Mogie is 8 Months Old!

The question I know you've all been dying to know the answer to....

Is she crawling yet?

(Just kidding. unless you really were.)

This last month was visiting Grandparents, more hiking, her first Halloween, one final work trip for Daddy, and yes, a crawling baby.

:: Size ::

Dare I say she is maybe a bit bigger? She moved up into size 3 diapers - although she is clearly on the small end of wearability - and some of her smaller 6 month clothing can get tight lengthwise. 

"Here, buddy! Have some lunch too!"

:: Eating ::

Every three hours still, and we added solids for lunch this month. She still is not really into baby food (like she maybe will finish a jar in a meal...some days), but has shown a preference to apple sauce and sweet potatoes. And she is definitely a messy eater. I'm planning on buying stock in laundry stain remover.

:: Sleeping ::

As a whole, she is still doing two wonderfully solid naps during the day and sleeping through the night, with a couple of hicccups. The first was when she learned to crawl, and then quite soon after learned to pull up on her crib bars. It was a long few days being patient with a very excited baby who would rather be crawling and getting stuck than sleeping. The second was a cold that messed with her night time sleep, which has resulted in some very early mornings (5:30 a.m. is the average), which we're hoping doesn't become the new pattern. Wish us luck.

"Mom I'm STUCK!"

:: Milestones ::

Two big ones: she crawls (forwards!) and she can pull herself up on things (she prefers her crib). Josh was right in his prediction - it happened while he was away on a work trip! It has been beyond fun to watch her haul around the house and get into every mischief imaginable, and it has been an adjustment for everyone to have to keep an eye on her for when she gets into every mischief imaginable.  No toy, no room, no paper, no dog bone, no piece of dirt is safe from Mogie these days.

:: Dellie ::

Her new nickname for Mogie this month became "Jo." It was beyond random and short lived, but I feel I would be remiss to not include it here because she was very persistent with it for a good three weeks.

I feel like their relationship is on its way to getting better. Mogie's new found mobility has been an adjustment for Dellie because nothing is safe and little sister is happy to get in her business all the time, but there are also moments of playing together that are beginning to happen because Mogie can finally crawl-chase Dellie through the house. Dellie does love to feed her baby food, push her in the stroller and swings at the park, go for rides together in the grocery carts, and is slowly learning how to exchange toys with Mogie with she's gotten a hold of something she is too young for. We as a family are also learning that duplos are the only safe, yet fun toy for both infant, 4 year old, and grown adults.

BUT Dellie has also taken to "siren mode" and will announce very loudly every time Mogie even looks at an outlet, dog bowl, or pair of shoes. We're working on that ;)

:: I Don't Want To Forget ::

How Mogie will scratch the carpet until she gets a fist full of dog hair, and then eat it all; how she will thump her legs on the crib mattress when you try to hold her still to calm down for bed; how she will hold her hands out for Radar to lick during meals; and how she giggles every time he does.

Mogie is 7 Months Old!

Time for another one! Can you believe it?

This last month we went through two more work trips for Daddy, the beginning of baby food, her first hike, and a child who is oh so close to crawling (but not yet).

:: Size ::

No changes - still in 6 month clothing and size 2 diapers. Although I suppose her feet might be getting a bit bigger since some of her smaller socks and shoes are getting too tight.

:: Eating ::

Every three hours during the day, plus solids for dinner time. She hasn't taken much of liking to solids, however, unless it's warm and has some oatmeal mixed in. She prefers feeding herself, but is terrible at it (lots of dropping and choking on tiny bits), along with chewing the wrong end of the spoon. In summary, there is a lot of face making and mess making during dinners in our house.

Hiking, and the super rare baby napping not in her bed.

:: Sleeping ::

This month we officially found a sleep time groove. She naps two times a day - one morning, one afternoon, and sleeps from 7 pm to 6:30 am. The consistency has been great for getting back into the swing of life, and not feeling like I need a nap myself every day :)

Another milestone - way more TV watching than Dellie ever got to see at this age. The perks of being a second child.

:: Milestones ::

I really thought we would have a crawler by seven months, because this girl doesn't stay put anymore. She scoots herself around backwards, planks, and pushes into the bridge position, but just doesn't get how to go forward at all. It's amazing, hilarious, and sent us into a panic about how to baby proof our house since it's been 4 years and we worried more about baby proofing for the cat than we did for Dellie when she was a baby.

She also got her first set of the dreaded bottom teeth.  Thankfully, no biting has happened, but she does like to rub her teeth on her top gums, which is almost just as painful during feedings. Thankfully too, teething was pretty minimal as well.

Mogie is also sitting up on her own quite comfortably, which has been bittersweet in the bath time department. It's fun to have both girls sitting up and playing during baths, but it is also the end of the era of the baby tub.

And lastly, we have a proficient peek-a-boo baby. She loves it, but I'm pretty sure I love it more than her.

:: Dellie ::

Honestly, I feel like the relationship between the two of them has stalled out. Mogie is still not super relational in the fun ways yet, but it starting to get less fun in the grabbing toys from her sister sorts of ways. I knew from the get-go that their sibling relationship was going to take me being pretty intentional in fostering good playing-together habits (because of their age gap), so I'm not too surprised by it. But, it has been discouraging, since I think a part of me was honestly hoping it would happen naturally.

The jealousy is also something we are still working on. We've gotten pretty  confident in being able to set boundaries with Dellie ("I can't give you raspberries on your belly like Mogie gets") but still communicating love and that she matters ("But I can give you a silly kiss on your cheek"). We are hoping and praying that our efforts will work, and that this phase will pass soon.

:: I Don't Want to Forget ::

How Mogie loves to kick and splash the water in the bath tub for-ever; the squinty face she makes every time she takes a first bite of baby food (even if she's had it before); playing peek-a-boo with her sleep sack whenever you change her diaper; how she took to her first time in a swing like she's been doing it her whole life; her love for lounging in the grocery cart; how she will put herself into a full plank position, but still refuses to even consider moving forward.