Eight months old! (Yesterday!)

Dear Evelyn,

I jinxed myself. I just finished saying last post that I hadn’t missed a letter deadline yet, and of course here I am today a day late. This week I’ve been—what’s the word…ah yes, lazy. I put off doing my homework for class and realized last night that the lesson closed a day earlier than I thought, so your letter was sacrificed for a day. I did take pictures on time this month, though! Now I just have to get them posted…

So, eight months old! There are several noticeable things we’re still waiting on—teeth, for one. No teeth yet. You’re not yet crawling yet either, but you are more and more mobile. Your preferred locomotive activity is best described as ‘spinning.’ You like to lay or your tummy and rotate yourself around as if pivoting on your belly button in complete 360 degree sweeps, around and around. You’re quite quick at it, and between that and rolling, you’re able to get to most things you covet.

You really enjoy “reading” books with me, and especially like turning the pages yourself. This seems like such a big girl thing to me; I’m so impressed by you!

You have discovered that it is possible to sit up in your swing. This to me looks like a great feat of balance to maintain an upright position as you rock to and fro. You have only begun doing this in the past few days and I see it as the beginnings of you outgrowing your swing. That should be an interesting transition in the coming months…

You’ve been much better this month (knock on wood) about napping and sleeping. Your naps have been much more predictable during the day—in part I think because you’re eating more solids now too. At night you’ve adjusted your schedule to going to bed a bit earlier. We start heading that way sometimes as early as 8 pm now, and often you’re fast asleep 20-30 minutes later and don’t stir until 6 or 7 am. I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am for this.

Like I said, you’re eating a fairly wide variety of baby foods now, and enjoying nearly all of them. I can see that Chokydar is beginning to see you in a new light—as the occasional heavenly source of food. She hovers beneath you at meal times now and I see the day coming when you realize what she’s after and take great pleasure in fulfilling her puppy-eyed requests.

Your hair has always been long, but it’s getting SO long now, I have to pull it back or it covers your face. I’m even able to give you a baby pony tail. You’re also getting super curious about your surroundings and are especially alert in new places. When we go out I’ve taken to carrying you facing forward, otherwise you twist and contort yourself over backwards trying to get a better vantage point of where we’re headed. You have a smile for nearly everyone we meet now; a huge toothy grin that is usually followed immediately by you burying your head coyly in my shoulder. This is just about the cutest thing anyone has ever seen, especially because you then pop back up to flash another grin. You’re a big hit around town for sure.

I know I’ve missed mentioning stuff this month, baby. Things were moving so quickly I didn’t take notes along the way and I’m just sure I’ve forgotten to talk about half of the new things you’ve begun doing. Your smile and bright curious eyes keep me entranced every day and I just pray that I can be the mother you deserve.

Love,

Mommy