Lucas 8 Months Old

Lucas 8 Months Old
June 8

Time is passing too quickly, our little baby is 8 months old!  Each new stage is so much fun, and we can't get enough of this little guy.  Here are some things about him:

• He is much more opinionated these days.  He is still one of the best babies around, but he does feel stronger about things now.  He gets very upset if you are eating something he wants and don't share, take too long to feed him, take a toy he wants away, don't let him eat chocking hazards off of the floor, and so on.  He cries occasionally because of these things now, and if he is tired and we keep him up, but really he hardly ever cries still.  He really is a fantastic baby.  We still get comments about how great he is and how he just hangs out and looks around quietly taking everything in.
• He is on the move!!!  He is rolling from one end of the room to the other.  He likes to sit up, but often I will sit him on a blanket in the middle of the room and within seconds he face plants onto his tummy and starts rolling across the room.  If he sees something he wants, he goes right for it.  He is pretty fast for a roller!  He isn't crawling yet, and we haven't encouraged it either.  He can roll himself around and when he hits the kitchen floor he can scoot all over.  It's too bad for him he only has one direction, reverse, and often ends up under the table or going the opposite way of the coveted item he is after.  
• He still smiles at everyone for the most part, and is a major snuggler.  When you pick him up he puts his head on your shoulder and gives you a snuggle.  He is starting to have a little stranger danger, but it doesn't last long.  If he doesn't know you and you come right at him he will cry now, but he warms up fast, and LOVES people.  I am definitely his favorite, he lights up when he sees me or hears my voice, but Daddy and his sisters are a close second!
• He was sleeping through the night pretty well, 7 or 8 until 6 or 7 in the morning, but then started waking up an extra time or two lately, sometimes at 1 or 2 and then again at 4 or 5.  Maybe it's a growth spurt.  I'm never sure what kind of night I'll have.  Sometimes he doesn't wake up at all, sometimes one wake up, and occasionally two wake ups.  He sleeps better than either of my girls at this age though.
• He takes two naps a day, a morning one around 9 or 9:30 and an afternoon one around 1 or 2.  He often falls asleep nursing, but will also go to bed on his own awake with his binky and a snuggly blanket.
• His thumb and forefinger are becoming ever more dextrous in his quest for puffs.  He has some major fine motor skills and can pick little things up and get them to his mouth with ease.  EVERYTHING goes into his mouth right now.  He can also pass things back and forth between his hands very efficiently.  
• He has started liking baby food again, but only certain kinds.  He takes it much better from Matt, he still likes milk best from his mama!  He likes mixed vegetables, peaches, and squash baby food best which all happen to be orange.  He still doesn't like bananas, green vegetables, or sweet potatoes.  We can only get a few bites of those in before he cuts us off!  I've tried real bananas and avocados too, but he didn't like those either.  He isn't so sure about textures and chunks of food yet.  He surprisingly liked apples and prunes as a mix and the pouch baby food with weird mixes like apple, carrot, squash, and squash, potato, brown rice.  He still likes baby cereal mixed in the fruits and vegetables, and likes it plain too.  He hasn't had much regular people food at all yet.  Partly because I've been busier with him as my third so I started solid food later, and partly because he had that allergic reaction so I'm being more careful, and partly because he isn't loving the few things I've tried so far.  Little by little I'm introducing him to more.
• He needs a quiet room to nurse.  He is very interested in everything going on around him and pops on and off if he hears any noises, especially voices.  If he is tired he settles down to business quickly, but if not he bounces around, bops his head, kicks his legs, and pats me with his hand.  He is not patient while waiting for the milk to come in, he wants it immediately!
• He is very easy to make smile or laugh.  He will smile if you just smile or look at him, and he laughs if you make funny faces or sounds and he is super ticklish. 
• He loves exploring new toys, and anything he finds off the floor is especially exciting. Wrappers and crinkly or noisy toys are favorites too.
• He loves his binky, and it really calms him down if he is upset. 
• He generally stops crying immediately after I pick him up.  Matt thinks he has my number, but I still think he is a fabulous baby because we have a little understanding.  He is so adorable I don't mind jumping for anything he needs, and because of that he is just good for me almost all the time.  :)