8 and some change.

Theo is 8 months old! Holy smokes!

Our little guy is growing and changing so much (don't I say that every month??). He's really becoming his own little person and our most favorite little fella to hang out with. Here's what's new ...

Development:

Sits like a pro, but can't quite figure out how to get himself from sitting to laying down with just full on face planting. We are working on that one! He really plays with toys, likes emptying his toy baskets in his room and can pull to stand all by himself. He's also quite good at figuring out cause and effect - like for example, if you feed the dogs your puffs they will stay near your walker. You know, that sort of thing. He is also saying Mamamama especially at night when he wants to nurse, or a pony, or a million dollars. Because, really, if you heard that sad little voice, you would give him any darn thing he wanted. He signs "milk" and now smiles when you point a camera at him (gee, wonder why?). He has mastered the sippy cup and loves ice water. He has a BIG voice and loves to talk and carry on. He takes baths in the big boy tub, has a full time job and drives a car (ok, well maybe not the last two). Point is - he's growing up. 

Food:

The boy likes to eat. He still nurses a skillion times a day, but he is also eating lots of food. I'm still making all his grub so I can control what's in it and he certainly enjoys my home cooking. We haven't found much he won't eat, but favorites are veggie combos, butternut squash, fruit and YoBaby. He would eat YoBaby by the gallon and he opens his mouth so fast so we can shovel it in. We are going really easy on dairy and hope to keep him off cow's milk at least until he is 18 months, so he only gets 1/2 a yogurt a day, much to his dismay. He loves Happy Baby Organic Puffs and tonight he had a barley biter biscuit (I know, sounds gross, but we are trying to avoid wheat and sugar). It made Susan very nervous (thanks to an unfortunate pineapple incident) but he did really well and LOVED it. I got clean up duty. 

Sleep:

Getting there. He now consistently takes about an hour and a half nap in the mornings and then we try to eek out 2 more 45 minute naps. He goes to bed between 7-8 and is up around midnight and then 1 or 2 other times. Trust me, this is an improvement. Yes, we wish he slept more. No, we aren't going to let him cry. He sleeps mostly in his crib with a few nursing sessions and snuggles with us. I think we would both actually like it if he slept with us but he flails around so much in our bed and really sleeps better in his crib. I think he likes it in there. He tucks Mr. Monkey under his arm and settles right down. 

I guess those are the highlights of the 8th month for Monkey Moo. Susan and I are doing well. I have been working part time at Easter Seals as a community support provider and was recently credentialed as a therapist. I just got my first therapy case and am glad to have Susan around to get some guidance. I'm also working every weekday morning from 5:30-7:30 getting a cute little kindergartener off to school. She goes to a new private school that I can't wait for Theo to attend (you know, whenever I give him permission to get that old -which will be NEVER). I try to do as much work as I can during his sleeping times, which means I get very little rest myself. Susan has been working weekend overnights for a few months now and seems to have adjusted well. She loves all the time she gets with Theo during the week. So, we are working hard, but loving life too. We are anxiously awaiting our beach vacation next month. 

That was a big update, but it's been awhile! And now it's time for So You Think You Can Dance, which means the end of the post. Here's a quick picture of our big boy to hold you until I get all our pictures uploaded.