Dear Boy,

You are eight wonderful months old, and your daddy and I are in complete shock about that. Life was fun before you, but it was nothing like it is now. Every little thing is amazing because we share it with you.

You’re still talking up a storm. You say “Dadadadadadada” most often and in an amazing range of tones, but you like to say all kids of crazy things like “Baaaaaaa!” “Odoyaw,” “Dotooooo” and other such things. You also, much to my dismay, love to squeal. I actually really like it, because you do it when you’re happy, but it hurts my ears sometimes.

You can sit for as long as you want now, but most often you flop over and take off on a mission using your favourite mode of transportation – the commando crawl. You get places fast – especially if there’s a rawhide or a dog toy that you’ve set your sights on. Our dogs really like you – they even let you take their toys, but they sneak them back as soon as you’re not looking!

You’re eating three big meals per day now, and a couple of small snacks. Most of your friends are eating half a jar of food, three times a day. You eat two full jars three times a day. Actually, you eat 8 cubes because your food is primarily homemade, but I measured so I could be sure how much you’re getting. It’s a lot! It’s no wonder you’re over 30 inches tall and you weigh about 20 pounds (you won’t stay still for an exact measurement!). You love most foods, but your favourites are mango, pear, apple, blueberry and apricot. You also love carrots, sweet potatoes and peas, plain yogurt and oatmeal mixed with apple prune juice. You eat some chicken, beans, brown rice and whole wheat noodles, but you get way more excited about the other stuff. Your favourite snacks are Nutrios, freeze dried apples, whole grain rice cakes and maple teething biscuits. You smell like a jar of syrup until bath time when you have a teething biscuit. Yummy! You’re not so good at feeding yourself yet. You like to hold a handful of snacks in each hand and get me to feed you from another pile. Of course, I happily do anything you want at this point.

For the past week, thank God, you have gone back to sleeping 12 hours through the night and taking 2-90 minute naps. Mommy finally feels human again and Daddy is finally kicking the cold he h as had for the month that you haven’t been sleeping.

Your first Christmas is right around the corner. We are SO excited to see you open your presents. You have already opened/tried to open several that weren’t yours when I turned my back and you commando-crawled to the Christmas tree, so I know you’ll love it. We’re spending Christmas at Grandma B and Papa J’s with Uncle J, Auntie C, A and J. We’ll also be going to Grandpa K and Grandma C’s overnight on the 23rd. We already had Christmas with Grandma J & Grandpa R and also Auntie S because they’ll all be in Mexico for Christmas.

You rock, buddy. You’re the coolest kid ever.

I love you,
Mommy
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Tags: eight months, letters