Eight Months

Julia loves to dance. She sits on her knees and bounces up and down, while waving her arms with a big grin on her face. And we love to dance with her.

Julia is eating like a champ. About two months ago, we tried baby food for the first time, which she did not like. Then, we discovered sauerkraut and things have gotten better ever since. Now she eats three small meals a day. Big girl!

She is now standing without holding onto anything and I bet she will be walking before she is 9 months.

Julia is wearing size 9 month in clothes and size 3 in shoes. She is 28 inches long and will grow out of her infant car seat very soon (max 30 inches).

During the last month, our house has become "baby proof." She spends her days exploring the house, one room to the next. It is fun to see her curiosity and determination with everything.

She is out growing her baby tub. This month she will transition to the big tub.

Julia is not interested in TV. Unless, Sesame Street is on. She bounces with excitement as soon as it begins. I learned this months ago and took advantage of the discovery. Each day she watches recorded Sesame Street from her playpen in our room for 15 minutes while I shower and get ready for the day.

Unlike many babies, Julia does not mind crawling around in the grass. So when Scott was cleaning out the sprinklers for winter. We let her play in the yard while I trimmed back the roses. Scott went over to her and noticed that her cheeks were puffier than normal. He did a finger sweep in her mouth and found a whole autumn leaf or two waded up with drool. Silly girl! Leaves aren't for girls!

Julia is already eight months old and we still are not sure on her eye color. Most days they look green. However, sometimes they are light brown in the middle and blue around the edge.

Julia enjoys being whispered into her ear. She sits very still for it. So I often sing her the alphabet that way.

Parent Award

Julia loves the water. She loves to play in it.

Even toilet water.

We forgot to shut the bathroom door and found Julia reaching over the side of the toilet, having a jolly old time.

We won the award for Worst Parents that day.

Strawberry Hemangioma

Sweet Julia, you were born with 2 birthmarks.

One is a large, very light, blotchy one on your left forearm. It is so subtle, no one but your dad and I have noticed it.

Your other birthmark is on the left side of your forehead. I think it is in a similar shape of a butterfly. Your dad likes to say it is your kiss target. It is dark and has become your trademark. Everywhere we go, everyone notices it and asked if you bumped your head. I tell them that it is your 'strawberry.' However, the correct name is strawberry hemangioma. It is the type of birthmark that completely disappears by age 5. I wanted to write about it because I don't want to forget to tell you about it... and I will miss your strawberry butterfly.

Grandma Dee Dee

We visited Grandma Dee Dee in September. Each day, Grandma spent about 2 hours on the floor playing with Julia.

We took a special walk on the new bridge over the Missouri River. We also visited a festival by the river and took an evening walk there.











2 of Grandma's sisters, Aunt Carla and Aunt Lacey came to visit. We went shopping at a local antique shop. I got an old, beautiful gravy boat.






Grandma loved pulling Julia around in this little toy wagon. Julia would kick her legs up, cross them and lean back chewing on a toy. It was so precious. I am not sure who was enjoying it more, Julia, Grandma or me!












You fell asleep on Grandma's lap. That is special because you rarely fall asleep in someone's arms. You must have known how safe you were there.
















This picture was taken at the old house. Grandma always has beautiful flowers in bloom.












Julia got to sit on Grandma's John Deer tractor. Then, papa took Julia for a ride on it.



































We went to Great Grandma Pat's restaurant and had lunch. She made me a chicken salad sandwich with sliced grapes in it. It was one of the yummiest things I have ever eaten!







Your Grandma is lots of fun and you love to play with her. I don't have to tell you that because this picture says it all.

We love you Grandma!!!

Do the Shuffle

Today Julia walked along the couch!

Fish Fry for Dusty

Papa had a two week business trip to Virginia. To get our minds off of how much we missed him, Julia and I took a trip to MO during that time.

We started out with a fish fry at Aunt Jessica's house. We were celebrating cousin Dusty, wife Amanda and sons Dusty and Jacob's return from Japan. Cousin Dusty is in the Air Force and was stationed in Japan for about 2 years (I think).

We missed them and was glad to welcome them back state-side! Sadly, I didn't get any pics of them, however I did get these pics of you haming it up for the cameras!

Seven Months

Julia is crawling very well, pulling herself up on whatever she can find and loves to climb stairs!

Her eyes seem to look green lately. Not brown, not blue, green! So pretty.

She has been saying dada for months now. The trouble is that Scott has been teaching her to call him papa, so dada is not important. Though I find it a little humorous. She just started making the mama sounds. Four times to be exact. I don't think she is making the connection to me with it just yet.

When we eat, she crawls quickly to our side and wants to dig in to anything we have on our plate.

I find myself putting away 'baby things' since she is so big now. LOL We no longer need her bumbo seat, bassinet or boppy pillows. We are trading these things for big girl stuff like a playpen, gates, outlet covers and lots of learning toys.

Julia loves to talk. She spends a lot of her day telling stories, singing and explaining tons of things to us.

Her favorite book is still Twinkle Toes, by Karen Katz. Thank you to my student, Raquel, for getting it for her!

She is wears size 2-3 in infant shoes and size 9 months in clothes.

Car rides are still one of her least favorite activities. If someone else is driving, then I always sit in the backseat with with her, with the attempt to distract her and make the ride less tearful.

I feel so lucky to be her mom, to watch her grow, to love her, to cherish her.

I love you Julia, my big girl!