Allie's 8 Month Birthday
This past month has also gone by in a whirlwind. I can't believe it, but Allie is now 8 months old (last Sunday, March 22)! She's just continuing to grow and develop before our eyes, and we feel blessed to have her in our lives.
Allie sits like a professional now, able to balance while she plays with her toys, reaching with impressive yoga-like stretching ability to pick up the toys that she has thrown everywhere. She expresses her emotions in so many different ways (not just crying). She giggles and squeals, hugs and kisses, and kicks her feet happily. She loves peekaboo, and loves to run around in the house in our arms, chasing and being chased by each other. She rolls all around the floor as her means of "crawling" - she does get where she wants to go! When she sees you walk in a room or if she comes into the room, she will greet you with a happy shriek. She also calls out to get your attention. (Still no words even though I keep encouraging her to say "mama"). She sometimes will even wave goodbye when she's leaving. She's just an incredible amount of fun! At nights, we are still reading the Michael Chabon-edited anthology of short stories. She is still waking up, usually once, to eat. And two teeth are ALMOST sprouting! It has caused some uncharacteristic grumpiness in her, and a few nights of multiple wakings and feedings, but other than that she is a good natured and cheerful baby. Her personality is coming out, and her telatah (antics) make Vin and me laugh and laugh.
Regarding foods, last month's list included pea puree (thumbs up). Continuing from there, here are the next foods Alie has been introduced to and her rating of them:
1. Mashed avocado (thumbs up)
2. Mashed avocado and banana (thumbs up)
3. Mango puree (thumbs up)
4. Oatmeal (thumbs up)
5. Plum puree (thumbs way up!)
6. Cauliflower puree (thumbs up)
7. Honeydew melon puree (thumbs up)
I've also reintroduced sweet potato puree to Allie with a thumbs up reaction. We have homemade baby food in the freezer, ready for Allie to eat. Since she is now 8 months old, the doctor has given her the green light to start on proteins, so in the next few weeks she will have her first encounters with chicken, yogurt, tofu and beef. I forgot to ask what fish we can start her with, but as each new food will undergo the 4-day trial (again, to check for allergies), it will be Allie's 9-month doctor appointment before I need to know about fish. I already have peach puree in the freezer for her to try, and a papaya ripening on the counter. Also, broccoli, potatoes, barley cereal. So many things for Allie to try!!
And now, here are a gazillion pictures that tell the story of how Allie spent her 8-month birthday. Mouse over the pictures for captions!
First, Allie went downstairs with her Papa, while Mama gets a little more sleep (hey, I get up for the feedings and stay up with her, so I need the extra shut-eye) 
Then she hung out in the activity center:
Then she sat next to Papa on the sofa:
Then Allie came upstairs for breakfast and her morning nap. Luckily it was Sunday so she and Mama did not have to rush. Here she is after her breakfast and nap:
The day continues downstairs with some piano playing:
And then it was lunchtime.
Then some rolling on the floor:
It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, so we had to go outside.
We had a fun time outside, and then went back in before it could get cold. It's still very chilly in the evenings. But inside, there was more fun to be had in her activity center:
After another full day, Allie had a bath and went to bed. Her parents collapsed with exhaustion not long after that. It is amazing how quickly the day goes by, and how zonked out we all are by evening. The days go by so quickly, the same, yet different. And in it all, Allie keeps growing and keeping our lives full of fun and excitement. We are thankful to have such joy in our days. We look forward to these upcoming warm days for some frolicking in the sun. Perhaps Allie will start frolicking with us! Happy 8-month birthday, baby!!
And to close this entry, here are Allie and Vin, in one of my favorite pictures of the day.
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