First 8 months!!!

First 8 months (written 06.10.11)

As of April 15th, 2011 your stats were:
Weight: 16lbs 6 oz
Height: 26 inches
Your height and weight put you in the 57th percentile.. and your head measures in the 92nd percentile.. smart like your mama and daddy ☺

I’m combining these months because they really seem to have flown by.. considering I’m home with you all day I really don’t know where the time goes sometimes! I will still separate them because you have had a lot going on baby girl.. so let’s start..

Month 6:
You are starting to sit up baby girl.. you don’t quite have the strength to stay up on your own but the effort is definitely there.. we prop you up and you last a few seconds before falling back.. it’s adorable!! ☺ This month was also my birthday.. we dressed you up in the cutest ballerina outfit and went out to lunch with some friends.. though you are usually very social and smiley.. recently you have been more leery of people.. you don’t smile as readily and heaven forbid if someone tries to just pick you up.. that’s an absolute no no.. you have learned to reach out when you want to be held.. and daddy and I are the only lucky recipients of this.. actually, no that’s not true.. ubaldina is as well.. she’s your favorite.. we are convinced that you love the Spanish language.. and why wouldn’t you?? It sounds like a song and we alllll know how much you love singing.. or at least I like to tell myself that ☺ You have also started sleeping stretches in your crib baby girl.. it wasn’t easy the first few nights but you’re a trooper sunshine and by your 5th night.. you even got 8 hours in a row.. I have to say that we were shocked because not only did we start trying out the crib.. we also got you off your swaddle.. did you know you’ve been a burrito baby all this time?? Well you have and baby girl you LOVED it.. I was really thinking that you wouldn’t be ready but you surprised us yet again.. that’s the theme of your first 6 months I think.. surprising us with how you can handle pretty much any situation we put you in.. this speaks so well for you as an adult baby girl.. life is full of twists and turns.. so if you’re already just going with it.. you will have a much easier time later.. we promise! ☺

Month 7:
You are officially sitting up on your own baby girl!!! You are also trying to crawl but your belly doesn’t lift off the ground.. plus you go backwards only.. this is officially called an army crawl.. lol ☺ Just the other day I was cleaning up my cereal bowl.. literally one bowl.. I had you on the floor on your playmat.. I came back into the living room (mind you I was gone about 15-20 seconds) and baby girl I can’t find you!!! I had a minor heart attack because honestly.. where could you have gone.. and then I looked by the front door and baby girl you had scooted yourself back about 5 feet in those 20 seconds!! I still don’t know how you went so fast.. you’ve never gone that fast or that far when I’ve been looking.. sneaky little baby ☺ This month you also got your own twitter account.. it was decided that you had so much more to say than either one of us so we got you an account where we are taking the liberty to try to translate whatever it is that you are saying.. you have a few followers.. namely daddy, me and brofuncle.. lol.. but for future reference your account is under babylylabelle – absolutely adorable ☺ We also celebrated my first mother’s day this month.. we ended up going to the park.. just the 3 of us and it was a lovely Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately we also got some bad news that day.. turns out your grandpa had a stroke and was in the hospital. A few days after that daddy went back home to Missouri to spend some time with family and thankfully it all worked out baby girl.. he is back home now and cannot wait to finally meet you!


Month 8:
It is crazy how much you have grown up in the last few weeks.. honestly.. when daddy came back from Missouri he noted how much he thought you changed.. and then after we got back from mexico.. he noticed it again.. ok, let me back up ☺ You are not only sitting up on your own now.. but you have also started pulling yourself up! You have some strength baby girl.. I feel like it was just yesterday that you would just lay wherever we put you.. that’s no longer the case.. you are an explorer baby girl and nothing and no one is going to get in your way when you want something.. good for you!! ☺ It’s a challenge sometimes because you want to be doing this and then that.. basically anything except just sitting there.. lol.. once you really start crawling we’re going to have our work cut out for us!! So.. this month you went on your first and second plane ride to mexico and back.. not a very long plane ride.. and baby girl.. on a flight that was 98% booked you got your own seat both ways!!! You seriously had a great time on the plane.. I had an aisle seat and you had the middle seat.. at the window was this really attractive guy.. you must have thought so as well because I was speaking to the flight attendant and when I looked back at you.. you were holding his hand!!! Baby girl.. I died on the inside.. but he was taken by you like everyone else was.. and started talking about his nephew who is just a few months younger than you.. ☺ We took a bunch of your toys with us and you flirted with everyone sitting around us.. they all loved you.. obviously!! Even the flight attendants were so impressed with how well you did!! See.. we’re not the only ones that think you’re a superstar!!

In mexico you got to hang out with your teta and jeddo.. they were soooooooooooo happy to see you.. brofuncle was there as well and you just loved everyone!! I’m not sure if you know that you are related to them.. or if you are over your fear of going to other people.. but you reached out and let everyone hold you.. I was so impressed with you.. once again.. you surprised me baby girl.. I guess I should just expect that I have NO idea how you’re going to act in certain situations.. you have pleasantly surprised us every single time and I hope that you continue to do so ☺ Mexico was great in many ways.. we got to see the new apartment.. your jeddo retired a few months ago so they are starting a whole new chapter in their lives and it was nice to actually see their new place.. they even got you a walker to play with while we were there and the first few days you didn’t really understand that you could actually move.. that you actually had space to walk around.. but towards days 3 and 4.. you figured it out and moved a bit.. I’m sure that you will be running around the next time we go ☺

You have been talking up a storm the last few weeks.. we honestly think that you are really talking.. we have yet to understand anything you’ve said.. but months ago you did say help, mama, poopoo and bike.. I guess saying words and KNOWING what you’re saying is the definition of speaking.. but whatever.. you’ve said those words.. and poopoo was actually in the right context.. We are thinking about starting sign language with you this month.. just so that you can communicate better with us.. nothing major.. just the basics.. what do you think about that? Also.. daddy and I keep looking at you and shaking our heads in amazement.. it is really crazy how much you have grown in the last 8 months.. even in the last few weeks.. you are your own little person.. you have your likes and dislikes.. you have a personality.. it’s crazy to see.. but I guess we must be doing something right because everyone that has had the pleasure to meet you says how lovely you are.. you are the lovely lyla.. always smiling.. and if not smiling.. just quietly contemplating the world around you.. you are a happy baby girl.. your smile lights up the room and our hearts.. you make any sleepless night worth it to see your little grin in the morning.. and trust me.. we have had some sleepless nights ☺

Before I sign off for this month.. I need to mention that as of May 22nd - you officially have your first tooth!!!!! It’s adorable and crazy sharp.. it’s on the bottom gum and as of this morning I noticed yet another tooth poking through.. so you have your first two bottom teeth.. as much as I loved your gummy smile.. you are so adorable with your teeth!! According to what we’ve been reading.. your top two teeth are next.. but we will keep you posted ☺ Once you have a few more teeth we will try some more textured foods with you.. so far you have had: apples, avocado, mango (your favorite), pears, apricots (don’t love them), green beans, sweet potato and squash.. not a bad list of items.. we still need to try green peas and some other green veggies.. since we are going organic for your food.. we need to buy when they are in season.. so for now.. we are taking a break on the green veggies.. lucky you ☺

Ok sunshine.. the next time I write you will be 9 months old.. before I ever had a baby I always thought that 9 months was the absolute cutest age.. not sure if that’s still true because I can’t imagine you getting any cuter than you already are.. but you know what.. I have said that every month.. and look.. 6 months was better than 5 months.. and now 8 months are the best we’ve seen.. so who knows.. not sure if I can handle you getting any cuter.. but I promise to try!! ☺

Love you sunshine baby girl!!!!!!! ☺