Happy (Belated) 8 months, Cayden

Cayden was 8 months old on the 4th. I just can't believe it! It's appropriate that it was "Independence Day". He's longing to be more independent. He rolls all over the place when I put him on the floor to play. I sit him on his blanket and not long after he's laying down rolling. He's trying to crawl. He gets up on his toes and his hands and pushes forward with all of his might. When he gets frustrated that he's not going anywhere he puts his face into the floor and pushes. He'll get just far enough forward to get the toy he's after and then he's done. When he's on his belly, he will turn himself around with his hands until he is facing the direction he wants to be. If I'm holding him on my lap, he's rarely content to sit. He wants to be standing and usually jumping. Just a few days ago he finally started to hold his own bottle. He's been capable for a while now, he just wasn't interested. Why do the work when someone will do it for you, you know? All in his search for greater independence...

I am constantly amazed at his intellectual development. When I put him in his swing, he squints in antipication of the noise the tray makes when I snap it on. I can ask him, "Where's daddy" or "where's the kitty" and he will scan the room and stop when he sees them. He is trying - and sometimes succeeding - to imitate faces or sounds we make. And he is delighted when he makes a noise and Jay or I make it back to him. If you're holding him or sitting near him he will move his head until his face is right in front of yours if he wants your attention and it is on something else. He has learned how to drop things from his high chair and will look over the side to see where it landed. He will do certain things b/c he loves the reaction he gets. For example, he likes to pull my hair b/c he loves when I say "ahh!".

In other news: He loves to laugh. Sometimes he will try to make himself laugh. He loves to "talk" too. He's got his two bottom teeth, though they are not in fully. I think the top teeth are a couple months out yet. We take one day at a time when it comes to naps. Last week, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were great nap days! Then Thursday the bottom dropped out. He didn't nap well for the rest of the week. Monday was back to good again. Tuesday was awful (though that was probably due to all of the excitement). Yesterday was good. And, today was so-so - he had a good first nap and a short second nap. Like I said, one day at a time. The "Solids Saga" continues. I have recently discovered that Rice Cereal and Bananas every morning are not a good mix for my little guy. The poor kid ended up constipated and miserable! :o( It's too bad too, b/c he was actually enjoying it. We are going to pick out a different cereal for him and save the bananas for a once-in-a-while treat.

That's all for now!