8 months

Dear Lily, You are eight months old already... we can hardly believe how fast the time has gone and how much you have grown.

You are such a joy to us, your busy mind is always working and you are ever eager to learn new things. You repeat our signs and try to mimic our sounds and words; you follow us around the house (when you're not busy chasing Engine), and you are starting to figure out that toys have a purpose beyond for chewing! You like to brush our hair after we brush yours; you love to brush your teeth, and you giggle when we wash your hands or feet in the sink after petting Engine or walking in the grass.

Lily Grayce, we are so proud of you. You are beautiful and oh so smart. Everyone loves to comment on your hair (especially when it is up in pigtails or a ponytail, and strangers call you BamBam) and you are oh so adorable looking when you smile at your Daddy or snuggle up to Mommy. Your eyes are always bright and your laughter sends us all rolling - because we love you, and you love us.

You're getting so fast at crawling, and you're quite the gymnast already - you love to climb up and over, in and out, on and off. You have incredible balance and you love to show it off, sometimes you're a bit of a dare devil and you make us nervous; but you're confident and we like that about you. Sometimes you get so excited when you see people - strangers, friends, Mom and Dad - you shout and wiggle and wave and clap. Other times you just want to cuddle with someone familiar, and we like that too, because we like you. We're always up for some cuddle time with you!

A little about you, Lily, at 8 months:

Your favorite bedtime song: Skinamarink

Your favorite food: Peppers, with oven potatoes a distant second

Your favorite snack: greens puffs or blueberry puffs, but you'll try anything - even goldfish dipped in jalepeno hummus!

Your favorite toy: a ball or your stacking cups in the bath

Your favorite color: apparently green, if asked to pick

Your favorite ride: Ergo carrier on Dad's back

Your favorite person (besides Mom and Dad): you pretty much like everyone! You are very fond of your friend R*

Your favorite thing to sign: "Change" to get your diaper changed

We love you Lily!