Carson is 8 months

THIS is the best age – and he’s SUCH a happy baby! He smiles so much of the time, and flirts with anyone he sees. He’s DEFINITELY a momma’s boy…he gets very concerned about me leaving the room. One of the best things this month has been watching Carson bond more with daddy now that he’s so much more interactive. He gets excited when Mike comes home and is happy to see him, and may reach out for him to hold him, but then he wants to come right back to mommy.

Carson is sitting very well unsupported, and loves to flap is arms up and down. When Carson is nervous or excited he does a strange twisting motion with his wrists – usually several times a day. He still doesn’t like to be on his tummy but he does push himself up pretty well when he lets me put him on his stomach. He shows no interest in moving too much so I doubt he’ll be crawling any time soon which is fine with me…I doubt there’s any correlation between eventual athletic ability and the age of first crawling. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes straight to walking. He pulled himself up for the first time on Halloween, just a few days after his 8-month birthday when we were at the Children’s museum in Philadelphia.

We were able to expand his diet again after we got the constipation back in control. I didn’t realize I really had the perfect baby…happy almost all the time and I didn’t even have to change dirty diapers but once a week. We’re going through many more diapers now, which is normal. Carson eats much more adult food that Collin did at this age…he pretty much wants to eat everything we’re eating. One of our favorite snacks to eat together is crackers and hummus. We sit on the back porch and eat this together with his Bumbo seat on the table. He eats all his meals in his high chair now, since he barely fits in the Bumbo anymore. For breakfast he usually eats cereal and applesauce (or fruit), then vegetables and cereal for dinner plus some little table food, like pieces of bread or Cheerios. He loves to chew on apples or pears. He’s nursing much less and quicker…first thing in the morning when he wakes, then at 10 & 2 before naps & the at 8 before bedtime. He likes to snack on Melba toast which keeps him occupied pretty well – a great eater overall. He got his first two teeth (on the bottom) this month.

Carson enjoys watching his big brother and is easily entertained, laughing at almost anything, especially peak-a-boo or other such games. He still wants to put EVERYTHING in his mouth, and wants to grab anything you’re holding, especially keys or pens. Carson is pushing himself up higher now, but still no signs of wanting to crawl as he only tolerates being on his tummy for a few minutes at a time. He just learned to clap which is really fun! He claps when he sees someone else clapping, or when he hears the “Happy and you know it” song.