Our Little Boy is Growing Up!

So, as I write this, Tommy is one week from being eight months old! Can you get over how fast time has gone by?

Within the past two weeks, he has started looking more like a little boy, than a baby boy. Tommy has become so alert and so aware of SOOO many things. Here's a list of things that are new/common to Tommy's daily life as a seven month old baby.

* He has two big meals a day consisting of various kinds of baby foods. (The rest is nicely warmed bottles.)

* He says "MommmamommaMommaMomma." It's absolutely precious. I know this is a common sound for babies to make at this age. But, I think he knows what he is saying. He does it most often when I have been around him and leave the room. He was playing on his blanket a few nights ago, and I left to make him a bottle, walked into the kitchen, and he started crying out, "Mommamommamomma!"

* He loves to jump, and loves to practice standing.

* He smiles and laughs CONSTANTLY. He has a smile for everyone he meets. So far, no stanger anxiety, except a few cases here or there...nothing too extreme.

* Anything he can put his hands on will go straight into his mouth. He LOVES to chew on everything.

* He loves to try to chew on his toes all the time. I love the little grunts he makes as he tries to desperately shove his entire foot into his mouth.

* Now that it is warm outside, we take a family walk almost every day. Tommy loves to ride in his stroller, and LOVES to watch Winnie trot beside his chariot.

* Tommy loves to grab the spoon as I feed him, and shove the entire thing into his mouth. This is quite adorable, but very messy.

* He is SOOOO close to crawling. He can spin around on his belly, flip over, and he now lifts his belly off the floor, but hasn't gotten the coordination down pat for moving his arms and legs.

* Tommy no longer uses his infant carrier. He has proudly graduated to his big boy car seat.

* He loves to eat the Gerber Graduates Puffs. He REALLY loves the blueberry ones.

* He is really interested in giving kisses. He gives me kisses all the time, and will happily give anyone a kiss once he has warmed up to you. He stares you down, grabs your face, then sucks and bites your cheek. He turns his head back and forth while doing it. I am scared to death for his future girlfriend.

* He fits into 9 month, 12 month, and some 18 month outfits. He wears a size 4 diaper, and his socks must be toddler-sized socks for any chance of staying on.

* He destroys his bumper pads during the night. He smashes them down with his feet when he lifts them and slams them down, or he will literally pull the bumper loose and pull it over his head. He HAS to have something over his head to sleep. This is why I have a crocheted blanket in his crib for him. And another reason why I'm happy I have the movement monitor plugged in!

Overall, Tommy is a VERY happy baby, very sweet to everyone, and 20 some pounds of pure love.