Happy 8 Months, Alexis!

It's getting much harder to keep you in place for pics on your chair. 

We had to "pause" a few times to stop you from lunging into my lap. 

For now, floor is best!

Just like that, another month come and gone. Maybe it's all the fun we're having with you! This month, you've really shown us both your curious, spunky, playful side as well as your sweet, cuddly, kissable side. And like all proud parents, we love both.

You are so close to crawling, and in the last week or two, you've begun practicing whenever you can. It's not uncommon to find you up from your nap concentrating on getting to the other side of the crib. You can get on all fours, rock forward and even move just a bit, then you usually end up falling flat on your tummy. Scooting backwards or sideways is no problem at all, so you've found a way to get where you want to go, just not by crawling there yet. We think your combination of scooting/rolling/sliding is rather entertaining in the meantime.  

When you're happy, you just love kicking your legs and waving your arms up and down. You squeal, you bang your toys, you slap the floor, you splash in the tub or baby pool, anything to make a sound. And when you're tired, you'll rest your head on our shoulders (only for a second, but boy does that melt our hearts). You reach for us when we lean over to pick you up, and you now hug us around our necks. When daddy walks in the door from work, you drop whatever it is you are holding/eating and grin from ear to ear. 

Dreamland must be sweet for you, as you love to nap and sleep - and you actually laugh when we put you down in the crib. Seeing Mr. Owl is a highlight to your day and you grab him like he's a long lost friend. We love him too - as he keeps you sleeping a long time each night (11 or 12 hours!). And one of the highlights of our day is greeting you once you're awake and ready to play, you kick those legs and squirm and smile. You play hide and seek from the crib slats and sometimes we walk in to find your little feet poking out through them.  

With summer in full force, you're showing us that you're an outdoorsy girl. You love to go to the park or the pool, you are a good girl at the beach, you're happy as can be on our walks - fascinated by the trees and the people we pass along the way. Baby swings are a special favorite of yours and so is playing in the grass. And before bed each night, you and daddy go look at the progress in the gardens. 

Alexis Rose - you are a good girl, a happy girl, a content little girl. While you're shy at first, you warm up to new friends quickly and soon dominate the room with your "chatting" or toy stealing. As you continue to notice and interact with the world around you, your daddy and I find that we could watch you for hours (and often do). In addition to our monthly chair and blanket pictures that show how you're growing, the following few shots paint a good picture of the happy, playful baby girl we love so dearly. Happy 8 Months ladybug!