pearson {8 months}

Dear Sweet Pearson- 

Oh boy, you are getting so fun!!  I just love the stage that we are at right now!! You are so busy, so taking your pictures this month was challenging!!  You continue to be such a happy boy.  You are so easy going and just go with the flow no matter where ever we are or whatever we are doing. 

Our biggest change this month is that you have recently started "crawling".  It's not a traditional crawl and it's not even an army crawl.  You have a funny little way of scooting yourself around, but it definitely gets you from point A to point B. You are still pretty slow, but I have a feeling I'm going to be literally chasing you around in the next few days.  While you are scooting around you pull up on your hands and knees and rock, so I know the traditional crawling is coming soon.

Because you started crawling this month, Daddy lowered your crib.  I've heard that right after you start crawling, shortly after you will start pulling up.  I'm glad we went ahead and lowered your crib because  this afternoon when you were sitting in your crib playing, I came in to check on you and you had pulled up on the side and you were bouncing on your knees.   You were so proud of yourself.

Last month you would say Dada all the time.  As soon as you learned how to say ba-ba that is just about all you say.  Every now and then we can still get you to say Dada, but you still don't associate it with Daddy.  We are still working on saying Mama!!

One of you new tricks is that you can wave your hand and say "bah-bah".  Of course when we want you to show off and do it for friends or family, you rarely do it, but you do it for us all the time.  I really think you have the hand motion and words associated together because the other day when you were nursing, you started to wave your hand and you had to stop eating so you could say bah-bah.  It was too cute!!

As soon as both of your bottom teeth came in last month, you got right back into your normal sleep routine, sleeping 12 hours and not making a peep.  I'm so glad you are normally such a great sleeper because having to get up in the middle of the night after getting used to your sleep is hard.

Last Saturday the second round of teething began (or at least I think so). I can't see any teeth coming through, but you are waking up at night just like how you did last time you were teething.  I can't just give you your paci to get you back to sleep, I have to take you out of the crib and rock you back to sleep.  When you cry, I can tell that you are hurting.  Teething tablets usually help calm you down at night as well.  I'll be glad when this round of teeth come through so we can all get our sleep!

Despite my efforts to make you a better napper, you still stink at taking naps.  I tried crying it out, but almost everyday you would cry for hour, then still only nap for 45 minute and wake up fussy.  I decided it wasn't worth all that trouble so I still rock you to sleep for naps.  It takes about 5 minutes to get you to sleep, you sleep for 45 minutes - 1 hour and you always wake up happy.  I wish your naps were longer for my sake, but I guess I can't complain since you wake up happy and you normally sleep 12 hours at night.  

We are still sticking to the same eating schedule this month.  You are nursing 5 times a day around 7:00, 10:30, 2, 5, and 7:30.  I nurse you for all 5 feedings most days.  You probably get 2-3 bottles of formula a week.  I gave you the last bottle of breastmilk I had stored up this month and you have done just fine with formula.  You don't seem to blink an eye switching between breastfeeding and taking a formula bottle.  This takes such a load off of my shoulder to not have to pump anymore.

You are also still eating 3 meals a day around 8, 12, and 6.  The new foods you tried this month are raspberries, strawberries, prunes, apricots, and avocados.  We haven't found anything that you don't like.  You love to eat!!  

You also love eating puffs.  I think you will do great next month when we start introducing more table food because you can pick up puffs and put them in your mouth so well.  When I put you in the high chair to eat your puffs it's so funny because Izzie knows the sound of the container and comes running into the kitchen to catch all of your crumbs!!

With all this eating, you are really starting to round out!  You are a little chunk.  I'm ready for summer to be here so I can start showing off your awesome little thunder thighs!! 

Your infant carrier only goes up to 22 pounds and you are already 20 pounds so we went ahead and switched you to your big boy car seat.  I was worried it was going to be uncomfortable for you to be rear-facing in the big car seat, but I think you have a lot more room in this car seat.  We took a trip to Sonic today and you seemed to love it.

We started hosting a small group at our house this month on Thursday evenings and you love all the attention you get when our friends are over. I usually put you to bed right in the middle of our small group and you don't even make a peep while we are talking and laughing loudly in the living room.  I'm so thankful you are such a good baby so we are able to continue to do things like this with our friends.  

And here's the proof to how difficult these pictures were to take.  Daddy had to be right by the chair ready to catch you.  I can already tell you are going to be a busy little boy!!

Pearson, you are our pride and joy!  We can't imagine life without you.  You bring so much happiness and laugher to our lives.  I am so glad that God hand-picked us to be your parents.  We are so blessed.  

Happy 8 months sweet boy!!

Love-

Your Mommy

{8 month Stats}

Weight:    19 pounds

Length:  28 inches (ish)

Eating: nursing 5 times a day (around 7:00am, 10:30am, 2pm, 5pm,  & 7:30pm) along with 3 meals a day (around 8:00, noon, & 6pm)

Bedtime: around 7:30pm

Awake: around 7:00am

Naps: usually 2 45 minutes to an hour naps around 9:00 and 2:30

Diapers: size 3's

Clothes: 9 months clothes are starting to get too short, 6-12 months & 12 month hand-me-downs

Favorites: eating baby food, going on walks, playing with your toys, bathtime, when daddy gets home, puffs, and your sippy cup

Latest Tricks: "crawling", clapping, saying bah-bah & waving, babbling lots of sounds

Look how you've changed.