8 Months Old!

Another month down, and Charlie is now 8 months old (really, more like 8 1/2; I'm just so behind on my blogging :). I know I say this every month, but I cannot believe how fast this year is flying by. At the end of each day, I feel like I just want to stop time and spend more time with Charlie at this age. We are having so much fun, but it is all just passing too quickly. Case in point--Charlie started crawling last night! Although I am excited for him to be crawling, I am already missing his precious little army crawl. Very glad we got that on video before it disappears (I think we have a way to go before it disappears completely--the little man is still reverting to it when he really wants to move somewhere quickly :).

At 8 months, Charlie is crawling and pulling up. He loves to stand and will pull up on anything and everything he can find. His favorite thing is to pull up on his wagon or on me (or any person sitting down on the ground with him). He gets so proud of himself when he stands up--as soon as he realizes what he's done, he flashes the biggest smile. He loves the wagon he got for Christmas, and loves to pull up and walk around the house behind it. He's really getting pretty good--it always looks like the wagon is going to roll away from him, but he somehow manages (not particularly gracefully) to stay on his feet. A few weeks ago he figured out how to sit up on his own and that has been quite exciting for him. As soon as I put him in his crib for a nap or at night, he pops up and plays around for a while before he goes to sleep. We have so much fun watching him moving around in his crib busily on the video monitor. :)

Charlie is still just a sweet, happy, loving baby. He has all kinds of new sounds this month--he says "dada," "baba," "yaya," "nana," "mama," blows raspberries, and continues with his ever-hilarious screeching. He loves it when I mimic him and screech back at him--we can go back and forth like this for a while, and he dissolves into giggles every time. :) He still loves his bath and gets excited every time we go into the bathroom at night. He starts giggling as soon as the water goes on and then just starts talking up a storm. He loves being tickled before the bath, and loves rolling around in his birthday suit :) afterwards. Charlie has the funniest little flirtatious face he's been doing lately--he tilts his head to the side, rests it on his shoulder, wrinkles up his nose, and gives a huge smile. He will continue doing this as long as it gets a reaction. :)

Charlie still loves being outside more than anything, and is even loving it in this cold weather. We've been walking down to our neighborhood park a couple times a week, and Charlie's favorite thing there is the swing. He kicks his little legs around as soon as he gets in and laughs every time I push him.

Charlie is continuing to be a great sleeper, and sleeps from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. After a 3-day battle, Charlie is taking bottles again, which has provided some much-needed freedom for me. He has four teeth now (2 on top and 2 on bottom) and 2 more just beginning to break through on top. And we went back to the pediatrician this month for a weight check since his weight was a little low last month, and he did great. His 8 months stats were:

Height: 28 inches (60%)

Weight: 17 lbs., 10 oz. (20%)

This has been a busy month, but we have had so much fun settling back in after the holidays. I cannot believe how fast Charlie is changing and all the new things he is doing. We are so proud of our busy, hardworking little boy!

At our "photo shoot," Charlie was busy, busy, busy. It was almost impossible to get a picture of his face!

He LOVES pulling up...including on the chair...

I had to toss him in the corner of the couch and snap a picture very quickly to get a photo before he was on the move again. :)

This is kind of what his flirtatious face looks like... :)

I have no idea what he is doing here, but I think this picture is hilarious. Maybe Charlie is worshipping the sun gods?

Although he's not too interested in finger foods yet (they involve a lot of gagging and throwing food on the floor), he LOVES his teething biscuits.

Again, nothing this boy loves more than standing. He is SO proud of himself. :)

Charlie loves pushing up with his back legs. I love his ears. :)

Trying desperately to crawl right off the chair.

He looks innocent...

...but he's really not. :)

Protesting my photo session.

Those of you who have been at our house during the day have likely seen (and heard) the cardinal that lives in the maple tree outside our window. The poor little guy bangs on our window all day every day. Charlie has become very interested in him and we have to make several trips to the window every day to visit with Mr. Cardinal and watch him bang away. Here's Charlie monitoring Mr. Cardinal's activities.

I love this age!