Anna: 8 months

Oh, sweet baby girl... You are possibly the funniest baby we've ever known. Your disposition is off-the-charts amazing. Neither hunger nor fatigue defeats you and a smile is always ready, just waiting to make our day. That smile of yours - sometimes a smirk, sometimes a grin, sometimes tickled pink, and sometimes so enormous that I swear your cheeks must ache. 

Over the past two months, you've become very mobile with the "roll, roll, pivot, roll, pivot, scooch, pull, roll" maneuver. You have two bottom teeth yet you're already chewing food like you've got a full set. Food: you rapidly progressed from your pureed squash, sweet potatoes, and avocado to soft chunks of green beans, carrots, cantaloupe, and chicken... the latter all carefully pinned between your index finger and your palm and then smashed into your mouth. You are also delighted with yogurt and oatmeal as well as smoothies made from any combination of banana, yogurt, peach, etc... You are into pointing and the "finger game", especially with Uncle Travis, as he slowly moves his index finger toward you and, with a very watchful eye, you wait... and wait.. and wait... then you reach out and touch his finger with your own. And then you smile, of course. You also love the "bobbing" game - in your high char, you look me right in the eye and then quickly bob your head forward. Then you wait. So I quickly bob mine back at you. To which you respond with another bob. This may go back and forth 4 or 5 times until I crack up laughing and, as if my laughter signals defeat, you then squeal with delight at your victory. Sleep: you're usually down for the night around 8:00 and often check-in for a snack in the morning around 5:00, after which you snooze again until 7:30 or 8:00. If we're home and not running about, you'll easily nap for 1 1/2 to 2 hours at least once a day; the other nap is often shorter but we rarely stay home and quiet long enough for any more. It must be enough because you're charming. 

You ADORE your big sisters - just yesterday, they were gone for the afternoon and when we arrived at Gran and Grandpa's to see them, your bouncing and smiling and yelling at their sight was the best "I'VE MISSED YOU" that one could receive. You had a runny nose...once... for about day. So basically you've never been sick. I have no idea how much you weigh or how long you are or what your percentile is - you have little rolls in your thighs, you're outgrowing 6-month clothes, you're signing "daddy", "dog", and "milk", saying "mama", clapping your hands to music and you seem perfect in every way. Keep it up, babykins, keep it up.