can’t wait!

Love,

Mama

Mom, please stop taking pictures and change my clothes!  Can’t you see I drooled my lunch all over myself?

Kisses after bathtime.

Having lots of fun with Daddy and Sophie!   

Snuggle time with mama (who actually had the balls to post a pic without makeup!) 

(She must be drunk or something.)

Sweet.