8 months!

Dear Cassidy,

Monday you turned 8 months old, that's two thirds of a year! Wow, this has been a HUGE month for you!

You are incredibly mobile now and each day brings a new trick. Your confidence far outreaches your actual skill level, which can be a little scary at times, but you're just plowing through those milestones. You started crawling almost three weeks ago. Within a few days you were pulling up on everything in sight, then taking steps while cruising along the furniture, and now on more than one occasion you've let go completely to stand on your own. It's only for a few seconds at a time, but you have to slow down, Cassidy! Mommy and Daddy already can't keep up with you as it is! We can't imagine what it will be like to have a walker.

Solids are going relatively well. I think I have to be more cognizant of schedules and timing. If you're already cranky you want nothing to do with solids, but sometimes you can't get enough. We're still working on purees but moving more and more into finger foods. We usually sprinkle your tray with shredded cheese or puffs for you to work on while we try to edge a spoonful of purees in between bites. We also introduced a sippy cup this month which you love.

Physically I think you still look the same but when I look at older pictures I can tell your hair is getting longer, you're getting taller, and thinning down. You still have your magnificent thighs, but with crawling I believe they won't have too much longer. It's debatable, but I also think your eyes are turning more green. It all depends on the lighting and what you're wearing, but the centers are definitely more "warm" than they used to be. Your fangs are now accompanied by the points of your front two teeth. These seemed a little more difficult for you to handle than the last four, but I guess that makes sense since they're significantly larger. Then tonight while you were sitting on my lap, I noticed you cut a seventh! It's the bottom one on your right next to the middle two. Chomp! Chomp!

Your unofficial stats:

You are 18.8 pounds, and that is

at the 59th percentile for weight.

You are 29 inches, and that is

at the 95th percentile for height.

And we think your head circumference is 18.5 inches, and that is at greater than the 97th percentile for head circumference.

Your sleep patterns are all over the place. I think traveling and sleeping in strange places is probably the biggest interference, but teething, crawling, and pulling up are also not helping. On a good night you wake once or twice, nurse, and go right back in your crib without a peep. Then there are nights like this past weekend where you were up every hour. We're thinking about using the Ferber method to change your sleep associations, but first I need to wean you from the nighttime feedings. Either way, there are some big changes in your future, my dear! Good news though, it seems that we've managed to get you to take longer, more consistent daytime naps. It's amazing what we can accomplish during those longer nap windows!

You're starting to develop a little separation anxiety. Whenever I leave the room you whine and sometimes cry. You'll still let just about anyone hold you, but you're constantly looking to see that I'm still in the room. I know that in the not too distant future I will look back fondly on the days that I was number one in your life.

Baby signing is really starting to develop as well. Even though you don't sign when you want something, you definitely understand my signs. Your favorite is obviously "milk" and every time I do it you lunge towards me. Very cute.

This month we've really had to up the use of "no" and "ouch". With your new mobility you are constantly testing your boundaries. This is natural of course, but you usually just look at us and laugh when we say it. Hopefully you'll understand soon! Learning "ouch" is just as important these days. You are constantly trying to pull my hair, bite our hands with your new little teeth, or pinch the back of my arm while you nurse. You're soooo strong and it hurts so bad! Maybe one day you'll get it but until then I guess we'll be covered in black and blue marks.

Well, I think I've covered everything. The biggest changes seem to be taking place in your personality which is much less concrete or observable, but you're such a little goofball. Your sense of humor is amazing for an 8 month old. You're also incredibly loving and sweet. You love to cuddle and snuggle and we hope you never outgrow that! Love you baby girl!

Love, Mommy and Daddy