Will ~ 8 & 9 Months

Hopefully Will is going to forgive me one day that his monthly updates have turned into every other month updates. :) What a fun couple of months with our sweet Baby Will! It is still my absolute favorite baby stage. I am seriously kissing on him all day long. Wonder if he's annoyed? But it's around this stage that they really start to seem like older babies and become so much more curious and entertained with the world around them. So cute and so fun!

The milestones I remember from the 7th month:

• He became a sitting pro. I think it was just a couple of days after he turned 7 months old. Now it certainly can aggravate the reflux spit-up, but it doesn't phase him at all. The other thing to be careful is big brother coming in for a hug. Still, he loves it.
• He started putting the pacifier back in on his own. Now that is a biggie in my book! Thanks to the video monitor, if he wakes up at night, I can tell if he can get to the pacifier himself. Love that!
• He also got his bottom 2 teeth. Definitely some fussier moments but not too terrible. Or maybe I've already forgotten?
• And finally we are on a much more consistent nap routine with just 2 naps a day. For the most part, he does really good of each one being about an hour and a half. And he usually sleeps from about 8:00ish to 7:00ish at night.
• He has got some crazy hair! It's coming in fast and coming in all over the place.

And for the 8th month:

• The highlight/lowlight of the month was that he got RSV and his first ear infection. I'm thankful that it seemed to be a mild case. But even with that, it was 8 days of fever and a pretty pitiful snotty, coughing baby. So sad, but we're so thankful it didn't get worse.
• Will has started talking up a storm. It's pretty cute when you can finally hear what their "talking voice" will sound like. He says da-da all the time. Seriously all day long. No ma-ma at all. Trying not to be too bitter. :) He makes the ya, ba, and all kids of strawberry/blowing noises with his mouth. He also is becoming known for his trademark fish face. Can even do it on command...funny!
• He LOVES to stand up and hold on to things. Wondering if he'll cruise around before he even crawls. He loves it. As far as crawling, still not happening. He can creep and roll anywhere he wants to go but just doesn't stay up on all 4s yet.
• And by this point, I finally got him up to 3 meals a day of baby food. He loves his morning oatmeal and fruit. Likes sweet potatoes, carrots, the stage 2 meats, and veggie blends. He does NOT like just green beans. At all. And he doesn't seem to care for the Stage 3 foods yet. (Another mommy guilt that I made all of Tate's baby food at this point. Sorry Will...love you just as much!) He also has started eating puffs and even gets some in his mouth on his own.
• I'm a little nervous to say it for fear of jinxing, but the reflux spit-up has gotten a little better. He still spits up but it doesn't seem to be near as much. I'm sure the sitting/standing and baby food are all helping. Really hoping the trend continues!
• He still LOVES his bath. Absolutely LOVES it! He knows that word, so when you say "take a bath," he gets a huge grin and starts giggling. Cute. And if you ever give him a bath, watch out, he slaps and splashes the water like crazy.
• He can do a round about wave and clap. It may be a few minutes after you say it, but eventually he'll show you his trick.
• He likes the pattycake song, when Macy barks, his animal and babies video, shape sorter, Sofie the Giraffe, the jumper, being outside, being tickled, big brother making noises, and going on walks in the stroller.

I love you Baby Will and am soaking in all of these sweet baby moments as you are only 3 months away from being 1 year old. How is that possible?