Silas at 8 months

Silas, you are eight months old today, weighing in at 19 pounds, 2 ounces, and measuring 27 inches in length. You began to crawl on December 9th, but you haven't really taken off with crawling until the last couple of weeks. Since we returned from our Tacoma Christmas trip, you are crawling all over the house! You also began to reach for objects to try to pull yourself up! Wow! Such a fast change!

You are eating a variety of foods by now, but you are rather picky at this stage. Your favorites seem to be applesauce, avocado, prunes, and bananas. You also like chicken 'n' rice soup all blended up (at least, you liked it last week). In order to give you the high-fat, high-calorie diet that your doctor wants, I often add coconut oil and almond butter to your food.

You have reached this point with no colds yet. We are so thankful! We pray that you don't get sick, and that cold germs don't turn into pneumonia or bronchitis.

You have this funny way of expressing yourself with a sideways nod of your head. You seem to do it mostly when you are "saying" hi to someone across the room, or when you are excited about something. You are cheerful most of the time, and we can't resist making silly sounds or faces or tickling you to make you laugh.

You have adopted one of the girls' stuffed toys, a monkey that somewhat resembles Curious George. How cute you are cuddling with that monkey. When we say, "Silas, here's your monkey," you get all smiley and sort of yell in response. You also seem attached to a stuffed bear that one of the staff members gave you down at the Kiwanis Family House in Sacramento.

Your hair is amazing! You've had three haircuts already! It's easiest to make it all one inch, but I think my favorite look for you so far is longer on top and shorter on the sides and at the neck.

We are up to 1 1/2 hours of breathing treatments daily. You are a pretty good sport through most of it. Sitting still and understanding that this is for your best is not your first priority at eight months old, but those things will come.

Our days are getting busier with your new-found mobility, and we look forward to all you will learn in the next few months. Life with you is full of good things. We are so blessed by you, Silas!