8 Months

Where does the time go?  Here we are taking eight month pictures already!  This is such a delightful stage of babyhood- mobile but not overly destructive yet, babbling but not incessantly talking yet, and thinking everything is hysterical leading to the sweetest laughs.  Luke is laid back, curious, and lights up like crazy when he sees his parents or sister which is the best reaction ever.

Likes: putting everything and anything into his mouth to chomp on (this includes food, but also includes Mr. Potato Head's hat, Mommy's flip flops, books, and other items we have not been diligent enough in keeping out of his reach), car rides, and army crawling

Dislikes: sleeping on his back, diaper changes, and sleeping past five a.m.

Too funny not to include in this post, Kate crashed the photo shoot and posed the penguin on her own

Luke and Kate are playing together more and it is awesome.  She continues to be great with him, she is such a helpful, concerned, sweet big sister.  Luke loves her too and she can make him laugh harder than anyone else just by singing to him or dancing around near him.

Milestones:  Luke has at least six teeth that I know about, I think I feel a few more, but have been unable to get visual confirmation due to my uncooperative subject.  He sleeps through the night a little more consistently than last month, more than half the time but less than all the time.  He is an early riser like his sister, by 5:30 most mornings he has had his breakfast.  Luke is exploring solid food and loves every bit of it that he can get his hands on and he also still has about six servings of Mama's milk a day too.  He coos and babbles a wide range of sounds now and I love it.

Where did this little baby go?  He changed so quickly and part of me really misses the tiny, squishy newborn phase because eight month old Luke is not a snuggler at all, he's too busy and squirmy to stay still long enough to rock and hold.  Good thing there will be another new baby to love and hold next year... I'm going to be an AUNT!!!!!!  Claudia is pregnant, and since she is our kids' only shot at a cousin I am extra thrilled and excited to share this big news.  This is how Luke reacted:

What do you mean I "won't be the baby of the family" anymore?!

Just kidding, I know he will adore having a cousin at holidays and family events just like I did growing up.  In some ways cousins are even better than siblings because they're not around enough to get on your nerves.  Mack family gatherings will not be quiet for a long time.

The thing I keep telling my sister, and reminding myself especially as I sit here writing yet another monthly update, is that it really does go by very fast and I need to soak up and cherish every moment.