Liam is 8 months old

July 30th 2009
Our little dude is already 8 months old, wow this is going fast. And what a wonderful adventure it's been! Here's a recap of his 7th month.

Looks:

-no teeth yet, just a precious little gummy grin

-and not a whole lot of hair... but what you have is much more daddy's color, we can definitely see some red highlights though

-your eyes still seem to be changing... sort of a mix of steel blue and daddy's hazel

-your legs are chunking up a little, so I'm wondering if you're climbing up the growth % a little

-you ears don't stick out as noticeably anymore as your face is filling out so I'm so glad we've gotten lots of great pictures of them before :) because they are soooooo cute!

Expressions:

-such an adorable pout when mommy walks by you without picking you up, which of course I never want to do... but you're too wiggly to hold while cooking and cleaning up and such... but it would be nice to have someone do it all for me so I could just cuddle you all day long!

-still oh so quick to give us your sweet sweet smile

Noises:

-talks when he's crying, it sounds like "ah dah dah dah dah dah, ah doh dah dah dah dah", precious!

-1st cold and lost his voice for a few days, as if his cry weren't sweet enough already

-tells you why he's upset when you put him down or have to take something away from him "oh, woh woh woh" that makes us laugh because it sounds an awful lot like "oh why, why why why?"

-likes to "a bu bu bu buh" with things on his mouth including my hand (one of my absolute favorite baby milestones)

-sings along with us, I love it! A man actually stopped us in the store the other day to ask me, "is he trying to sign along with you? Why yes, he is, I can hear it myself. What a cute baby." You've really enjoyed all the Abba songs mommy was singing after she watched Mama Mia, probably the only time in his life he'll sing them with me :)

-tells us stories now, really long descriptions of things in baby talk... he's very anxious to join in on our conversations now

Playing and Games:

-we do all sorts of fun little activities from some baby play books we have and baby center online suggested activities, Liam really loves to play and Benjamin loves to be the big helper

-absolutely loves the following three games:

--I'm a gonna get you!

--1, 2, 3eeeee! (It doesn't matter what you do at 3, he'll think it's fun :))

--and this one really makes me laugh, tug of war!

-likes to play in his jumparoo, but it gives him a serious sugar rush high

-likes to play wrestle with his brother, which consists of them lying down facing each other and waving their arms and legs at each other (Ben is very gentle, Liam, not so much :))

-loves it when we play soccer with Ben and he's in the carrier, just laughs and laughs and laughs as we chase the ball and Ben around

-likes to make music by banging anything he can reach on other objects and different surfaces

-really into toys now

-he's a budding comedian, doing things while watching you for a reaction and waiting for a laugh

-he is super super ticklish, everywhere, and can't help but squirm and giggle at the slightest touch or even threat of a possible tickle

Eating:

-started the month still pretty much not interested in eating any food

-got better when you let him do it first... put some on his spoon and let him hold it himself so he could chew on it and in the process, got some food in his mouth

-then daddy came up with a game combined with the introduction of SWEET POTATOES FINALLY GOT HIM GOING (July 8th)

-your favorites foods are pears and sweet potatoes (understandably so) AND prunes and carrots... now that's a little more odd I think :)

-drinks water, with my help, from a cup with every meal... he really likes doing this and thinks that he should also take a drink any time mommy does throughout the day.... he lets me know this verbally and with grabby hands every time I try to drink something

-veggie puffs were used for the first time as finger food introduction, and quickly became our dinner entertainment as Liam perfected his own unique methods for getting them into his mouth... and finally we ended the month with a pretty serious puff addiction :)

-his favorite table food so far are french fries, the German version which are not very greasy, always available and plentiful... but certainly in moderation :) I know my health foodie friends will flip out learning this, but we're big health food encouragers - while allowing everything in moderation... whatever, I'm the mommy, there's my defense :)

-he discovered Popsicles... I thought he would be turned off by the strong taste because we get the natural fruit juice ones, but daddy let him have a lick and he was hooked! he's only tried one flavor thus far, but he really enjoyed it so he might actually drink juices like his daddy when he's older

Sleeping:

-you are such a good napper, often still taking three a day but at least two good ones

-moving towards more of a set time schedule for naps... the first being just 2 hours after waking up, the next after lunch (this is usually the big one at 2+ hours) and sometimes one more early evening

-sleeping in your crib for naps now, although you occasionally still fall asleep in your car seat if our timing is off a little or if you're extra tired

-like to fall asleep on your side but always end up on your back with your arms up over your head

-love to cuddle with everyone on mommy and daddy's bed

-rarely fall asleep just anywhere anymore, except the time below when you were playing and watching a movie with Daddy and Benjamin
-bed time is about 8pm and you sleep until about 7 or 8am, usually with only one wake up

New Developments and Firsts:

-starting to scoot

-pincher grasp and finding everything on the floor

-good sitter now

-drinks from our glass and then adds sippy cups

-will hold his arms up for daddy now too

Favorites:

-you are so happy, it's hard to find something you don't like

-it's like you've just discovered... "hey, we have puppy dogs!" and you get so excited when they get close enough for you to touch them (only Cooper of course, aside from a few random sniffings, Chloe usually avoids babies and toddlers... too unpredictable :))

-this is a favorite of the favorites... shaking/dumping water out of your cup onto your highchair tray and then splashing and playing in it

-you love to be surprised, with peek a boo and when we just pop out of no where and smile at you or make a silly noise

Least favorites:

-don't walk away from me mommy

And now for some photos:

Family photo in Annweiler at a medieval festival

Everything is more fun from the front pack carrier... isn't life good! (You have GOT TO love those precious ears!)

You loved dancing with mommy to the live music, and ANYTHING Benjamin does is just the funniest thing EVER to you!

You're starting to stay awake more during our sightseeing trips.

You try to take your hat off and play with it, sometimes you're successful and sometimes you just end up turning it a little crooked. Here are you and daddy posing in front of a large carving of a knight.

Your big brother is so dear with you, you both love to play together. We've spent a lot of time picnicking and playing on this blanket.

One of your favorite things, the nursing cover :) You get so excited when you see it you start laughing.

There's that sweet sweet smile.

Mommy and her precious boys!

Your big brother wanted to take a picture of you and mommy. This is right after breakfast and you're already ready for your first nap of the day.

Getting a little sleepy, but still trying to play. I would love to know what you're thinking right here :) (p.s. you're great at sitting up, but our floors are marble, so mommy still guards you with pillows)Here you are banging one of the kings on your castle and singing along to the tune you're making!


You just figured out mommy was taking pictures of you. It's actually a little hard to take photos of you playing because you'll stop and pose for the camera :)
Big brother joins in and you start to explain how you want him to play :)

Of course anything Benjamin says or does is not only acceptable, but incredibly pleasing to you, right now at least :)

You two really play together, I love it! I thought it wouldn't happen until you were much older.

And then there were all the new adventures with food this month!

"Hey, how did you sneak that in there?"

"Hmmmmm, that's actually pretty good."

"Mmmmmmmm, I like me some sweet potatoes!"

"That was yummy! This eating thing isn't so bad after all." (Even though you still only open your mouth the tiniest bit, making it near impossible to get food inside without smearing it across your lips... makes for some messy fun!)

"What is this strange thing I've finally managed to wrangle into my mouth?"

"Hey, that was pretty good! Extra good because I did it myself!"

"Look at me, I'm an expert at it now!"

This is me learning to sign "more".

Up close adorable prune face, I still can't believe it's one of your favorites!

"Aw shucks mom :)"

"That daddy guy, he's pretty darn funny!"

"You are just too much!"

"Seriously, stop it, stop it, you're killing me!"

"Hey, what's that fantastic treat?""Oh yea, hits the spot... cold on the gums and sweet on the tastebuds!"

"Drats, is she going to make you stop sharing?"

"That's what I'm talking about!" (Notice the cool way daddy locks down my hands and feet so I can't "hold" the popcicle myself :))

"Just chilling with the guys, litterally."

What a big boy, sitting in a highchair at a restaurant for the first time. He also started sitting in the front part of the grocery cart too. He loves it!

Here you are on a softer rug, with proof that you have completely perfected sitting... and can reach out and come back to this position in any direction. Oh, and I love this sucking in your bottom lip grin!

Just from a different angle... this is your play area in the kitchen.
And one more, of the same thing, I know... but that's what mommy's do... they take 100's of pictures of the same thing because you are just so darn precious and dear and we love you sooooo!

OK, seriously this is the last one :) I just had a to get a from behind shot... have I mentioned how much I love those precious ears?

And there we have our recap... there are already big BIG things happening from the 8 to the 9 month mark! I'll be back for another amazing recap August 30th!

My sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet Lee, we love love love love love you so!