8 months old

My baby boy is 8 months old! In fact, he was 8 months old on January 2nd! Where did the time go? And why is he growing up so fast?

I recently read a post about "letting go"'of your oldest child when a new one comes along. About how they always grow up despite our desperate attempts to make them stay our babies for just a whole longer. It's true- I sit and hold Lincoln and I look at Gabe and I see the young boy that he's becoming. It makes me remember those precious days of him in the hospital- so tiny and a miracle in his own right. I remember thinking that he's going to be so little forever and I'll have all this time to hold him. Then reality quickly set in and I realized that my dream of my tiny 2 pound boy staying little was just that- a dream. He's growing up on me.

Now I look at Lincoln and I hope and pray that he will stay little for just a bit longer. I'm not ready for both of my boys to grow up and start running and not needing mommy as much. I'm just not ready for that. Sure Gabe still likes to cuddle and be held- but those times are becoming few and far between. Lincoln still likes to be cuddled too- but he's moving and playing a lot more and I can slowly see those cuddling times becoming few and far between too. They are both becoming more independent and I'm not sure I like it. Though, as a parent I want my children to be independent to a point but I also want them to need their mommy. I know, I know... I still have a few more years before their off to school and really become independent. So, I guess I better make these next few years count and get as many snuggles and kisses in as I can.

Well Lincoln is 8 months and here's and update.

Dear Lincoln,

I can't believe how fast these 8 moths have gone. It seems like not yesterday I was holding you in my arms wondering when I would see you crawl, stand and begin playing with your brother. And now that those days are here- I find myself wishing that you still needed mommy to hold you all of the time. But you're growing up and I see you learning something new everyday. I'm blessed to get to see you take on this great big world and just soak up all of the new experiences daily. I love watching you play with your brother and hearing you laugh when he does something funny. The smile on your face when you see me each morning coming to get you out of bed. I love our sweet cuddle times in the middle of the night when you wake up and need a bottle. I know I may complain about those late night wake up calls- but I do enjoy them because I know that one day - those wake up calls won't happen. You are SO SO SO FAST! Seriously! We call you our baby ninja because you literally crawl faster than some people walk. Since discovering that you can crawl out of the living room into different rooms you have kept us quite busy. I've had to fence you in to just the living room many times. Just the other day I went to the bathroom and came back just a minute later and you were already in the kitchen! I've moved your bed into the doorway of the living room to your room/dining room thinking that would keep you in. Well, it worked for a while until this week when you discovered that you can actually crawl under it and escape! Did I mention that your a ninja? Haha.

Here's some more news:

Favorite Food: Sweet potatoes and applesauce

Favorite snacks: yogurt bites, puffs, and Cheerios

Favorite show to watch with brother: Curious George

Favorite toys: Sophie the Giraffe and anything that makes noise

You LOVE bath time and climbing out of your tub

Everything goes straight to your mouth. Seriously you can find a piece of paper 29 feet away.

You love drinking out of your sippy cup.

Wearing 6-9 month clothes and some 9-12 months.

Size 3 diapers- just like your brother.

Holding your own bottle.

Sitting up and crawling everywhere!

Starting to stand hands-free more and more! (You're gonna be walking soon!)

You head straight to the dog food Everytime you come into the kitchen

You love to help mommy in the kitchen. And by that I mean you walk in your walker and listen to music with mommy!

You love to play with your brother and you think he's real funny! (He's going to be your best friend!)

We celebrated your FIRST Christmas last month and you had a great time!

You are sleeping thru the night (some nights you still wake up). From about 9:30 p.m. to 8:30 or 9:00 a.m.

You snore. :)

You fall asleep in the car a lot.

You weigh 17 pounds.

Well baby boy you are seriously growing up too fast! I know I say that allllll the time but it's true. I'm so happy that you are strong and healthy. You're such a good baby and we are so blessed to have you. I can't believe that in just 4 months you will be 1 year old! Ahh! Can we just freeze time? We love you sweet boy!

Mommy & Daddy