8 Months Old

Remember the last month-by-month update I posted, and how I said that it was my favorite month when it came to Hayes's growth and development?  Well, I lied.  Sure, last month was so much fun and full of great things...but this month was too!  So, I will stop picking favorites and just proclaim that every month spent with my little one is my favorite!  Hayes has such a joyous spirit, and his positive attitude seems to radiate to everyone he comes in contact with.  I have found that quick trips to the store end up being major productions because so many people stop us to comment on his adorably good looks and sweet smile.  Why, just the other day a woman driving in her car stopped right in the middle of a busy parking lot just to roll down her window and say hello to my little man.  Only eight months old, and already stopping women in their tracks!  Now that I have (once again) reminded you just how cute and sweet our little guy is, here are a few of the other things that he is currently up to...

• Hayes has become Mr. Independent lately.  If a toy is just out of his reach...no problem, he will find a way to get to it.  If he drops something that he is playing with it...give him a minute and he will improvise a solution.  No need for Mommy or Daddy to help anymore!
• Along with this new found independence has come quite the attitude as well.  Hayes is happy-go-lucky 99% of the time, but if his needs are not met quickly enough or something that he enjoys is taken away from him - watch out world!  (PS - I have NO clue where he gets this from..........)
• One of his newest tricks is standing up. With a little encouragement, he can pull up to standing when someone is holding his hands. And just recently, he started holding on to tables and boxes...with a little help and some major adult supervision, of course!
• Even though he has begun learning to stand, he is still not crawling - which is fine by me and my not-so-child-friendly house!  However, the little munchkin still finds a way to move all around his little play spaces. Some of his favorite modes of transportation these days: rolling and booty scooting.
• Almost every day, Hayes discovers a fun new sound that his voice can make.  First, it was a loud dinosaur sounding shrill...then, it was this crazy, new version of razzing...and next, it was this weird combination of sounds that resembles the word "okay".  I am still anxiously awaiting that magical moment that he says "mama" though!
• One of our little guy's major developments this month has been in the area of fine motor. He is gradually moving from using the palmar grasp (more of a whole-handed grasp) to a pincer grasp (using only his thumb and pointer finger). This has been especially useful when it comes to self feeding!
• Speaking of feeding, Hayes is now eating three multi-course meals a day. He typically begins the meal by feeding himself an appetizer (crunchies, graham cracker, yogurt melts, etc.). Then, he follows it up with a mixture of fruits and veggies. And, he finishes with a cup of water.  Mmm, mmm good!
• All of these milestones make me so proud, but the one skill that continues to blow me away is his receptive language.  Hayes understands so much of what is going on in the world around him....and we are finding that we have to be sure to mind our p's and q's when we are around him!!

Hayes Robert Davis

8 Months

Weight - 16  pounds  2 ounces

Height - 26 inches

Head Circumference - ?
(These measurements are from the pediatric surgeon's office, so I am missing his head circumference and do not have any of the corresponding percentages...which is probably a good thing because I tend to obsess over those comparative little numbers!!)