If you're happy and you know it...

Amelia seems to be blowing the doors down on milestones. We have started calling her Queen of the Rose Parade because she now waves to everyone. Her newest trick is she has learned to clap for herself - she seems particularly delighted in this...

Did I mention her hair is long enough for pig tails!!! (stinkin cute)

Miles and the goats...

2 weeks ago, we did our annual pumpkin patch outing with the cousins. This was the first year that Miles really got into the goats. I think my favorite part of this video is how Miles actually takes the time to feed all the goats - not just one. Super sweet to make sure all of the over-fed goats got their share.

Just a stroll in the park...

(Also a couple of weeks old)

Amelia is starting to play in the park with all the kids. Ok, not really, but she loves to stand up and walk. I needed to crop the video a bit to make it work, but I just LOVE her facial expressions in this one. She has this great scrunched-nose smile thing that just lights me up. So funny!

Babies everywhere

Outside on our lawn as we set up for Halloween. Tim was lining the tree with purple lights, and I watched after the kids...what a wonderful way to spend a Sunday! (...like 3 weeks ago, I know, I know... I need to blog more!)

8 Months!

Amelia has blossomed lately and I find myself really enjoying her company these days. A couple of call outs on her milestones:

• Vocally: There is suddenly a new voice in the house. She is much chattier than she has been and is exploring getting attention any way she can. She still adores anything her brother does - all he has to do is fake laugh to get her to real laugh.
• Mobility: she is everywhere and up on everything. She is full blown crawling everywhere, can kneel without issues, and pulls herself up on most things if it is low enough, sturdy enough, and there is traction on the floor. She has a bit of an issue on hard wood floor, but that is to be expected. She has gotten just as comfortable putting herself down as she is pulling herself up - so she no longer gets stuck standing in the crib (which is nice). Given, her dismount is more a product of gravity than grace, but at least she can do it.
• Teeth: she has 2 (picture below) and seems to be less in pain lately.
  
• Eating: man can she. We haven't had any problem introducing new foods and we haven't found anything that she won't eat yet. I am sure we will, but for now, feeding her is very easy. She has been very good with the teething biscuits so we started her on finger foods and Miles thinks its hysterical as she flicks cheerios off her tray, but she's starting to pick them up and is really enjoying eating them.
  
• Motor skills: like Miles at this age, she is starting to figure out waving goodbye and high fives. it's really fun to get that level of interaction with her.
• Overall communication: she is pretty good at telling you exactly what she needs. The other day I needed to take a phone call while I was carrying her so I put her down. She literally crawled after me crying. It couldn't have been more clear if she had put it in sky writing that she wanted me to hold her.
• Object permanence: she's got it. You can see her drop a toy off her high chair and look for it over the edge. Seriously cute.
• Temperament: she is a wonderfully determined and happy little love. She seems very eager to keep pushing her boundaries, but will also sit back and just enjoy herself. She is quick to belly laugh and is loving that she can now get our attention through means other than cries.
• Sleeping: its better!!!! It may be her age, or that she has gotten over the excitement of some of her new tricks, or that her teeth are doing better - but her sleeping has gotten much better. She still gets up some, but not as often. She will sometimes go 10 hours without waking. Last night she was asleep by 7, woke up at 4:30 for a quick nurse, and then was back asleep until 7.... a schedule I can keep in perpetuity.
  

I adore my little bug, and can't really imagine a time without her. She has established a very firm place for herself in our crazy household, and our family is whole. Happy 8 months, Sweet Girl!!

TWO TEETH!

Ready, set.....

Amelia seems to be in a big dang hurry to get moving. It feels like just last week (and it was) that she learned how to kneel, and now she spends hours standing up. She is completely cruising all around her crib at bedtime and at 5:30 in the morning. (Back to not sleeping through the night.)

Last night, was the first night that she and Miles played in their room until they both tired, Amelia "laid" down (ok, she let go and fell) and then went to sleep. But at 5:30 this morning, she was up, cruising, and chatting. By 6 she was waking up Miles so I got out of bed to nurse her (keep her quiet), and put her back down at 6:30.... 15 minutes later the 2 of them went apey again. Oh well. She is quite pleased with her new tricks, and it feels like she is going to be walking before Thanksgiving. Who knows if that is true or not, but she sure is in a rush to get going...

Finally!!!!!

Amelia slept through the night last night. I started waking up around 5 to make sure she was still okay, and she was, but she slept great until Miles woke him up at 7:00. It might have something to do with the monster dinner she had last night, or a cough that's coming on... more likely the latter. I just really hope she isn't getting too sick going into the weekend.