Grayson's 8th Month

We have really been enjoying your first Summer although it has been pretty hot here in southern Georgia.  You have enjoyed going to the beach, playing in the pool, and even tasting your first watermelon in your little mesh feeder.  You really enjoy life and exploring the world around you, and we all enjoy you!

Size:  You won't go back to the doctor until you are 9 months old, but we can tell you are growing so well. With all you are eating, I suspect you may be close to 18 lbs. now.  You need size 3 diapers now.  You need mostly 6 to 9 month clothes for length although even your 9 month pajamas are getting too short.  You have consistently remained at the top of charts for length so we wonder if you will be the tallest of your brothers.   

Developmental Accomplishments:  You are still very happy and love to be talked to and played with. You are rolling over onto your tummy more and more and attempt to army crawl to reach toys that you want.  You could sit fully unsupported but often will get yourself onto your tummy from a sitting position to reach a toy and play.   You still aren't pulling up into a crawl position on your own yet although I have put you into position and you can hold yourself up on your hands for a few seconds and act like you want to go.  You are also getting stronger on your feet and legs to be able to stand on your own holding our hands or furniture.  I can stand you up against furniture like our upholstered ottoman, and you can stand for a few seconds on your own before sitting down.  You have great neck control when sitting up.  Your fine motor skills are definitely improving more and more as you learn new ways to play with your toys.  You love pushing buttons, playing with blocks, and still love banging your toys together and making lots of noises.  You also love music and toys that make noise and sounds.  You make circles all around your exersaucer and enjoy playing with all the toys on it.  You still hate being left alone and will let Mommy know if she is gone too long.  Evan has been a big help this month entertaining you when I am busy.  

 
Sleeping:  You are still sleeping pretty good at night although you do wake us up some at night because you are hungry and want to eat more or just because you want to be held.  You usually go to bed by 9:30 or 10:00 (sometimes earlier) but often wake up around 6:00 to eat.   You have been giving Daddy a little trouble when he tries to lay you in your crib at night because you want to be touching us now.  You like to wake up at night to be held and rocked, but when you fall asleep and daddy tries to lay you down, you immediately wake up screaming.  Mommy thinks it is a little funny because you just want your daddy time since he is gone so much of the day.  

Eating:  You are doing great with eating and are still primarily breast fed.  You still refuse to take a bottle, but I don't mind as long as you are getting plenty to eat.  You are now solidly on a 3 meals a day routine with breakfast, lunch and dinner and four to five breastfeedings.  You have eaten avocado, bananas, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, pears, apples, brown rice and oatmeal cereal, peaches, white potatoes, carrots, broccoli, and plain yogurt.  Carrots have probably been your least favorite.  You can eat thicker purees now.  You usually eat a fruit combination for breakfast, a green vegetable combination for lunch, and an orange vegetable for dinner.   You now eat two baby bullet servings or 4 ice cube servings at each meal.  I mix some combinations together for you like fruit and yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast and white potatoes and a green vegetable like peas, green beans, or broccoli.  You still act like you are hungry at night so we are going to try adding some chicken next month so you are getting more protein.    

Teeth:  Two bottom teeth

Nicknames:  Grayson Payson (goes with Evan Pevin, Brody Pody, Mattox Pattox), Gray Pay, Gray Gray, Baby Goo (because he is just a little gooey sweet mess)

{More pictures coming soon}