8 Months

Dear Sweet Stella,

       The journey of motherhood has been more then what I dreamed it would be. You are truly a great baby and I am loving each and every day with you. You have grown in so many ways, and your sweet little heart loves so big. Your own personality is really starting to shine through and I love it more than words can say. You are smart, you are beautiful, you are humble, and you are playful. You have changed Daddy and I's life in such a way we never thought was possible. You will always be our baby, and our hearts will forever love you. The things we do together are the best parts of my days...I love watching you explore on your own, I love hugging you, I love telling you how much I love you, I love tucking you in knowing I will be here when you wake up, I love reading you stories, I love rocking with you in the glider and singing to you, I love how the song 'Some where over the Rainbow' makes you smile., I love that I can be goofy and silly with you, and I just heart that giggle like no other. You are incredibly special. Daddy and I believe in you and will always be your number one fans. Kisses and Hugs. 

Love you to the moon and back.

Momma

Weight: 

Height: 

Appetite: You have been enjoying 3 meals a day; breakfast, lunch and dinner. Your milk intake has stayed the same at about 28 ounces of milk a day. You are still nursing at 11 a.m., 3:00 p.m, 7:30 p.m and once during the night. The other two feedings you get in a bottle along with your breakfast and dinner. You are still a fruit fanatic (like me). Your breakfast always consists of 3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal mixed with pureed applesauce, pears and/or plums, served with a side of avocado. Avocado is one of your long time favorites. Every morning we split an avocado.  Lunch is always a small serving of small curd cottage cheese, half of an organic prunes pouch and a slice of whole grain bread. We have been squeezing prunes in twice a day- lunch and dinner. We try to help along those bowel movements. The bread is broken up into small pieces. You love picking up your own food and putting it into your mouth! This was such a great milestone for you!  You feed yourself your snacks, like melts, puffs, and shredded cheese. Dinner has gotten easier. We have introduced a few new foods to you. Lately your favorite combo is organic chicken breast pureed with 1 ounce of each- sweet potato, roasted red pepper, and roasted zucchini, (and a squirt of prunes). Your dinner gets heated up each night in a pan with a tablespoon on EVOO. You love to play in your food. When there is about 2 or 3 bites left I let you wiggle your fingers in the food. The look on your face is priceless. I can't complain about your eating at all...you are doing a great job! You also rock at drinking from your sippy cup. (You would drink an endless amount of water if we let you). No help from Daddy and I anymore. You got the tilt down pat! You love tippin your red solo sippy cup! --One day you will understand what I mean!

Clothing Size: Same as last month!! Nothing has changed in the clothing dept! We can still choose from either 3-6 months or 6-12 months. The only 3-6 month clothing that does not fit are the pants! That's because of those yummy thighs! We did bump up a size in diapers! Size 3 diapers baby! They are a wee bit big, but we didn't want to buy a huge box of 2's and not be able to use them all. 

Milestones: I feel like you have grown so much lately. You have two bottom teeth that are clearly visible!! Still no crawling...you have no desire. You still roll right over once put on your belly. Momma is not rushing it- take your time. You will sit and play by yourself on the floor with yours toys, you will reach as far as you can for a toy if you want it, but if you can't reach it you will settle for a toy that is reachable. To you no toy is worth the tumble forward yet. You say both Momma and Dada! We love it so much. When you say either, Daddy and I look at each other and just smile. You clap your hands together, when we say "Yay!". You can pick up your own food pieces and put them into your mouth. You drink out of your sippy cup with no help at all. Going shopping is much more fun in your shopping cart cover. And you graduated into your big girl car seat! 

Outings: This month we have had quite a few lunch dates with Daddy, Nana and friends, you were a participant in your first charity walk-March of Dimes, and we went on many walks into town and Clinton. Lastly, you had your first Memorial Day BBQ and went into a pool for the first time. We took a trip to Peddlers village for lunch and a stroll around the shops. 

Thoughts: Stella..I will let you be little, fill your heart with laughter, help you grow wings, nurture your sense of wonder, inspire you to believe, and love you like there is no tomorrow. 

Our routine:  Our routine is very much the same as last month, and the month before. You still awake around 7ish (been 6:45 lately, and 6:30 on the weekends!). We have breakfast together shortly after you awake. Your first nap is around 8:30 a.m/9ish for about an hour and a half. You nurse around 11 a.m and we have lunch sometime between 12:30 and 1:00. You take an afternoon nap around 1:30/2:00 (this nap, if any is usually the one that you give me a hard time with)  You nurse again at 3:00. Your last evening nap is around 5:00, which is usually a short one (about 45 min). We all eat dinner at 6:30 p.m. Bath follows dinner and you Nurse right before bedtime which is at 7:30 p.m. (lately it's been 8 p.m) You still awake once during the night to be changed and eat- lately some time between 12:00 and 3:00 a.m. During the day we play, go for walks, play outside on your swing, run errands etc.. 

There were a few nights this month that were pretty damn rough. You wanted nothing to do with your crib and would cry and were inconsolable. Daddy and I felt helpless. We would rock you, sing to you, cuddle you...nothing seemed to work. We blamed it on your teething, and being over tired. Makes me so sad to see you like this. 

You had your first fever of 102.6 this month. It only lasted 24 hours and there were no other symptoms. Teething?!

Your favorites: Some of your favorites lately have been bouncing in your Einstein, walks outside in your stroller, your blankey- you love covering your face with it when going to sleep, reading books and eating books, clapping, Mickey Mouse and Ella the Elephant- especially the songs, playing with your food, our frozen yogurt trips, Lazy lamb on the ipad, clapping, knocking over the egg cup towers that Daddy and I build for you, feeding yourself, water and chewing on your toothbrushes. You also love taking apart your wooden puzzles pieces and throwing them.  Daddy and I put them in and you take them out. 

Momma’s Favorites: Lately I have been loving our playtime, I feel like we actually play together, I love your reaction to books, I feel like that is a favorite that we share, my own gingerbread lattes, I enjoy one each morning when we eat breakfast together, dressing you in Summer clothing, your kisses, our frozen yogurt trips, enjoying cooking on the grill, our walks- especially when you talk in your stroller to yourself, your baby bird face, and being you Momma to an 8 month old. 

Pictures throughout the month....