8 Months!

I can't believe that Maren is already 8 months old!!! It seems as though she is aging so much faster than Addi did -- but I guess we are also a lot more busy than we were when Addi was a baby. Maren is surprising us every day with a new skill. Here are some of the latest in her repertoire:

• She can give kisses upon request
• She can feed herself baby snacks (cereal and puffs and such)
• She can stand unassisted -- her record is 5 seconds
• She will come to you if you call her name
• She loves to help us brush our teeth -- Just like Addi did!
  
• If she poops in her dipe she will immediately crawl to me or Brian as if to let us know -- seriously, every time, it's crazy!

Maren continues to nurse like a champ but isn't so thrilled about baby food. She loves anything she can put in her mouth herself, but only eats baby food from a spoon if she is really really hungry. Once she graduates to eating smaller versions of our big people food I think she will be much happier.

Maren's sleep habits are still all over the place, but we are working on it. She tends to sleep more peacefully in her crib and totally thrashes around in bed with us, but we don't deny her if she is being needy and just wants to be with us. I think she just wants to nurse constantly if she is in bed with us, and I have even tried to pretend I am asleep and roll over, but she will literally suck on my back until I relent and give her a boob. Because Maren doesn't nap regularly, if at all some days, we are trying to do our best to fill her nights with the most sound and peaceful sleep possible.
Maren loves to play -- whether it is with Mommy, Daddy, sister or herself. She is always interested in new things and explores every toy and object in her path with great thoroughness and usually a tongue bath. We are constantly laughing at her funny faces and sounds. It is so fun to see her personality just blooming. It feels as though the older and more interactive Maren gets we are really developing this new family dynamic. She isn't just this cute, smiley little blob anymore -- she is a small person with opinions and lets us know! For example, she is now squealing with annoyance at the fact that I am typing on the computer and she can't -- must go. We love you, our squealy, loud, hilarious and lovey little Bubaloo!

Yes, her squinky hair is alive and well.