8 months update

Noah turned 8 months old yesterday, and I thought it would be fun to give a little overview of him at this point in his life:)

Eating

Here is a sampling of Noah's daily menu (what he ate yesterday):

• Breakfast: 1 jar bananas & strawberries (3rd foods), Gerber peach puffs
  
• Lunch: 1 jar winter squash (2nd foods), HappyBaby apple puffs
  
• Dinner: 1/2 jar chicken & stars (3rd foods), 1 individual cup YoBaby blueberry yogurt, Gerber sweet potato puffs, Gerber banana puffs
  
• Other: four 8-oz bottles of formula (in between meals and one before bed), about 3-4oz water in his sippy cup
  

Sleeping

• Usually 2 naps per day, ranging in length from 45 minutes-1.5 hours.
• He goes to bed around 10:00 or 10:30pm
• He wakes up around 9:00am
• He generally sleeps through the night, but lately has been waking up around 4:00am. We just give him his first bottle at this time and he goes right back to sleep.

Development

What he can do really well:

• Sit upright - on the floor, chairs, couches, etc
• Change positions
• Roll
• Scoot around
• Explore toys (pushing buttons, turning knobs, etc)
• Find hidden objects
• Say "mama" and "dada"
• Identify other common people/things (Granny, Papa, our dogs, etc)

What he is currently working on:

• Crawling without stomach on the ground
• Pulling up to stand
• Clapping
• Identifying objects by name (objects in pictures, puzzle pieces, etc)
• Following simple commands (handing me something specific, putting blocks in containers, etc)

General Favorites

• Toys: Thomas the Tank Engine-themed wood blocks, shape sorters (here and here), Melissa & Doug knob puzzles, alphabet spinner, learning puppy, exersaucer (though he is QUICKLY outgrowing it!), ride-on Mater, books, push-along Thomas, plastic spoons/pots & lids/other noise-making kitchen items, our dogs & his 4-year-old cousin Abby :o)
• Shows/Movies: Thomas the Tank Engine, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Backyardigans, Cars, Finding Nemo (I consider these favorites because he will watch them for 15+ minutes, or will return to watching them if still on while playing)
• Books: any of the Priddy Books (especially the soft ones like Squishy Turtle and Friends), lift-the-flap books (like Peter Rabbit - Peekaboo!), Get Dressed With Elmo, and really anything else I give him
• Other Activities: bath time & playing in his baby pool (fun with water), going for walks, sitting in rocking chairs
• Comfort Items: Murphy the monkey (plush animal), Oats the horse(blanket animal), my hair & a paci & a song from me :o)

Music Favorites

For fun:

• Songs with movements (like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "If You're Happy and You Know It")
• Songs from Thomas the Tank Engine (especially "Little Engines" and "Down By the Docks")...we love this cd!
• Most any praise music (like Chris Tomlin) and rock music (like Aerosmith)..what a combo! LOL

For sleep:

• Old standbys like "Jesus Loves Me" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
• New praise music like "Center" by Charlie Hall, "How Great is Our God" by Chris Tomlin, "Better Is One Day" from the Passion concerts

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I am absolutely amazed by my son. All he can do, all he has developed...and in just 8 months! He has such a wonderful, friendly personality...and rarely meets a stranger as long as Mama is by his side :o) Thank you for being a part of his life up until this point, and I so look forward to sharing more!!