Evan is 8 months old!!

8 months old

17 lbs. 5 oz.

I know I say this, what feels like, almost every month, but seriously, where does the time go?  Everything just flies by the second time around.  We still have the infant gym out and suddenly he's eating finger foods, drinking from sippy cups, and trying to crawl.  I can't keep up!  

I had a moment this month when everything suddenly made sense.  Evan has changed who I am.  I mean, the core of me.  Don't get me wrong.  Sean changed me in ways that I still can't believe.  Going from living life for me to now living life for my boys, Sean paved the way.  But, Evan has made me realize I can't control every.single.part of our day to day lives.  

I wanted to nurse him for a year.  He has a milk and soy protein intolerance.

I wanted to make all his baby food for him as I did for Sean.  He refuses to eat more than half of my purees.

I wanted him to have beautiful, smooth skin.  He has been plagued with ezcema.

I wanted him to be healthy and happy.  He's been hospitalized for RSV, had a stomach virus, and countless colds and ear infections.

And he's only 8 months.

Considering I have a type A personality, giving up the reigns and accepting him for exactly who he is has not been easy.  But, it hit me like a ton of bricks this month.

He had a 3 week cold and double ear infection battle.  We tried amoxicillin.  It didn't work.  We tried Augmenten.  It didn't work.  Finally, we tried Omnicef.  And thankfully, it cleared the infections.  And in that time, we had many nights of 1am wake up calls, pulling at his ears, arching his back, screaming, crying.  He didn't eat as much, either formula or solids.  He just wasn't his usual self.  For 3 whole weeks.

But, man, once he got over the ear infections, he really showed us what a happy-go-lucky little guy he really is!  

He can sleep through the night.  Does he do it every night?  No.  But, he can.  And I'm okay with that knowing that he's capable of it when he's feeling well.

He can clap his hands and his feet.  Such coordination...

He can eat puffs, yogurt melts (we're trying small amounts of dairy), and various soft foods like watermelon, sweet potato, toast, etc.

He wants to drink water out of a sippy cup.

He wants so desperately to crawl, but just can't do it yet.  The anticipation is killing me.  I know I will regret this instantly after he starts doing it.  

 To me, he's perfect.  He doesn't sleep through the night every night like Sean did.  He isn't breastfed.  He doesn't like my homemade purees.  He costs me a fortune with every pediatrician, dermatologist, and allergist appointment, but he's worth it.  And I'm going to enjoy these last few months with him as a baby because Lord knows they're going to fly by.  I need to stop sweating the small stuff and enjoy him for exactly who he is.  Ev monster.  Evie.  Baby Evan.  My chicky chicky boom boom.  

For those stat lovers:

• Size 2 diapers and moving up to 3's as soon as the 2's run out.  One package left...
• 9 month clothes, 6-12, and some 12 months since it's been mild lately and all the summer clothes we have from Sean are 12 months.
• He takes five 6 oz. bottles a day totaling 30 ounces or so.
• 3 solid meals: fruit and cereal for breakfast, veggies for lunch, and meat with veggies for dinner.
• Starting some solids at dinner now to start replacing some of the purees he won't eat.
• Sleeps through the night when he's feeling well.  Otherwise, he's up once a night and it varies with the time.
• 2 naps!!!  We're getting on a routine and it feels amazing!  9:30am and 1:30pm!  Woo hoo!
• Bedtime at 7:30pm with a bath, book, and bottle.

Favorites:

• His brother!  Gosh they love each other and it melts my heart and everyone's heart that witnesses their mushiness at daycare every day.
• Blowing raspberries and spit bubbles.  Yuck!
• Clapping his hands!
• Going from sitting to getting on his hands and knees and back to sitting again or even laying down.  He can't figure out what position he wants to be in.
• Sleeping on his tummy with his butt in the air.  Love this age!
• Singing on the way to daycare in the morning in his carseat.
• His ring toys and my measuring cups.
• Puffs!
• Nuzzling with mommy.  The boy can snuggle!
• Anything and everything that he can put in his mouth.

Happy 8 months, Evan!