eight months

dearest cecilia,

what an exciting month you've had! reading back over your seven-month post, i'm amazed at how much has happened in the past four weeks. first of all, you got your first teeth! your bottom left incisor made its appearance a few days after you turned seven months old, and the bottom right incisor joined the party about a week later. you like to stick your tongue out these days, so we don't actually get to see your teeth all that much, but they sure are cute!

you also went swinging for the first time and absolutely loved it. as soon as i put you in the bucket seat, you grinned and waved your arms in excitement. then i gave you a gentle push and you just about lost your mind with happiness, kicking your legs and laughing. it's so much fun to watch you discover the world!

i'm guessing you weigh about sixteen pounds. you are wearing 9 month clothes, and as soon as we use up our current stock of size 2 diapers, you'll be moving into size 3. you wear size 2 shoes, when you deign to keep them on, that is. i freely admit that your sparkly cherry sandals are just for show! 

you'll be crawling soon, but you're not quite there yet. you get up on your hands and knees and rock back and forth, and sometimes you keep one leg tucked behind you as if you're in a runner's crouch, ready to take off when the gun is fired. you are adept at scooting backwards on your tummy, but unfortunately this causes you much frustration, especially when you're trying to reach a toy!

you started waving just a few days before you turned eight months. you wave with your whole arm -- sometimes with both of them! i get ridiculously excited whenever you wave, or when you clap, which is your other new trick. whenever i say "yay, Cece!" you happily clap and wave those arms around again. 

currently, your favourite thing to do is to play with the basket of wooden blocks. you pick them up, put them down, take them out of the basket, and put them back in the basket. you clap them together and then clap them on the floor, experimenting with the different sounds. i have a feeling it won't be long before you figure out how to throw them, and then we may need to find a different game! for now, though, the blocks keep you occupied for a good half hour at a time.

one big milestone this month was that we transitioned you out of our room, into Greta's room. you truly love the extra space to stretch out in your crib, and so far everything has gone very smoothly. most nights, you're ready for bed around 7:30 or 8, and you are sound asleep by the time Greta is ready for bed at 8:30 (or sometimes closer to 9!). in the morning, you frequently wake first, and babble to yourself until either i come get you or Greta wakes up and talks to you. a few mornings, i've come into your room to find Greta reading books to you, which is just about the sweetest thing ever. your big sister loves you very much! 

another big milestone is that you spent the night away from me -- actually two nights in a row! you and Greta stayed with Nana and Pappy while i went to New York to visit your Auntie Kira and to celebrate my dear friend Julie's upcoming wedding with the rest of the bridesmaids. you did very well overall. Nana and Pappy took excellent care of you, but i was so ready to snuggle you when i came back! 

you continue to be a good eater. you love the baby food blends (chicken and rice, apple strawberry banana, macaroni and cheese with vegetables, mango and oatmeal), and you're working on your pincer grasp. i give you about ten cheerios to play with and you manage to eat two or three, while the rest end up on the floor. you are now drinking 6-7 ounces of formula four to five times per day, and eating between one to two containers of baby food as well. 

we love you, cecilia marie!