George- 8 months

This update is almost a month late because we spent ALL month working on sleep training you. It was rough. It's been a hard month- you've been more tenderhearted and worried than your usual happy, chill self, and I know it's from the sleep training. I didn't even get a monthly photo of you with your little stuffed animal. It's been five weeks and I finally feel like we are in a groove.

You have two little teeth poking through on the bottom. They haven't seemed to cause you much grief. You've experimented with biting me while nursing a few times but my surprised yelp of pain has been enough so far to discourage you. The four bulges on your top gums worry me a lot... those top teeth are what caused Charlie to wean himself at 10 months.

Dad had the great idea to pull out the Pack-and-Play and set it up as a little area for you to play in. A lot of our house is hardwood so it's nice for you to have a soft, safe place to play. I had an essential oils class in the backyard and you played in your little "pen" out on the lawn for about an hour while I was helping with the class. You are such a great kid.

I love seeing your straight little back holding you up and your solid, chunky thighs grounding you while you sit up. You are so good at sitting and it surprises us both when you topple over occasionally.

We have loved being outside together. You are so content to sit on the grass (with or without a blanket under you) and watch Charlie play or eat the grass. The other day, I spent the morning in the front garden with you and Charlie. Charlie helped me weed and plant flowers and you just played so contentedly. Our across-the-street neighbor, Pat, came over and gave us some rhubarb and you loved chewing on it for about 20 minutes.

You are getting some long curls around your ears and they are so precious and sweet. You are a little rosy-cheeked cherub.

You LOVE food so so much. You lunge and grab for it. I'm trying to teach you the sign language for "food", "more", and "all done". So far, you don't mimic the actions but when I say "more" you laugh and grin because YES, MAMA, I WANT ALL THE FOOD.

You are getting great at scooting around on the floor. You have begun to get into the hands and knees crawling position but then the weight of your belly pulls you down and you scoot around instead.

I finally hung up the swing that I bought last summer and you are delighted by it. I tried to get Charlie to enjoy it, but he kept telling me it was "George's swing".