8 Months

I'm late again on this monthly post, and I have such mixed feelings about how quickly time is passing.  On the one hand, I can't wait for summer and am counting down the days.  On the other hand, I worry that time is going so fast that I can't take it all in (not to mention get everything done).  I wish I were writing more things down. I'm so afraid that I'm going to forget.

Even sitting down to write this, I'm having trouble remembering details from this past month.  What have we been up to? Oh yeah.  Our baby is getting bigger, learning new things, and keeping us on our toes.  Miles started crawling at the end of March.  Although he had been getting so close in the days prior, I came home from work one day to a mobile baby--just like that.  Now, the baby gates are up and I'm working on re-arranging furniture. Most of all, it's fun to watch him explore, and actually convenient to be able to set him down and let him roam.

Another night, a few days later, I set Miles in his crib while I ran downstairs to grab something.  When I came back, there he was, standing up and holding on to the crib rail, his little legs wobbling underneath him.  He seemed so surprised at himself, and kept looking over at me (while I snapped endless photos on my phone) as if to say "How did I get here?  And could you please help me down?" Just as I did on the day he started to crawl, I felt a rush of awe and excitement at this milestone.  Standing up he looked so much older.  It's amazing to think about how much his brain is growing as he gains a new perspective on the world around him.

For Easter this year, we went to church and then to my mom's house on a beautiful sunny day.  Of course my mom spoiled Milo with a giant Easter basket.  

My grandpa Jack was able to join us too.  I just love these photos of the two of them.

For the most part, Miles is a pretty content baby.  He has days when he naps like a pro, plays with his toys, and eats right on schedule.  Other days, his naps run short, he's clawing for more food, and hates any distraction you try to give him (unless it's the mailbox--he will never tire of the mailbox).  I guess like all of us, some days are better than others.

The journey of eating solid food is still an ongoing one, but we're getting there.  Miles loves to hold the spoon himself and will sometimes feed himself chunks of banana or avocado.

This month, I decided that I would need to start supplementing Miles's milk with formula.  I had been putting it off for awhile, anxiously counting the ounces I was leaving with the nannies, and hoping it would be enough.  I realized I could give Miles both, take away a bit of the stress, and ensure that he always had enough to eat.  But I was still a little emotional, mostly because I knew my supply was decreasing, partly due to my return to work.  It's been a few weeks and I feel much better.  I'm hoping that I can keep nursing in the mornings and evenings for as long as my body will let me.  I truly cherish this time.

As always, I'm loving my Fridays with my little buddy--exploring the neighborhood, catching up with friends, and taking care of things around the house.  

Next week is my spring break, and we're going on our first family vacation to Hawaii.  There's a lot of packing and a long flight with a wiggling baby to get through, but I'm so looking forward to the quality time with my family of three.

Thank you God for busy times, busy babies, and vacations.  Thank you for holidays and Easter, and weekends.  I'm grateful for it all!