Owen at 8 months

Sweet baby Owen....

Eight months!?!?!?  No!  Please, say it ain't so!  With each passing month it becomes harder for me to believe that you are as old as you are, reaching milestones as quickly as you are, growing and changing as fast as you are! 

At 8 months, you have developed a HUGE personality.

You are loud. You don't speak so much...you really just scream.  Luckily, its not that high pitched squealing toddler shriek...yet....its just a loud, happy, "don't forget about me over here" scream.  We won't forget you sweet boy! 

You are starting to talk.  Your first word was defnitely "bye-bye" mixed with the cutest little wave ever!  Its a mix of a finger wave and a wrist wave...that probably makes no sense, but to me it does! 

We're working on sign language and blowing kisses.

You say "ma ma" over and over and over.  It is sweet, sweet music to my ears.  You might say da da too....but I'm so overly obsessed with you saying ma-ma-ma-ma that I don't take the time to listen out for da-da!  Only kidding!  You occasionally say da-da...but its not like ma-ma.  Ma-ma is more than the sound - its definitely directed at me.  For example, "ma-ma-ma-ma-ma" I see you walking away and want you to come back!  Or, "ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma" I see you with food in your hand and I need it in my mouth..NOW!  It is so very cute!


I think you refer to Bailey as "Bay Bay" - you still LOVE her and look for her everywhere.

You LOVE the Johnny Jumper - and spend a lot of time in it each morning while Mommy and Daddy get ready.  You jump, jump, jump!

You smile most of the time.

You have your 2 bottom teach, and you are about to have 3 top teeth...one might have already cut through.  I try not to stick my hand in your mouth to find out due to nasty germs on my fingers.  The two middle top teeth and next one to the right are about to pop through - and they have been for a week.  It has to hurt!  You are chewing on everything.

I'm sorry to say that I'm not breastfeeding anymore.  You are still getting some of mommy's frozen milk, but otherwise I'm done.  I do feel guilty.  I don't need any one to tell me the stats or the American Academy of Pediatriatrician's recommendation to breast feed for 1 full year.  I know all of them - I'm more than well informed.  As a full time working mom who has been pushing 60+ hour weeks, with 2 small kids, 2 nights a week at church, etc., etc., etc. I gave up.  I did not have time to pump at work and in the wonderful working world of America there wasn't too much I could do about it!  Nothing more, nothing less.  I feel guilty and I KNOW that breastmilk is the best thing I can give you but for nothing more than personal sanity, I gave up...and despite the HUGE guilt, I'm okay with it.  I know it was best for me, for now and that is what matters.  Mommy's do have to be sane!  You are sleeping better than ever with the formula so I'm actually worried I wasn't giving you enough milk anyway.  Sorry buddy.....you might have an extra infection or two, might be 10th in your class instead of 1st...but I promise, with or without breastmilk, I'll do my best to help you succeed!  I do want to add that since starting formula, you havne't been sick.  On breastmilk, you had 5 ear infections and RSV.  Just saying (probably to continue to make myself feel a little less guilty).

You LOVE food.  You haven't rejected any food or combination.  You are eating finger foods - of course, good 'ole puffs and Mum Mums.  I've also started making tiny slices of our nightly meal for you to taste.  This week you loved strawberry and zuchinni pieces.  You also had sweet potato, chicken and broccoli when we did on Tuesday night.  Loved it! 

You love to splash in the water.

You aren't crawling yet...NO COMPLAINTS!  You love being on your tummy and spin all around, push up, and reach but no efforts to actually crawl yet.

You are still the crowd favorite at school.  We are told over and over that all the teachers love you and come by to visit with you every day. 

Now that you are actually sleeping through the night - from 8:30 ish to 6:00 ish, I can say that you are an easy baby.  The sleep deprivation of the last 7 1/2 months weren't too much fun but we survived.  During the day, you rarely cry.  If you do, we know something must be wrong. 

Your big brother will be turning 3 this month and we'll have some family members in town to celebrate.  I know you'll have fun seeing everyone too!

Now sweet boy, just slow down!  It won't be long before we are celebrating your 1st birthday with our family members.

Love,
Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma