Eight Months Old!

Those of you who think it's been too long between posts will hopefully be satisfied with this one- and anyone who thinks I'm too long-winded had better visit another blog because this is longer than usual! :) (I'll return to the "it's my blog and I'll post what I want" excuse). :) I've been working on this for the past few days because I wanted to give you a good picture of what Carolyn is like at 8 months old. She brings so much light into my days and I laugh so much more than I did before she came. Babies are a wonderful, wonderful gift from God. I'm so thankful for her.

Carolyn has changed and grown so much in the last month! However, most of the change has not been in physical size- I measured her at home yesterday and found she's gained about half a pound (if that) in the past month (she's about 18.5 pounds and 27.5 inches long) but has gained 3/4 of an inch in length. That's probably because she is so much more active now than she was a month ago! She has figured out how to get around- one way or another- this little video will show you how she's moving these days. I can't believe how much she has changed in this way in just a few short weeks. The past few days she's been starting to pick her tummy off the ground for a second or two, so I think that proper crawling may not be much further off! Heaven help us! :)



Maybe our favorite development this month has been social. Carolyn seems to just be blossoming! She smiles so much more and has found new ways to express her delight- last night when I came home from work, she greeted me with this huge grin and started to clap her hands because she was so happy. One day she may not think I'm very cool (right now it's hard for me to imagine myself being "old-fashioned" and "from the dark ages" and unable to "get it," but I'm sure it will happen someday... sigh), but it is oh, so sweet to be on the "favorites" list of such a precious little person.

She gets so excited about toys now, especially anything that seems "off limits" or that makes noise or does something exciting. She giggles and claps her hands when she sees something she likes. Here's a little video clip I call "Shake It Up."



Remotes are still favorites- she doesn't realize yet that we got a new TV, so we don't care as much about the old TV remote- or she would certainly lose interest. :)
Sometimes the best toys are the free ones- I got these little plastic bottles in a sample-filled diaper bag from a formula company but never needed to use them- so I filled one with free Mardi Gras beads from a restaurant and she loves it!
The other day we got out one of her "big girl" toys (because Aunt Katy said that Cousin Emily really likes hers)- this thing plays not-too-annoying tunes and a fan blows air and balls come popping out of the top. I loved to see her wide eyed look when she first saw the balls come flying out! She soon discovered that if she tipped it over, air would blow into her face and hair and was delighted with the sensation! :)
The bottom line is that toys are of great satisfaction, but cannot hold a candle to the best playmate of all- DADDY! :) This is a little girl who loves her daddy and I love to watch them together, though he sometimes makes me a little nervous!