Eight Months

Parker Holt, you are eight months old!

You went from this newborn babe in the hospital...

 

To this one month old...

To this two month old...

 To this three month old...

 To this four month old...

To this five month old...

 To this six month old...

 To this seven month old...

 To this eight month old...

 

This one cracks me up - Parker's saying, "Mom, I've had it. Put away the camera - I'm done!"

Mommy is a bit delayed in getting your eight month post done, but better late than never.  We had a busy week last week and just didn't get around to it.

This has been a BIG month for you, Parker Boy!  Lots of changes and a bit rough at times for you also - poor little guy! 

You currently weigh 18 pounds 6 ounces and are 28 1/4" long.  You had to get a portion of a flu shot (the second part will come when you are nine months old) and had to make a trip to the Dr. last week because you weren't feeling or eating well, so luckily we got your measurements.  You still have the most awesome big blue eyes and golden locks. Your hair is starting to grow more and more and gets wild at times after you wake up.  You will go in for your nine month check-up the week after Thanksgiving.   

You are still wearing size 3 diapers.  You are wearing mostly 9 month and 9-12 month clothing.  You can still manage to fit into a few 6-9 month items as well, but you are growing out of them fast.  We've been putting you in some 12 month pajamas, because you are so long, and they fit just fine.  Once again, it has been fun to dress you in new clothes, but we miss the outfits you have outgrown too. December will probably bring another dresser and closet clean out.

Wow, has your eating and drinking been off this past month!  You received an early Christmas present on October 17th - your two front teeth started coming in.  Unfortunately, you have had a lot of pain and discomfort so the drinking of bottles and eating of food has been erratic - good, bad and non-existent.  You finally started drinking your bottles better for the most part, but for a week or two, you refused to eat any solid food.  We tried different foods, different times of day, different temperatures...and you just weren't interested.  Luckily through it all, you weren't incredibly fussy and were still a happy, playful little boy for the most part.  You just didn't feel well and didn't like things touching or in your mouth.  

Typically, you take a bottle 4-5 times a day - about every 3 1/2 - 4 hours and eat solids 3 times a day.  So far, you have had brown rice cereal, oatmeal, apples, bananas, avacado, sweet potatoes, peas, squash, zucchini, green beans, carrots, plums, broccoli and nectarines.  This month, you are also going to try pears and pumpkin.  We've also started mixing foods and adding cottage cheese or yogurt to some foods.  Mommy is still making all of your food - it takes some time and planning, but I am happy to do it for you.

Your sleep has been a bit off for the past month too.  You nap fairly well and go to bed well, but have been waking up in the middle of the night pretty much every night.  We think it's attributed to 1) teething and 2) not eating enough to make you full and sleep soundly.  There could be other things going on as well and you are just changing and growing.  Some nights you aren't even fussy.  You just wake up and want to play.  Praise the Lord, the last couple of days have been better both eating and sleeping wise so we hope it's the sign of  better days ahead.  We have been doing a lot of praying for our sweet boy. 

One of the BIG changes this month is that you are sleeping in your crib full time - no more pack and play in Mommy and Daddy's room! So bittersweet. The pack and play has been packed  up and put away.  We have also already had to lower the crib down a couple of notches because you were reaching and trying to pull up on the side.  You twist and turn and flip and flop like crazy while you sleep.  You start out in one position and direction and by the time you wake up, you are in a completely different spot.  We have also had to start changing your diapers on the floor because keeping you on the changing table is impossible anymore.         

You are now officially a CRAWLER!! As of Halloween afternoon, you are crawling. We think you're still a little limited in your crawling or you haven't quite figured out that you can go anywhere you want now, but you are crawling here and there and getting the hang of it more each day.  Time to break out all of the baby proofing supplies.

You are still EXTREMELY curious about everything!! So many things catch your attention and you have intense focus.  You still love your exersaucer and jumperoo.  Now that you are pretty mobile - crawling, rolling and maneuvering your way around, you don't spend as much time in them as you used to, but from time to time.  

Parker's current loves...

You love being outside.  Sometimes you'll even motion toward the back door to go outside.  We took you outside recently and blew bubbles for you to watch and you loved it! 

A couple of funny things you love inside is the vacuum cleaner and our giant lint roller we use to rid the furniture of Calvin's hair.  Anytime either one of those come out, you get super excited and watch them in use with such concentration.  You even cry sometimes when they are put away. 

You love the bath and are a little fish in the water. You splish and splash like crazy and are starting to play with a few toys in the bath.  We can definitely see you loving to swim down the road.

You LOVE music.  You love to hear it, you love to be sung to and the toys you enjoy the most are ones that have to do with music or that play music.  Several of your toys play songs, but you also have a little keyboard you play too.  When Mamaw came for a week at the beginning of October, she bought you a baby drum set, complete with maracas and tamborine, that you play with daily.  You also love to shake your little egg shakers - cute cute! Your most favorite thing is when Daddy gets out the guitar and plays.  Pure excitement and joy is on your face and you are mesmerized.  Again, you cry when it gets put up as well.  Perhaps there is music in your future! You come from a musical family and we have many musical friends, so that'll work out great.      

Oh I could go on and on about you and what you do each and every day and share so much more, but I think I've rambled on enough for now.  I never know where to stop!  

I am doing my best to keep up with your baby book through this year so that by your first birthday your book will be full and complete and something we can look back at together and you can have when you are grown and have children of your own.  I have more work to do on it, but it's been so much fun to work. 

Here are some pictures from the last month...  

Parker, Parker - what a pleasure you are.  You are at such a fun age and we get to experience new enjoyment each day with you.  You make us laugh and warm our hearts - even in those times when you don't feel the best and are having a rough day.  We love taking care of you!  We are so anxious for the holiday season upon us - it's going to be a special time indeed!  You light up the faces of all who meet you and they can't help put smile.  You are precious and adorable and we love you SO SO MUCH!!

I love being your Mommy, Parker Holt and your Daddy sure does adore you too.
 

Until we meet again,

Riley

P.S. Have any of you seen this Carter's commercial?  It has to be one of my favorite commercials ever - especially as a new Mom.  It's so sweet and I love every word.  Watch it and grab a kleenex...or perhaps that's just me!