8 Glorious Months

Stella is 8 months old today, and I just really feel like celebrating!  I realize how fortunate I am that I have so very much enjoyed every day and every phase of her life, but the last few weeks have just been so very fun.  I love it.  I love being with her and being her mom so much.  I am so thankful that I get to spend my days with her, and that my sweet Nate is so amazingly supportive of me being here.

Here is our sweet princess.  She was 22 pounds last week at Nate's office!  She loves to eat, and gets excited about nursing or when she sees me preparing her food.  I make most of what she eats at home, and she has liked everything I have ever made.  I would say her favorite is blueberry applesauce.  Great taste, no?  We split a banana most mornings, and she loves bananas too.  She has only ever distinctly not liked and not wanted to eat one thing - yellow squash with potatoes (store bought).  I couldn't blame her. 

We took a few pictures outside today.  My spring fever is kickin' in big time y'all!  My girl loves to be outside, and we had a great time together sitting out in the yard today.  She also enjoys all sorts of toys, and just started yesterday actually tipping the toy basket in the living room on end and taking them all out to survey.  It was just way too cute to watch her do that.  She looked like such a big girl!  She loves the dogs too, and that just makes my heart so happy.  She watches them as they come and go, and laughs and laughs when they lick her hands.  She is not afraid of them at all, and I can see how she is beginning to mimic the way I pet them.  The dogs are sweet to her and observe her need for space and gentleness.  We are a happy pack. 

We have also been in a great routine over the last few weeks, about since we got back home after the first of the year.  We thrive on routine.  She has been having more regular bedtime (between 7-8 PM)  and naps, and typically sleeps about 10-11 hours at night.  Such a blessing!  It gives Nate and I a little time to ourselves in the evening after she goes to sleep.  She takes usually 2, but sometimes 3 short naps during the day.  She has a very distinct  naptime "tell."  When she starts rubbing those eyes, she needs to go lie down. 

We still haven't seen any crawling motions yet, but she is starting to be willing to flop on her tummy to reach out for something she wants.  She does a good job pushing up (upward dog) when she is on her tummy, and sometimes she will wiggle backward a little bit.  She is in no big rush to to anywhere though.  That's okay by me.  She's got the rest of her life to go-go-go.  It is an act of personal discipline for me to not rush her, and this is one area in which I am practicing enjoying and observing and not hurrying. 

I love seeing her sense of humor, and how she loves to laugh.  One of the best things is the expression on her face when she knows that she is being funny.  I laugh at her a lot, so I get to see that face a lot.  Winner, winner!  She also has a great nose crinkling grin.  It is just so precious.  Keeps me busy trying to think of things to do to make her smile and laugh. 

We'll close with this one for now.  We love you so much sweet girl.  You are a treasure to us, and I thank the Lord every single day for trusting us with special you.