8 Months

Holy moly, Coop!  You are the big 8 months today!  I am going to stop saying, "I can't believe you are x-months old" each month, because I am just going to have to get used to the fact that you are growing up way to fast!  Just look at how huge you are!

I weighed you this morning and you are exactly 19 lbs. You probably carry most of that weight in your adorably rolly thighs or your cute fluffy cheeks.  People always seem to notice your kissable cheeks and your bright, blue eyes.

This month you have become obsessed with your teddy bear, Bobo.  We sing a little made-up song about Bobo the Bear before we go to sleep, and then we hand Bobo over to you to cuddle with.  Each time you see Bobo, you get the biggest smile, wrap your arms around him, and bury your face into Bobo's chest.  It's the cutest thing!  He's definitely replaced Sophie as your favorite toy!

We still have no complaints about your sleeping patterns- you LOVE to sleep!  You would take 3 naps every day if I let you, but I'm trying to keep it to only 2 naps a day.  This month we played with your routine a little bit, so now you wake up around 7:30 or 8 am (bless you, Cooper!) and go to bed around 8:30 pm, with a morning and afternoon nap.  You eat 5 bottles a day and ideally eat 3 "meals" a day.  Maybe that explains those thunder thighs!

You aren't wild about veggies, but you LOVE fruit!  Bananas and apples are your favorites.  I think you've got a bit of a sweet tooth.  Wonder where you got that from!  You also started self feeding a bit this month.  As soon as we pull out the tube of Puffs, you get the most excited look on your face!  I am convinced that you would eat Puffs all day long if we let you!

This month, you have grown leaps and bounds in terms of mobility.  You are all over the place- pulling up on everything and crawling all over the house!  You love to explore, as long as you can still see Mama from wherever you are.  It's funny to watch you take off to check something out, and then turn around when you are halfway to your destination to make sure that you can still see Mama or Daddy!  I love your curious little heart and can't wait for the fun adventures that we are going to have, Cooper Boy!  

One of your favorite spots to explore is the dishwasher while I am unloading dishes.  You love to pull up and shimmy your belly up onto the dishwasher to see if you can find a spoon to play with.  I love it, although I am still getting used to having a baby underfoot while I am cooking in the kitchen!

It has been super hot in Waco this summer, so we take you out to the pool at least once a week to cool off.  You love being in the water and aren't bothered at all by all of the big kids who splash you.  Last week 4 or 5 ten-year-old girls swam to you and wanted to talk to you and play with you the entire time we were at the pool!  I can't believe how you are already attracting the girls, Coopy!

Your first two teeth broke through this month.  Woohoo!  You look like such a big boy with those two pearly whites growing up!  Getting those first two teeth was more difficult than I expected- they popped up and then went down, and you were VERY fussy.  You worked so hard for those two teeth, baby boy.  One of these days we will give you a steak to show you how proud of you we are!

 A few days ago we noticed that you would mimic us sometimes.  You will repeat "mama" or "babababa," slap your hand down on the coffee table, or do a really loud yell as you mimic us.  Wow!  I am amazed at the new things that you are learning every day!  You still love blowing raspberries and will often stick your tongue out like a little lizard!  Baby Coop, you are, without a doubt, the cutest and happiest baby I have ever seen!

You had a random week this month where you were really into the paci.  It was so weird.  I tried and tried to get you to take it for MONTHS, and you wanted nothing to do with it.  Then one night, you saw Clara sucking hers at Lifegroup and crawled over, took it from her mouth, and put it in yours.  You crawled around the rest of the night sucking on HER paci!  So, for a week, you wanted a paci, but as soon as the week was over, you were over it.  Sometimes I just can't figure you out!

Daddy and I took you to the swings at Mountainview Park a few weeks ago and you had the best time!  I wondered why we had never taken you before.  You love all things that seem "adventurous," like swinging and being tossed in the air by Daddy.  We continually pray for you to be a boy with courage and adventure in his heart!

We went to the Mayborn Museum for the first time last week with Blake and Oak.  Clearly, you had a blast riding the camel in the Egypt exhibit.

You love your little buddies so much, Coop!  I hope you always love people the way that you do now- you are always so happy to see your friends and you make sure to smile at all of the little old ladies who come and tickle your feet at the grocery store.  The other day I walked past the window to the childcare at the gym, and you were practically hyperventilating trying to get a hold of a little baby in a carrier.  The sweet teacher was trying to hold you back because you were just thrilled to have a new little person to play with.  You're such a nut, and I love it!

I love you so much, Cooper Bear.  You are the biggest blessing that I could ever imagine.  I know that life existed before you were here, but it just seems so incomplete!  I thank God every day that He picked ME to be YOUR Mommy.  You are my sweetest little treasure, and I love you Cooper Hudson!