8 Months

Well, as hard as it is I guess I will spare you from the "I can't believe she is X months old" line that seems to enter each of these monthly posts, and if you want to skip the sentiment all together I totally understand.  Rest assured I am still feeling as though each and every month is a particularly wonderful, emotional, spiritual, restless, awe inspiring dichotomy. Before you have children your well intentioned, already parenting friends really try to pound it into your head to enjoy every minute, and while you nod and smile and think you understand you simply do not. There is no all consuming joy, reaching, grasping fear, or glowing pride such as that of being a parent. They tell you time flies...how right they are! We are so blessed. And now on with it.....

At 8 Months Ella

*Can sit up easily on her own
*Can go from sitting to laying (intentionally)
*Can raise up on all 4's and rock back and forth
*Has 1 tooth (bottom, front, left)
*Sleeps about 12 hours a night with two naps during the day
*Eats pretty much anything that is soft enough for her to gum and 4 bottles a day
*Wears size 2-3 diapers (3's overnight)
*Wears size 6-9 month clothing

Loves
*Books
*Smiling & laughing
*Putting her hands in her mouth
*Giving "kisses" (open mouthed slobbers)
*Playing on the floor
*Swimming while Mommy or Daddy is holding her
*Trying to crawl
*Making noise of any kind (shrieking, grunting, yelling, banging, etc)

Not much more has really changed since the last monthly post, but I swear this girl gets more and more fun each day! I also have a feeling a ton is going to change this month as we are quickly approaching crawling...lookout world! Gotta start that baby proofing!