Eight Months!!

Mom: Another month! I can't believe it!

Mariah: Yeah, it's been a good one.

Mom: What have you been up to this last month?

Mariah: Well, I got to spend a few days with Grandpa and Grandma Crossley which was so fun! I really love those people. I loved Thanksgiving break because of all of the attention I got. Plus I got to spend a whole week with daddy home! I was in heaven. No offense mom, but it gets kind of boring with just you and I in the house.

Mom: None taken. What really makes you happy Mariah?

Mariah: Well I just love other people! Whenever someone walks into our house I just squeal with excitement. I especially love other babies like me. I jabber to them but they usually just stare at me.

This is my good friend Ella. We like to play together. 

Mom: Some people just can't seem to handle your enthusiasm for life, they'll get used to it.

Mariah: I also love to smile at everyone in the grocery store. I think I have a fan club there.

Mom: You're pretty popular. What else makes you happy?

Mariah: For a while I just loved to squint my eyes. I did it when I was smiling or crying. I seem to have gotten over that though. I love when you come get me out of the crib in the morning and after naps. I get so excited I can barely handle myself. I love to give you big, wet, open-mouthed kisses too. It's just my way of showing how much I love you. I like to give daddy kisses too, but I'm not sure how to handle his prickly face. I also love to claw at your face but you don't seem to like that little trick.

Mom: I'm hoping you get out of that phase soon. How is the eating situation?

Mariah: I love when you blend up whatever you and daddy are eating for me to eat! I feel like such a big girl. You even can sneak some avocado in with other foods sometimes. I'm learning my pincer grasp and have gotten pretty good at picking things up off my tray. I'm getting better at putting the food into my mouth but most just ends up in my lap. I love to rub whatever I'm eating all over my face. You seem to really love it too.

Mom: Well it isn't my favorite...but you could do worse things. Do you move around much?

Mariah: I'm rolling all over the place and I don't mind being on my stomach anymore. I even sleep on my stomach sometimes. I haven't really tried crawling yet, I'm lacking the motivation in that department. So when I get bored with rolling I just cry until you come get me. With a mom like you why would any baby learn to crawl?

Mom: I guess you have a point. How have you been sleeping?

Mariah: I haven't really changed much with my sleeping habits. I still wake up 2-3 times a night to nurse. I know I probably don't really need to do that but I just get so lonely in my crib. And you love the special 2:00 am bonding times don't you?

Mom: Probably less than you think. So you're quite the talker aren't you?

Mariah: Oh I'm always chatting it up. I love experimenting with new sounds. My favorite one to do right now is growling. I even try to babble in a low gravelly voice. It just sounds so cool. I also still like to scream as high as I can.

Mom: I don't know where you learned to talk so much...you must get that from your dad. What is one of your favorite things to do each day?

Mariah: Bath time! I just love to kick my legs as hard as I can and see how wet I can get you. I also try to take drinks out of the tub but I'm not very good at it so if I do it without you catching me I end up choking and coughing for a while. You don't like that very much. When you get me out and try to get me dressed I just cry and cry because I'm so sad that bath time is over. But then you read me a story and I feel happier.

Mom: Have you learned any words?

Mariah: I don't know if it's a word, but I like to say "mom" when I'm feeling sad and you get so excited. I don't really know why; I just like to babble.

Mom: Well you are just my favorite and I can't believe how big you are getting! You are such a sweet, special girl Mariah Jeanne and I love you!

Mariah: Love you too mom.