8 Months

My baby boy turned 8-months-old on Saturday, and I swear, he just gets bigger (no, really?) and sweeter by the day.

We're now three-quarters of the way through his first year, and just... what? I've said it before, and I'll say it again, IT'S GOING BY SO QUICKLY. Sometimes, if you're close to something, it's harder to notice the little changes that happen day-to-day. But I swear I go into his room some mornings and I can just tell he's grown, or his face matured a little bit overnight. I know to expect it and yet, it still blows my mind.

Aiden now sits unsupported really well, but he still needs the occasional pillow to soften the blow if he tips over. Because he spit up SO MUCH in the past, and still does on a full stomach, I didn't/don't sit him up as often as I'd like. I think that's part of the reason he developed that skill a little later than other kids. (Though he's still right on schedule.) In fact, he looks like he'll be able to pull himself into a sitting position any day now. But at the moment, it kind of looks like he's just doing some weird floor routine.

He's also definitely crawling, in an non-traditional sense. It's an army crawl, often coupled with rocking, swaying, and rolling; but the boy is going places! I swear, he rolls with pinpoint accuracy. I've already had to do some living room rearranging. Goodbye thoughtful décor.

Solids are an exciting part of his day now, even though by some people's standards, he doesn't get too much besides breastmilk (and that's just fine with me). Within days of him trying Happy Puffs for the first time, his picking up & feeding himself skills drastically improved. He really enjoys his food, and now he squeals with delight when I'm feeding him, and he lets me know if I'm not going fast enough. Sorry kid! 

I'm just really enjoying him at this stage, and I think I'm starting to become more at peace during moments that aren't so easy. He is such a love, and he brings me so much joy and humor and knowledge and wonderment every day. 

He has my whole heart.

Traveling Circus

We leave for California on Wednesday, and I don't know how it crept up so quickly. I'm currently making lists upon lists in preparation, and yet, I have this fear that I'll forget EVERYTHING. Flying with an infant and 4 adults (me, my bro & parents) is going to be... interesting, to say the least. (Zac's catching a separate flight.)

Every time I travel I always make an effort to pack sparingly and fail at doing so, but this time I mean it. I'm only going to check one bag between the baby and I so we don't have to spend a bazillion dollars in fees. Seeing as Aiden's gonna need a million-and-one things, I'm really gonna have to get creative and recycle my outfits and beauty products. Can I survive with only two lipsticks? Stay tuned.

I'm trying to remain calm about the actual traveling part, but the "what-ifs" keep creeping in. What if my family makes us miss our flight? What if Aiden doesn't settle on the plane? What if he takes a huge, stinky dump in my lap and there's nowhere to change him but said lap? What if they lose our luggage? WHAT IIIIIIFFFFFFFF?

It's silly, I know. I'm sure it'll all be fine, and he'll be a perfect angel. I'll just pretend he's a bee. If he can't smell my fear, then we'll be aaaaaaall good.

Smelly Baby, Smelly Baby, What Are They Feeding You?

It's been a banner week for me in the "Babies Are Gross" department. I've been peed on (from the tub: he's got quite the arc!), peed at, nearly pooped on (I've decided to feed him solids consistently, and now his diapers are showing me what we've not been missing out on. *eyes watering*), etc. And the kicker? Aiden FULL-ON vommed IN MY MOUTH the other day. Apple purée, oatmeal, and curdled milk. Holy FUUUUUUUH.

As horrifying as it was, it was pretty much instantaneously hilarious. We were hangin' out in the living room and I was having an awesome time playing with Aiden. Things have lightened up a bit around here; smiles have outnumbered the fits*. I lifted him for airplanes and told him "I'm having so much fun with you lately!" Zac gave us both a huge smile, "See! I told you it wasn't going to be difficult forever!" No more than 30-seconds later... directly. in. my mouth.

It took me a second to get Zac's attention, because he wasn't looking, and he thought the weird noises I was making was me playing with the baby. I'm pretty sure my eyes were bugging out of my head with shock. Once he was like "DID THE BABY THROW UP IN YOUR MOUTH?!" he decided to take a picture instead of help me. Ehh, I would've done the same. There's even a perfectly timed clip of me garbling "this is terrible" because he didn't realize my phone was on video mode. I'll spare you all THOSE images. Even though, for some strange reason, I didn't immediately delete them.

Ahh, the joys of motherhood.

*Of course, in the middle of me writing this post, Aiden had a full-on teething meltdown. I had to wear him in the Ergo AND bounce him on the exercise ball. I haven't had to do that in months!