Dear Mykenzi: 8 Months

For once, it didn't feel like I was in a time warp that sped through the month faster than I could blink.  I still can't believe we are at 8 Months, but I feel like I was able to savor the moments more this past month.  Maybe because we had birthdays and holidays to celebrate ... it made it feel like it slowed time down just a little.  Being able to stay home with you is such a blessing.  Watching your determination in figuring out this world is one of the sweetest gifts.  You are a strong-willed and persistent little girl ... you know what you want and you WILL find a way to get it.  No doubt we are in for it later on.  You are a busy body and it was a hard task to get you to look at the camera this month.  The world needed discovering, there was no time for pictures.

You won't see your Pediatrician for another month, so Momma has been keeping track of your height and weight.  You are about 18 pounds and 28.5 inches tall.  You are still in size 3 diapers and mostly 9 month clothing.  You still have a few 6 month pieces you can wear, but those are slowly fading to the outgrown bin.  You have worn some 12 month items, but they were mine from 31 years ago so I'm assuming they run smaller.

Your eyes still shine bright Blue.  Strangers are always complimenting how beautifully blue your eyes are.  I think we are getting pretty confident they will continue to stay Blue.  Your father and I pretty much placed bets that they would've been Green or Hazel before your were born.  Just goes to show, obviously we know nothing about baby eye color.  You're lucky we're better at this parenting gig than predicting eye color, otherwise you might be in some serious trouble.

Your hair is coming in really well now.  It's getting so long.  Looks like you are going to have pretty thick hair like your Momma, but we pretty much figured that out the day you were born.  Its a beautiful Golden Brown.  We are still waiting to see if you are going to have curls ... no signs yet.

// headband //

We've managed to make it another month breastfeeding.  My milk supply suffered last month, but this month its been back to normal.  You have become quite the biter and have even drawn blood on a few occasions.  I'm trying to find a solution quick, but if I don't our breastfeeding journey may end here.  You cry, I cry, it's a big ugly mess.  Let's hope the bites don't last!  You are loving solids and I've been making your purees thicker this month.  We are slowly going to move on to tiny chunks of food since you like biting so much.  Your favorites are Butternut Squash, Carrots, and Sweet Potatoes.  Apparently, you have a thing for Orange foods.

Sleep has gone pretty well this month.  Last month was rough, but your naps were great.  This month your naps are rough, but your nightly sleep is pretty good.  Maybe one day we'll get them both on the same page.  You sleep about 8 hours straight, get up to eat, then go back down for about 2-3 hours. You have been fighting naps something fierce this month.  Your eyes get so red when you are tired and especially when you boycott your naps.  This is great on the days I take you out in public ... it looks like I beat you.  You are averaging one solid nap a day ... but I am pretty thankful that even if you boycott your nap, you still stay in pretty happy spirits.  So, thank you for not turning into the exorcist baby when you don't want to nap.

You aren't crawling, but you are mobile.  You do this thing where you roll to your side and inch up like a worm and push off and slide to get to whatever you have your mind set on.  You push up and try to rock, so something tells me you'll be crawling in no time.  You have grown to love sitting up on your own and you also love to stand.  You try to pull up on things but aren't quite there yet, which is totally fine with me because I don't think I'm ready for that.  I know bumps and bruises are on the horizon and I don't know if my little Momma heart can take it.

You are loving rattles these days.  You have learned that you make them make noise and shake them like crazy.  You have also acquired a favorite stuffed animal these past few weeks.  You received a JellyCat Bunny for Easter that Jingles and you do not let her go.  You also love to chewing on your Elephant Teether I put in your Easter Basket. (For 10% off  Teethers use code: BBB10 thru 4/30)  We also went to the park this month and you discovered your love of swinging.  My heart burst watching the pure joy in your face.

You are babbling like crazy right now.  Da Da's, Ma Ma's, Ba Ba's are rolling off your tongue left and right.  You are starting to have the most adorable conversations.  Let's not forget the raspberries ... you love blowing raspberries.  You get super into it and will blow a raspberry until you run out of breath then do it all over again.  I haven't figured out how you haven't passed out yet, but it's really cute to watch.

You still give the sweetest kisses when asked for them.  You learned to clap and you learned to wave this month.  You wave backwards at yourself but it's adorable.  When we tell you to, "Say Hi!" you'll lift your arm then open and close your hand.  You also wave to your favorite cartoons.  You throw your hands in the air when we say, "Yay!" which is usually followed by clapping when we tell you, "Good Job."  You are also a Master Peek-a-Boo player.  Although, you don't really hide your face as well as you think you do, but that's okay, we always play along.

This month was full of firsts!  Your Daddy and I also celebrated our Birthdays which were even sweeter getting to celebrate them with you.  You continue to show me this amazing gift that is Motherhood. Thank you for making life so special.

Happy 8 Months my sweet girl!