Stats

Brees Elizabeth is 8 months old!

I feel like I say this every month, but this month was BIG, really busy, and the most fun
yet!  This little lamb grew by leaps and bounds this month, moving and shaking and giving
us a run for our money!  The pink checkered blanket we have used in all her monthly
photos is now too small to be used as a back ground and getting her to sit still long enough
to take a picture is a challenge in itself.  This month's photo shoot was definitely the
most interesting so far!

Here are her stats:

Feeding:  Brees is eating three solid food meals a day and breastfeeding every 4 hours.
She has not refused a single food yet and is a very hearty eater, much improved since we
first introduced solids.  Her favorites this month are plums, mangoes, and squash.  She
also enjoys an afternoon snack of crackers, Melba toast, or mini-pancakes.  She is still
nursing every 3-4 hours throughout the night.  

Sleeping:  Brees takes 3 naps a day, each lasting about an hour and a half long.  Her 
evening nap is from 4:30-5:30, we have dinner, then bath time, story time and a lullaby, 
and then I rock her to sleep and put her to bed around 7:30.  She is still waking up every 
3-4 hours throughout the night but this month was not as fussy as before.  She is 
easily soothed right back to sleep and this has made our nights much easier.  She spends 
most nights in our bed with us but has also begun sleeping in her crib in our room.  We 
spent months trying to figure out what we are doing wrong, trying to understand what 
was plaguing her and causing her to wake up every 3 hours throughout the night.  We 
soon realized we were making the cardinal mistake of comparing our children, expecting 
the second to do exactly what the first had done and when she didn't, thinking there was 
a problem.  Isabelle slept through the night at 5 weeks, but that was the exception, not 
the rule.  This little girl is different and we have had to change our expectations on what 
she SHOULD be doing.  The most important thing is that we are consistent with her 
schedule but also flexible to accommodate her needs.  Having that realistic, positive 
attitude has made all the difference for the whole family.  We have learned to go to bed 
earlier and take care of ourselves in order to compensate for the months of broken 
sleep.  It also helps that I have learned how to pump and take a power nap 
simultaneously while at work.  Now that's what I call using your time wisely!

 Health:  A+!  This kid is a healthy, chubby babe.  She got FOUR new teeth this month
that broke the skin on the very same day!  She has shown none of the typical signs
of teething: no drooling, fever, or diarrhea.  She does, however, put any and everything in
her mouth, biting down on whatever she can get her hands on.  She likes to suck on
my shoulder and her raspberry pacifier.  We are constantly cleaning the floors and are on
high alert for objects left out in the open as they are sure to find their way to Brees's mouth.

Milestones:  This month, Brees has been ON. THE. MOVE.  She crawls on all fours,
zipping all around the house from one room to the next.  She pulls herself up to a
standing position and can let go with one hand.  She has recently starting "cruising" along
the furniture, walking across the fireplace and ottoman.  She has learned to crawl up 
the stairs, gets inside the kitchen cabinets, and LOVES to climb into the laundry basket.
She is a "digger", getting into everything.  She pulls things out of boxes, digs in the
trashcan, and can not be trusted for even a second!!!  They say it's the quiet ones you have
to be careful with, and Brees is true to form.

Personality:  This baby girl is truly an angel.  She is so gentle and sweet, a cuddle bug
and giver of big kisses.  She loves to be held and rocked and is happiest sitting in my
lap, which I am always pleased to oblige.  She still loves to be in her Ergo but also
enjoys playing on the floor with her books and toys.  Her face lights up when she sees her
big sister and she giggles when we sing to her.  She babbles constantly and we have
begun using sign language with her.  So far, she just thinks it's a silly game.  My
favorite moment this month was when she began saying "Mama" when she was ready
to nurse.  I don't know that she thinks of ME as Mama specifically, but the act of nursing
and the soothing bond we share through it is known as Mama and that is enough to make
my heart melt.

This month we:

• Swam in our pool almost everyday, learning to kick our legs and becoming very comfortable in the water
• Saw our very first fireworks display and watched the sparklers dance through the yard
• Spent lots of time with family and friends, enjoying the long summer days to the fullest
• Started taking baths in the big girl bath tub, eating rubber duckies and drinking lots of bath water

What an exciting month this has been, 
Brees Elizabeth!!  You'll be walking before 
we know it, or, knowing you, running!!

Watch Brees grow!

3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months