8 Months & All Over The Place

8 Month Stats:

Height 27" Weight 17lbs 14oz

Teeth- Bottom 2

Baby Food- Stage 2 puree (doesn't like stage 3) Not a fan of puree bananas or peaches

"Real" Food he likes- Toast, waffles, vanilla waffers, ritz crackers, grilled cheese, sliced cheese, french fries, sweet potatoe fries, mixed vegetables, stawberries

"Real" Food he's not too sure about- Pancakes, noodles (any kind/flavor- I think it's a texture thing), bananas, pears (He LOVES puree fruit though)

Baby Snacks he likes- Puffs, yogurt melts

Crawling- YES- Officially began crawling on his 8 month birthday (he was scooting before that)

Standing- YES- LOVES TO STAND! I have caught him letting go of things while standing

Sleep- (insert whispering here- I don't want Mason to know we are discussing this) As you have read in the past, Mason has NEVER slept through the night. I was given all kinds of advice, and I recently borrowed a couple books from a friend about sleep training. Well, I believe Mason got wind of me talking about possible letting him cry it out, or using some other methods, so he has decided for the past 4 nights to sleep from 7:30ish pm-5:30ish am . (insert "Yay" here) I left the sleep training books on his dresser, just so he knows I am still exploring our options if need be.

A few things I have learned after 8 months of being a Mom:

1- It is possible to run in somewhere & not bring half of your house- You can even go run around all day without 6 outfit changes "just in case" he gets something on him.

2- You can travel with only 1 bottle- He can't drink out of more than one at once can he? You can even go as far as rinsing it out in a public place! Crazy, right? Who knew...

3- He doesn't have to have the "perfect" outfit- as long as it's clean & the colors pretty much match, you are good to go.

4- You don't have to run to pick him up the instant he starts crying- as long as he isn't hurt, a little crying won't hurt him- really, it won't.

5- This may get some people mad, but I'm going to say it- If he doesn't eat, sleep, drink, play on the same set schedule every day, that's OK. Mason has a rough schedule, but if I decide to shop all day on Saturday & he misses a good nap, or doesn't eat exactly at 12pm, our lives won't stop. I don't know how other women can stick to these strict schedules- to me that is not reality. (FYI- the above statement is not directed at anyone I know, it actually came from Mason's last helmet appointment. A woman was trying to make her daughters next appointment, and the first day & time she was given, her response was "That won't work, that is her nap time". The receptionist gives her another day & time, her response was "That won't work either, she eats lunch at that time." I honestly thought- are you kidding me?!) Again- PLEASE don't take offense to this if you are a "strict" schedule keeper- if it works for you & your baby, that's all that matters!

Check out Mason's 7th & 8th month web album for new pictures...