To Which I Admit I'm a Terrible Blogger...

I. Am. A. Terrible. Blogger.

I had every intention of blogging every month with cutsie updates about my daughter and my family, pictures and stories included. That didn't happen. It took me almost 3 months just to post my daughter's birth story! My daughter is now on the cusp of turning 8 months old and I have barely blogged anything about her life. Let's just say it's been an interesting 8 months. We've had the most fussy baby I have ever seen come into our lives this past May, and for those of you who may feel the urge to argue about that, just keep in mind that I have "raised" many babies....probably somewhere in the close-to-a-hundred range. Her cuteness factor has definitely been her saving grace! I will do a quick recap of the last 8 months and let's just be honest, in looking back now, it has been a VERY quick 8 months!

Month One: a blur. nonstop crying. constant dr appointments, tests and more tests. sleeping 3 -4 hour stretches, napping only on mommy. LOVES her baths. severe acid reflux diagnosis after upper GI done. started on medicine. STARTED CEREAL!!!

Month Two: short breaks in the crying. still having dr appointments to try to figure out if any allergies. dr makes personal calls to check to see how we are doing (that when you know you have a pretty difficult baby!) still on medicine. started taking her out of the house. still sleeping in 3 - 4 hour stretches. have on a schedule and seems to be helping. still really only napping on mommy. first day at daycare (well, in office with mommy)

Month Three: will the crying ever end!? growing off the charts! bigger than most babies older than her. still on same schedule. deciding that daycare wasn't for her just yet. celebrating new family members, and saying goodbye to them. tough month in our family. still no answers to the incessant crying.

Month Four: first airplane ride (did beautiful). first trip to the Gulf of Mexico! first family vacation! naps are short and sweet. still up MANY times in the night. starting to fuss a little less and play a little more. first explosive diaper. lots of smiling and talking. does NOT like long car rides! started on baby food. LOVES all things that have to do with eating!


Month Five: rolling over like it's her job. finally able to do tummy time without constant puking. much easier to go out in public. LOVES to people watch. first of many fun fall activities, pumpkin patches, hayrides, sightseeing the beautiful autumn change around the area. doing well on the meds, thinking acid reflux may be gone...super exciting! got her first 2 teeth at the same time!

Month Six: fussy baby no more! unfortunately meds needed to be increased and a second added from her growth. off the charts on height. weight in the 90th percentiles. first Thanksgiving. starting to prefer mommy when strangers come around. male figures make her VERY nervous and break out in crying hysterics if they try to come near her (other than her beloved daddy!) started on finger type foods like puffs and rice cookies. has tried every vegetable possible, and only a few fruits (since mommy is allergic to so many). tried turkey for the first time. does "push ups" trying to crawl.

Month Seven: gets on hands and knees and rocks back and forth. so close to crawling, but just doesn't get it yet. first Christmas. LOVES her toys. plays by herself for 10 - 15 min increments. loves her daddy more than anything. doesn't like strangers AT ALL. cries when mommy or daddy leave the room. realizes when we take something away from her that she can look for it and it hasn't disappeared. all over the place by rolling and scootching. laughs at mommy when i I try to scold her or tell her "no". takes daddy very seriously when he tells her "no". still not sleeping through the night. takes very short naps most of the time. has quite the personality. turns her head in a "trying to hide" fashion when told no or when strangers try to talk to her. LOVES to dance the minute she hears music. loves her jumparoo.

Month Eight: just about to start and can't wait to see what it brings!

Here are a few pictures to recap the BEST 8 months of my life thus far!!!