Hunk is 8 Months Old!

 Would you just look at this little hunk in pinstripes? He makes my heart sing. All of my children do, but he is the last and everything seems to be a little more sentimental because of that.
Can you tell this guy loves his daddy. I love looking at him while he' s admiring something.

 For the most part, he's still a pretty cheery boy. Nothing makes him more happy than playing with somebody!

Yes, his sisters are quite entertaining. And they all still love to play with him. They're so lucky to have each other!

 When he's not sitting around being cute or playing with sisters, he is usually asleep at some ball game, in the carrier, on daddy.

 This is a classic position for this boy. Sleep hug, anyone?

 Sometimes he actually stays awake while at the ball fields--this was at Brownie's soccer practice. He sees the baby in the mirror on my phone. He loves that baby!

 Oh yeah, he's mastered the art of face making! He sticks out his tongue all the time. And sometimes he chews on it!

 He's experiementing with food more. He has gnawed on some apples, and he enjoys puffs. And we learned the hard way that he cannot have eggs. After scrambled eggs one morning (only a little bit and they were very cooked), this happened--

 Blotchy rash.

 Hives.

 Tongue sticking out... lol!

And thanks to a mama on my baby FB group who makes organic lotions, I have help treating whatever skin issue this is on his leg. But honestly since he hasn't had his formula in a month or so, his skin problems have completely healed. He was on a regular formula and had these problems, so I switched him to soy a few months ago (he gets mostly breast milk, but formula is a back up). Well, once we quit it all together his skin was clear. Crazy, huh?

 By the way, this was the before and after the lotion-- just three hours between the pictures.

And speaking of what he drinks, he slowed down his eating about three weeks ago. I normally was only able to pump one bottle ahead. So I'd pump something at 11 am and he'd eat it at his next feeding. Well, I don't know what happened, but he slowed down so much I sometimes I had 6 or seven bottles in our fridge. I got worried, but he really wasn't dropping pounds. He did get sick during this time with an ear infection and a respiratory infection, so that helps to explain it.

I know that normally, babies might slow down their eating around this age because they get some calories from solids, but not this boy. He has only had a few containers of solids. And just recently, he decided he was too big for mom to feed him with a spoon. So, now we just cut up some of our food and let him try it. He has had chicken, some bread, green pepper, a little bit of orange--and I think that's it. And the above picture proves that he can indeed hold his bottle, but he usually opts for whoever is holding him to hold his bottle. He's rotten (in a very good way)!

And here he is with a fry. I think he liked it. Little stinker!

 This boy adores a couple of baby apps on daddy's phone. He really focuses and concentrates on this rattle one. The little shapes move around and make noises, and this just fascinates him! The other app that he loves is some weird one that has a floating flower and plays a Jewish gangster song.

 And I'm going to lie here and say he's a total mama's boy. He does love me lots (it's totally mutual), but if daddy walks in the room I cease to exist. I'm still making peace with this (mostly just by hogging the baby away from daddy--insert evil laugh)! In reality, I'm very blessed to have a husband who loves his kiddos as he does. It's a good thing!


So, these pictures that follow were taken when he was about 7.5 months old. These little overalls were brand new from Grammy, and I just needed to get his pics taken in them one afternoon. Which turned out to be handy because when he turned 8 months he was sick. So I didn't get the best shots of him that day.

 

But these turned out adorable. 

One little story I don't want to forget about this day...

While he was sitting on our bench, it was kind of hard to get his attention. But every time a car drove by, this boy would immediately turn his head toward the car and watch it until he could no longer see it. He did this EVERY. SINGLE. TIME a car passed by. 

 

 Big boy standing up.

 

 

  And once we moved to the grass, I couldn't hold his attention for the life of me... no, I take that back. I couldn't GET his attention for the life of me.This is the only shot of about 100 where he is looking in my general direction.

Grass is fascinating if you've never really noticed it before.

 

 It doesn't need to be handled with care.

 He's embracing his inner Kansas Boy by chewing on cud.

Oh, sorry buddy. I will never compare you to a cow again... PROMISE!

The pictures I took on his actual 8 month birthday--please ignore any nose crusties you may see.

 He's a happy boy--even when he's not feeling his best!

 Smiley guy!

Again, thanks for ignoring the snot crust.

So to sum up this boy...
He weighs 19 pounds. We switched to size four diapers. He's wearing some 9 months and more 12 month clothes. He's eating like a big boy. He can't do eggs (at least for now). Everything still goes directly to his mouth. Cars are cool. So is grass. So is daddy, sisters, sometimes mama, and always daddy's phone. The end.

I love you sweet boy!