8 is Great!

Yes! It's true! Can you believe it!? Charlie turned 8 months old today! Wow.... that's 2/3 of a year. And it's blowing my mind how quickly it's going, how much he is growing, and what new things he just seems to learn every single day! I am seriously in love with that little man, and even though he doesn't speak words, I feel like I totally understand him. That's probably the neatest thing in the world. Whether it's "Hi Mom!" or "This is fun" or "Ouch, that hurt!" or "I'm huuuungry!" or "I am so SO SOOOOO tired!!", I hear it all. It's so sweet. :)

Now that my whole heart has just mushed all over the keyboard, please enjoy the monthly pictures!!

As usual, here is the comparison. Is the bear shrinking or the boy growing? ;)

A couple other gems from today's photoshoot... hahaha (proof that it's not always exactly easy to take these pictures every month!):

Some stats about Charlie at 8 Months:

• Size 3 diapers
• Wears size 6 and 6-9 and 6-12 month clothes (but mostly the bigger sizes)
• Still loves all solid foods. We tried meat this month and he didn't like ham by itself. At all! But he was okay with chicken and will tolerate meat when mixed with other foods like veggies or grains.
• Introduced solid solids this month - foods like the baby puffs, graham crackers, ritz crackers, cooked noodles, and cheerios. He LOVES eating these foods because he feels like a big boy. And he's developed an excellent pincer grip because of it.
• Drinks apple juice from a sippy cup with help. Doesn't really like drinking water very much.
• Drinks about 6 or so ounces of milk (breast milk mixed with formula) 4 times a day, with solid food eating sessions twice a day.
• Since last month (he had just learned to sit on his own and was sort of trying to crawl), he has learned to crawl very well, from room to room, stand up and pull up on EVERYTHING, and walk along things like the sofa. It's crazy how quickly he's learning to move now!
• Loves cords, anything with a screen (computer, phone, TV), and anything with buttons (remote, radio, DVD player). 
• Probably falls down/over at least 5 times a day. <Sigh>
• His language consists of spitting, hissing, grunting, and "oooing". Sometimes giggling. Oh, and crying :)
• Loves it when his daddy comes home from work. He lights up like a Christmas tree :)
• Has become my little shadow around the house... he follows me around and likes to "help" with laundry, dishes, etc. But he HATES the vacuum cleaner. He loses it every time I vacuum without having him in the other room with the doors closed. Haha!
• Loves to be outside and explore grass, be at the pool, touch leaves and flowers, etc.
• Fascinated by other kids (and even adults!). Whenever he's around them he'll just stare and observe, and he definitely makes a lot of friends :)
• Just cut his first tooth! (See the picture below). He's been a relatively good teether, which I'm grateful for. Only a few extra tears, a little tylenol, and sleeping more (going to bed earlier)

I finally was able to get a picture of his first tooth coming in! This task has proved to be nearly impossible because he sticks his tongue out and it covers his gums whenever I try to open his mouth to look in. Silly boy!

I have a lot of fun videos to share, but this post has taken too long to create. So, next time expect to see some footage of Charlie enjoying life!