Shoes!

One of your favorite things for months has been to crawl over to the closet with the shoes, and pull shoes in and out of the mesh drawers.

Today you took one of Ben's sandals, looked at it, and were very clearly trying to put it on your feet. I took some baby sandals that are still too big for you, and put them on, and walked you around by the hands around the living room. You giggled and giggled and were so pleased!

For the past few weeks all you have wanted to do is practice walking around, holding mommy or daddy's two hands (or other friends who come over, you just grab them and lead them where you want to go).

Stairs!

Alex has been interested in climbing up on Ben's stool for a couple of weeks. A couple of days ago, with Ben and I upstairs (without him!) Alex decided to take matters into his own hands. I heard a bit of rumpus downstairs and Alex had made it up a couple of stairs - and then promptly fell down. Today he climbed the entire flight of stairs, by himself, twice!

Heading toward walking

Alex (now 9 1/2 months) is REALLY interested in being up on his feet. We just got back from Minnesota and he wanted to spend most of the airport time being up on two feet, and "walking" around holding onto our hands. Today Daddy got him pushing Ben inside the red wagon, all the way down the hallway, and out onto the patio. So proud!

Alex is also waving "bye bye" a lot, and is really interested in books. Sleeping has been troublesome lately, though. He's waking up multiple times at night, and often won't go back to sleep without a fight. We just moved him into Ben's room (which Ben is super excited about) but we parents are exhausted. Hopefully there is a next chapter on the sleep front...

Communication

This week you were crawling around downstairs and playing while I was puttering about putting things away. All of a sudden I heard some thumping on the stairs - I walked over and you very clearly wanted to go up. "Do you want to take a nap?" I asked, and brought you upstairs, where you promptly feel asleep. Last night after dinner we were taking a bit of time and you crawled right into the bathroom and pulled yourself up to the bathtub, as if to insist, bathtime already people! I think these are your first steps at communication!

We've been doing a bit of baby signs and you always giggle when I say "All Done?" though it's a bit harder to confirm it's going through. 8 1/2 months already!

Making Sounds

You are now 8 months old and big changes have happened the past few weeks. You were really sick in Mexico over New Year's, but you're feeling better now and it shows.

Tonight as I was nursing you and rocking you to sleep you were pretty much asleep in my arms, and while I held you another minute you started making a clicking sound with your tounge, and then started babbling "da da go ga ahhhhh". You were happy with all the sounds coming out!

Today on the patio you also started pushing the big red wagon and taking little steps behind it. Watch out world - I'll be walking before you know it.

So proud