Catchup: Eight Months

November 23:

Dear Finn,

I think the fact that this letter is over a month late speaks to how busy you've been keeping us lately!  You are constantly on the move now, and the scootch-crawl move that served you so well over the past couple of months was replaced with a real on-your-knees crawl just a couple of days after you turned seven months old.  That same week you started pulling yourself up to stand!  Now every surface imaginable- the couch, crib, ottoman- even the dog- has become fair game in your quest to be vertical at all times.

You're cruising along furniture, but so far you haven't shown any interest in taking steps unassisted, and we're happy to keep it that way.  Slow down, little man!  Your crib mattress has officially been moved to the lowest setting.  Your dad learned how to climb out of his before he was a year old.  Here's hoping that you didn't inherit that ability.

Finger foods are where it's at in the eating department.  You want to feed everything to yourself, and so we've pretty much given up on all purees.  You're eating pasta, carrots, broccoli (although you're not a huge fan), peas, avocado, and cucumber (a big favorite).  Green beans are a no go.  You're mastering your pincer grip and it's amazing how you're already getting much faster and more accurate with your eating (Duncan is upset about this for sure).  You light up when we get out a canister of puffs, and you'd eat your weight in them if we'd let you.

You've started giving zerberts this month, and now our cheeks, arms, legs, (and even the furniture) are subject to your slimy kisses!  Tooth #5 made it's appearance (on the bottom, second left), and you like to try out your new teeth on our shoulders when we hold you- ouch!  Speaking of ouch, you managed to bite down on your lip hard enough to draw a bit of blood after taking a spill in your crib this month.  It was a pretty minor injury- you didn't even cry- but it scared me as your mom so much!  I'm sure there will be skinned knees, more bumps, and some bruises in your future, and this seemed like a glimpse into what life will be like with an active little boy.

Once again we can say that this was the most fun month yet with you.  I had a great time taking you for your first visit to the Little Gym, where you loved crawling around and checking everything out even though you were the youngest kiddo there.  You love watching your dad play guitar and are always trying to get a hold of those strings for yourself.  You love your blocks, your little yellow hammer toy, and your books.  Even better than any toy though, are the containers we store them in (the toy buckets in your room make especially good drums) or best of all, the laundry basket.

Eight Month Stats: Around 19-20 pounds.  No doctor's visit this month for official measurements.
Size: Some 9 month and some 12. 
Nicknames: Finno, Finny, Finny Boo Boo
Must-haves: Beco Gemini Carrier, Plum Organics Super Puffs

Milestones:

October 25: Pulled up to stand
October 28: First real crawl on your knees
November 2: Tooth #5
November 9: First zerberts!
November 10: Trying to strum dad's guitar
November 21: Green beans are the first thing you really refuse to eat

Some of our favorite times with you are during your bedtime routine.  You love your bath, and we love snuggling you in your little footie pjs.  I love holding you and rocking you while your dad reads you a bedtime story.  No matter how crazy our day was, nursing you in your room as you fall asleep is always such a wonderful time.  It's during those moments that I get a chance to stop and remind myself how very very blessed I am to be your mom.  It really is the best job in the whole world.

Love you so much I can't stand it,
Momma