Eight

Talking to Gigi on the phoneplaying the Keymonica, this was Mommy's toy when she was a kidI can't believe it has been 8 mths since I gave birth to Joseph JR. What an adventure thus far, started off not so great but now we are happy as can be! Joseph is really growing and moving and learning a lot. Just this week he learned how to maneuver into the sitting position from his back or stomach. He has also pulled up on his crib once. If I stand him up while he's holding on he can stand for a few seconds then he falls. He is rocking on all fours now, and he pretty much gets where ever he wants by using his front arms to pull himself. He doesn't have the back leg crawl down yet, but I feel any day now I'm going to see him crawling across the floor. He rolls and scoots his way around.

He is really learning his voice these days. He lets out cute screams and coos and "dadadada". Of course Daddy is loving that.

Naptime is going ok, could be better. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we still have activities in the morning. By the time we get home I usually feed him and then try to put him down for a nap. I miss the 3 hour long naps he used to take in the afternoons. Now he is taking a one hour nap in morning around 11am, and a 1 hour nap around 2pm, then another 1 hour nap around 6:30. Yep- that's 3 one hour naps!! I guess better than no naps at all! We have not graduated to nap time in the crib either. I've tried and he will not stay asleep for more than 15 min if I lay him down in his crib. So as for now nap time is still in his swing, bedtime is still in his crib.

Solids! Wow, this subject I could write a book on. I am following the "Super Baby Food" book like it's the Bible. A new version is coming out soon, I will be first in line to buy it : ) New foods baby has had this past month is yellow squash (he likes), greenbeans (not so much), organic carrots (he gags everytime), potatoes (yum!), organic banana (loves, but gets a red hiney everytime), prune juice (makes him go poop!), and yellow egg yolk (he likes). I think that is all I can remember off the top of my head. It sounds like a lot of food, but some days he will not eat anything and he only wants to nurse. Other days he eats like a champ. The veggies he isn't liking so much I am mixing them into his cereal that I make him (brown rice or organic millet). I am also trying more and more to get him his vitamin drops either in his drinking water, which by the way he is doing good taking drinks out of a cup (with our help of course) or I put them in his last few bites of food. I still worry about him not getting enough iron since I am not feeding him iron fortified cereal. At 8 mths I can start putting ground flax seed on his food, that will provide iron. At his 9 mth check up they will take blood to check for anemia, so then I can make sure he is getting what he needs. I feel like he is behind compared to other children his age as far as solids go, he is only eating maybe one meal a day. He nurses so much still, and he doesn't yet have the pincer grasp down yet for finger food snacks. That is all I'll say about solids for now... : ) Oh but he can have watermelon at 8 mths, so that will be coming soon...

What Joseph loves! Water! We have been to a big pool twice thus far and he loves it. He also loves playing in his little pool in the backyard and taking baths. When I'm watering the flowers he will put out his hand to touch the water and he closes his eyes real tight-the cutest thing.
He also loves loves loves laughing at daddy. Daddy is still the most funny guy in the house.
He loves listening to books. I read to him every day. He sits in my lap and listens or while he is playing in the floor I will read to him. He will get a free book from the library once I record 10 books I've read to him on their web site!
Joseph loves the puppet bear at story time at the library. When Ms. Nancy sings to him he has the BEST reaction! All the other moms always tell me they can't wait to see Joseph's reaction when the bear sings to him. He screams with excitement then reaches his arms out as straight as they will go and makes a grunt/growl noise-it is priceless.

We are having so much fun at this age! I am sad he is growing up. It seems he is halfway hanging off my lap already with his long legs. He won't cuddle with me unless he is nursing, otherwise he pushes me and wants down to explore. His little personally keeps me laughing all the time-much like his daddy. We love him so much and are so thankful he is in our lives!