Day 234... 8 months!

Sept 20

Wow! I know I say this every month, but how is it possible that my sweet little baby boy is 8 months old already?

Here's what he has going on...

Martyn is army crawling and scooting like a mad man! He's really quick, and totally mobile. If he wants to go somewhere, or sees something across the room that he wants (and he's on the floor) he goes right to it. He also can sit up from his belly really quickly and efficiently. Sometimes he does that as a method of getting from one place to another. He will lay on his belly, the get up onto his butt, facing the wrong way, then lay back down scoot a little, get back up facing the right way, and so on. He's starting to actually crawl a little bit more every day.

He'll get up on his hands and knees and rock back and forth, or get up on his hands and feet and rock back and forth with his butt up in the air.

He is totally pulling up on anything he can get his hands on, but his favorite is the coffee table (because it's easily accessible.)

He babbles constantly, from the moment he wakes up, until he goes back to sleep. I've noticed his "happy sounds" are "dadadadada". His "unhappy sounds" on the other hand, are "mamamamamama". (oh well.) He recognizes Sheba as his 'doggie' and lights up like a Christmas tree when he sees her. She also seems to really enjoy him, and will let him pull her hair, and pat her face and muzzle, with nothing more than a glance....if she gets tired of him, she just gets up and walks away. He's learning pretty well, to pet her gently and not always pull her fur.

He understands certain spoken/signed words, like more, hungry, eat, ninny, Sheba, mama, daddy, blanket, and most importantly, no no, or don't touch....well, he's still learning those last two. I think he's getting it though.

He has one tooth fully sticking up, on the bottom, and the one right next to it is just barely breaking through. I can see it, but can't feel it yet. He eats a lot. He has a bowl of (baby) cereal mixed with a jar of fruit for breakfast, a jar for lunch and sometimes a jar for dinner. And at least 10 oz of milk, before I get to him in the evening....then he nurses probably 3 more times before bedtime, and still wants to nurse at least once in the middle of the night....usually around 2 or 3 in the morning.

He's still only sleeping the night through in the crib, about 10% of the time. We have to be really careful if we leave him in the bed alone (in our bed, not the crib) because he will totally crawl over the edge if he wakes up. He doesn't have any concept of "over the edge".

He's wearing 9-12 month clothes....more 12 months than 9 months, all his 9 month clothes are a bit snug, but still fine.

He can be set in the play pen for about 10-15 minutes at a time and entertain himself with his toys, or blanket or pacifier, and give me or Eli a few minutes to get things done, like the dishes or get dinner started when it's not safe for him to be crawling around on the floor....which he would much rather do, but he'll settle for the play pen for a little while.

He's very curious about everything. We have had to start putting up outlet covers, and things like that... because he will go right to them and tap his little fingers all over them. He loves to play peek-a-boo. Sometimes if he has the blanket, or rag right in reach, he will pull it up in front of his face and wait for someone to say "where's Martyn?" Then he will bring his arms down really fast, and smile really big, especially if someone says "there he is!" It's really cute, especially because he'll just do it randomly on his own.

He's an extremely happy boy, over all. It's just awesome! He's funny, and has a funny little personality. He really enjoys people, and watching people. He is starting to be anxious about strangers though, and sometimes gets a little mama clingy....even with people he knows.

He's just wonderful. I love him.