8 Month Update {Maddox}

8 M O N T H S

Your Favorites: Momma, Benny, sleeping in your crib, eating, Sophie the Giraffe, being held, baths, dancing, and being sung to

Your Not-So-Favorites: Being alone, sleeping through the night and being in the car seat too long

Eat:

You are still a good eater.  You are breastfed along with some purees and some bite-size pieces of food.  You love fruits of all kinds, bread, pasta, oatmeal, and chicken. Whole wheat ritz crackers are a favorite of yours too.

I have found myself quite attached to nursing you and I'm not ready to give it up yet.  There are times where I wonder if you weren't breastfed, if you'd sleep better since you wouldn't have that as a comfort.  But I can't give it up with you yet. It's our time.  With your brother around, it's hard to just get you and I time.  When I'm nursing you, it's dedicated time with just you-- and your brother knows that he has to wait.  You're also a super quick eater and give me the BEST smiles when you're full.  These are precious times with you. 

Sleep:

Sleep is not your strong suit. Sigh. You have good nights and downright terrible nights.  It's super inconsistent and really hard to figure out how to go from here.  I literally just told you today "Maddox-- There is NOTHING you can do that will make me love you less. NOTHING. But that doesn't mean I don't get frustrated with your sleep issues" :) Last night was rough. 

I've tried letting you cry it out for weeks now and it's just not helping.  No matter what we do.  I try to remind myself that you will sleep some day...but I'd love for it to be sooner rather than later. 

You have 2 teeth-- and for a week you had a really hard time sleeping, so I nursed you for comfort.  Then I think that put you back into the routine of needing that comfort--so I let you CIO and from there, it's been a battle.  Some days good, some days bad.  I actually think you're working on tooth #3, so maybe that's the issue? Teething really gets you :( 

You have decided you don't need a morning nap (NOT OK!), unless you are in the car seat.  I put you down every morning for a nap--because you're only 8 months old and you surely need more than just a 2 hour afternoon nap. You disagree :) 

Keep up the 2 hour afternoon nap (while your brother naps too!) for awhile please. 

No matter how poorly you sleep-- We will make it through! 

Personality:

Besides the fact that you don't sleep...

You are such a chill baby! 

You have learned to take the tackles, the aggressive kisses, the too-tight-squeezes, and all things that your brother does to you.  And you do it mostly without complaining.  I can't wait to see how you react once you can defend yourself ;)

You LOVE to be held and be close to people. 

You are Mr. Serious but when you smile- it's this big smile that completely lights up your face.

You always have your tongue out.  It's really long and is out regardless of whether you're smiling or not :)  

You laugh the most at Jacoby...we all do.  Seeing you laugh at him, and then him repeat whatever he is doing just to make you laugh again? I'm living the dream. 

You have the softest cheeks that your daddy + I can't ever stop kissing. 

You are super ticklish just about everywhere... ribs, neck, feet, armpits, thighs.

You aren't even close to crawling, but you have recently started scooting. It's a big milestone for you.  You're mostly content to just sit and watch Jacoby run around...but you're starting to move more and more.  

You prefer to be carried in the carrier--as close to momma as possible.  I took just you grocery shopping last week and thought you would LOVE sitting in the cart (Jacoby usually sits there + I usually wear you in the carrier).  Well about 10 minutes into shopping, you were fussing.  I got some snacks out and you survived, but you're MUCH happier being next to me.  You don't ever make a peep in the carrier--no matter how much you're bounced around.

It's easy to forget that your heart still isn't "perfect"...that we know of anyways.  You are oh so perfect to me, and you are the most beautiful baby.  Sometimes I forget that your heart is still trying to fix itself.  We have an appointment next Monday, and I'm hopeful that you + God are working together to make it stronger than ever. 

 

My "little one",

You are still my sunshine! Every morning you light up when I walk in.  You smile even bigger when Jacoby sees you and says "heyyyyyy Bubba!".  You are serious but can smile bigger than most.  You are content but can put up a fight when you want.  You are relaxed but need your momma always.  You are tough but sensitive.  You're the best little mix of chill with enough feisty-ness to keep up.  You are my favorite little one and I can't believe we're here at 8 months! Thinking back to the times before you were here...you are totally the missing puzzle piece to our family.  You make us feel so tired but so so SO happy.  

xox,

Momma