8 Months and Oh, So Cute!

This sweet little one is 8 months old today.  I can't believe we will be celebrating her birthday in just a few short months!  Time is flying.  She is such an incredibly happy baby and we are so thankful for her and her cheerful disposition.  Speaking of happiness, she FINALLY started giggling for us!

 She loves to play with her activity cube, look at/chew on books, swing outside, chew on toy keys, and play with her stuffed animal toys that sing and light up.  She just started trying to roll and kick to get to something that she sees and wants.  I'm sure that means its only a matter of time before she figures out how to crawl.  Anyone have ideas for baby-proofing a 4 year old? :)

 I caught this early morning snuggle as I was in the kitchen making coffee.  What a way to start the day!  Of course, as soon as he heard me snap a picture he scampered off.

 Smiley girl looking at a book

 Snug as a bug!  Swinging outside on a crisp fall day

She LOVES the jumperoo!  And her doggy, too.

Normally we are trying to protect Emily from the rambunctiousness that is her brother, but she just thinks he's funny.  Seeing their bond grow is one of the most heartwarming things.  8 months ago I was worried about how he would adjust to a sibling and I think its safe to say that he adjusted just fine.  Some days he even loves her!  Okay, most days.  Other days he tries to poke her in eye, but when asked why his answer goes something like this "because I like her."  Guess we still have some work to do on appropriate ways to show affection :/

Everyone in our house is getting some rest again for the most part after that evil time change.  This year was particularly rough for both of the kids, but it looks like we've finally adjusted (knock on wood.)  Emily has also been having some tummy troubles that have woke her up in the middle of the night for a week or more, but that seems to be resolving as well. 

 

There is just nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby 

Emily's firsts this month include:

•  laughing 

• a TOOTH (lower left)

•  holding her own bottle

•  a (not very good) attempt at a ponytail.  Mom needs help! :)

- eating meat (chicken... she liked it!)

(This video is of her eating squash, not chicken, but it's too sweet not to share!)

One more random picture from her 8th month of life...

 

With a super GIANT teddy at Costco.  Daddy said that better not be on her Christmas list! :)

School Pics

Finally we got some school pics that are good.  Not just good actually, they are priceless!  I had gotten to the point where I didn't even bother dressing Ethan up for his pictures at school because he was always either crying or looking like a deer in headlights.  Honestly, I was starting to wonder if the photographers were even good with kids. But this time... totally different story.  Such sweet smiles on these two, and I think Ethan loved having his sister come and get him from class so that they could have their picture taken.  My heart is full!  Well, it was before it melted anyways <3

Lucky #7

Well, it happened again... I'm half a month late with this post, but late seems to be the status quo with us so I'm just keeping with the trend.

I can not believe that our tiny baby girl is already 7 months old.  The other night she fell asleep in my arms and I just sat there and held her because already the days/nights of snuggling and rocking our sleeping baby are mostly a thing of the past.  And I miss it.  It all seems to be going so much faster this time and I often wish I could just make time stand still.  Anyways, enough with the sappy monologue... here is our sweet girl at 7 months!

 She is really obsessed with crinkling the stickers

And gnawing on anything she can get into her mouth!

She tries to put EVERYTHING in her mouth.  She particularly likes things she shouldn't have like ziplock bags and grocery sacks...  in general things that crinkle. And straws!  She will practically jump out of my arms to get to a straw.  Oh, and the days of being able to hold her and get things done are a thing of the past.  I tried to make Ethan a sandwich while holding her the other day and she was grabbing at the lunch meat as fast as I could put lay it on the bread. 

 Now that she's sitting really well, she likes to be upright all the time.  She will sit at the little activity cube and play for a good 20 minutes by herself.  She also loves to jump in her jumperoo and play in her activity center now. This month she sat in a highchair out at a restaurant for the first time and she also swung for the first time at the park.  Such a big girl :)

Video: Emily loves to swing!  Brother is not too sure about letting her swing in "his" swing, even though he has a new big boy playset

She's also doing really well at school now.  She's very happy there, and eating and sleeping well.  Each day they send pictures of what she is up to, and here are just a couple of my favorites from the last month.

 Emily paints for the first time

Such a fascinating giraffe!

And because who doesn't love pictures of this little angel, here are a few more just for fun!

 She is very interested in Molly and grabs a handful of fur if Molly gets too close

 Helping Mommy fold laundry after nap time

 "Camping" with brother in the back yard

 No camping trip is complete without graham crackers! She just got the wrapper, but loved it.

 Daddy and Emily at a birthday party

Sitting like a big girl in her own chair.

Video: Emily really LOVES bath time.  She had an outdoor bath a few weeks ago and loved splashing in the water