{Austin 8 Months}

Dear baby Austin,

I can't believe that you are so big now. It seems like yesterday that you were just a few days old. Time sure flies right by.

I am not sure where to start, as you change so much each day. Someone said to me the other day "He seems like such a sweet and happy baby" and they were exactly right. Some other words to describe you are strong, wild, loud, stubborn, attached (to momma), and non-stop;) You will not let a single thing pass you by without seeing, touching, and most of the time, tasting. You want to know what is going on at all times of the day. The only time you are still is when you are sleeping!

You are still nursing on demand through the day, and once at night. Usually about 4 or 5 you will wake up, and I will nurse you so that you stop being so loud! You could wake up the whole neighborhood. You eat all the food we eat, and have probably had almost everything under the sun. You love fruit and veggies, and LOVE the smoothies that daddy and Gavin make! We have been making special kale and mango smoothies, and you think these are the best. You wont let a spoon touch your mouth, so feeding you is easy. Put you in the high chair, and throw food on the tray. No cutting or chopping or anything! But man are you messy! There is food everywhere, and we usually just take your clothes off before eating...and then stick you in the sink after each meal. You think straw sippy cups are the best thing in the world, and love to drink water, rice milk, and carrot juice.

Sleep. Oh, man, you are one wild baby! If you are not in the mood to sleep, you will put on a big old protest! It usually only lasts about 10 minutes, but some of the middle of the night protests have lasted hours! We are no longer getting you when you wake up, and you are just very stubborn....but there are never really tears, just loud screams/yells...and then when we do go get you in the morning, you turn your sad face to an instant smile and laugh. You are wild.

You crawl, pull up, climb, and now will stand on your own for a few seconds at a time. Your favorite place to eat is standing in the learning tower. I chase you everywhere because you get into everything. We never baby proofed for Gavin, and we thought we could get away with not doing it for you. We were wrong. You open all cabinets, pull all cords, and know to lift the toilet seat up to get inside. Oh, and flushing the toilet is your favorite thing to do, over and over. Right after you eat as much toilet paper you can before we get to you.

Everything goes in the mouth, and I no longer stop you unless its a rock or tanbark. Otherwise I let you figure it out...most things you just chew on, and then spit out. When you eat food, you will hoard some in your cheek, and then a few hours later will spit it out! Pretty funny.

Messy. Austin you are the definition of a boy. Always a complete mess, and you go through at LEAST 2 outfits a day. If you get the third outfit dirty, I will let you be a dirt ball the rest of the day! You love to get dirty, and it keeps you happy, so into the dirt, sand, mud, and rocks you go!

We are doing cloth diapers about 50% of the time. When we are home, I will cloth, but when we go out, its usually easier to use disposable. You no longer get the bad rashes from the disposable since we switched to the chemical/bleach/chlorine free diapers...and they are compostable, so I don't feel as badly about using them. I have a feeling that since it is now cooler, that we will be inside a lot more, therefor using more cloth. I will probably never use cloth at nap or bedtime, as they don't hold enough pee!

I have been eating some dairy here and there...no longer checking labels, and you seem to be doing OK. I still can't eat a slice of cheese pizza or cake and ice cream, but its a start. (I did try cheese in a meal, and ice cream, and you get sick from it) Baby steps for now.

You are in size 9-12mo for everything, and size three diapers. Your feet are a size FOUR already...You have already outgrown the same shoes that your brother learned to walk in!!! You have big feet like your momma!

Oh Austie, we love you to pieces! You are so much fun, and so sweet. My favorite time of day is when you and I get to cuddle and you "kiss" my neck:) Love you lots little guy!

Love always-
Momma