8 Months (or when Ben transformed from a bitty baby to a big boy!)

On the day Ben turned 8 months I fell and hurt my hand causing me to delay this post...

Highlights from the month: Ben went apple picking and discovered that he loves to suck on apples. We hung out in Fredonia painting the kitchen, visiting the hardware store and going for long walks in the sunshine. Ben is a star wherever he goes and he gives smiles to anyone who needs one. He is often stopped in the grocery store to give someone a smile with his big blue eyes. He loves going to Privitera's--a local farm stand where the owner loves to hold him while I shop. In addition to hanging out at home, Ben and I took a trip to Harrisburg for a dear friend's baby shower. He endured the long car ride with a little help from "Slugs, Bugs, and Lullabies" (thanks Aunt Elaine!)

Stats:

We had our sixth month check-up at 7 and a half months. On that wonderful day Ben weighed 19 lbs 13 oz and was 28 inches long. His head circumference was 17.5 which puts it in the 44th percentile so despite what everyone says, his head is quite tiny. His new doctor said he wasn't very big for his age but I'm not sure she was looking at my baby. He wears mostly 12 month clothes (although they are a little big)

I don't think Ben has lost weight from month 7--I think I might just be awful at weighing babies and our scale weighs heavy (which also means that I've lost more baby weight than the scale says, right?)

Teeth: 4--two on the bottom and two on the top--although his lateral incisors came in before his central incisors and Andrew likes to call him "White Fang."

Skills:

Movement--during his seventh month of life Ben became a mover. He started scooting all over the house with incredible speed. Gone are the days when he would play in one spot. He can sit unsupported and enjoys playing on both his belly and in a sitting position. He deliberately grabs things and is learning cause and effect. He enjoys dropping things off of his high chair to see them land on the floor (and to see if the game of parent fetch will work). He moves so much that we had to lower his crib.

Communication--Ben loves to laugh and smile. He seeks out others for praise when he does something awesome, like smile. He babbles away making several new sounds including , "babababa," "mamamama," and "dadada." He doesn't yet associate his parents with sounds but occasionally he will say, "mom" and look at me--a coincidence?

Sleeping--Month 7 was a weird month for sleeping. The first two weeks of the month he did an amazing job and slept well with only two quick snacks. The second half of the month (after he received his shots) sleeping was again a struggle and he woke up a lot. He started to settle back into a better routine at night towards the end of the month. During the day he wakes up around 7 and goes down for a nap by 9. He takes a one and a half to two hour nap in the morning. He sleeps again in the afternoon from one to three(ish). Occasionally he will take a short catnap around 5 depending on the day. He goes down for the night between 7:30 and 8.

Eating--Sporadic solids turned into three meals a days during the month. He enjoys eating and nursing throughout the day. He loves squash, green beans, bananas, avocado, apples, peaches, carrots, toast, teething biscuits...we add in a new food every few days. I spice things up with cinnamon, cumin, cardamon, pepper and garlic. He seems to enjoy having a little flavor in his diet. He eats every 3ish hours. When he nurses he loves to grab my necklace and hold on to it. He sometimes enjoys a meal on the go.

Toys--He loves to play with musical toys. He also thinks that anything should be a toy and everything goes into his mouth. He is fascinated by electrical cords, electrical sockets, plastic bags--basically anything that is bad for baby Ben wants to get his hands on. We are constantly vigilant.

Diapering--we still love our Fuzzibunz! In addition to cloth diapers, I started using cloth wipes. I was skeptical at first but the only disposable wipes that don't give my sensitive skinned little one diaper rash are from Target--there is not a Target in Fredonia.

Separation: Month 7 was the month of separation anxiety. Suddenly Ben wanted mommy whenever available. He started crying in the nursery, getting sad when I left his sight and crying when I came home from being gone. Towards the end of the month he started to get a little better and is going to other people more easily.

Every day with Ben is a blessing. We love watching our little baby grow into a boy. He is a joy to have and we treasure every moment we get to see his smiling happy face.