Parker is 8 Months Old!

I know I've already posted this picture, but its my favorite for the moment, so you get to see it again.  St 8 months, our little munchkin is a crawling and pulling up machine.  He can also stand with only one hand to brace him and he can cruise from one piece of furniture to another.  He has also mastered standing up again flat items, like the glass cover on the fireplace.  We also can get up on our knees in the middle of the room without support.  He has finally flattened his feet when he stands, so I fear that walking will occur around nine months.

There are lots of places to explore, fall, and bump our noggin which leads to a huge pouting lip and crocodile tears that stop as soon as you pick him up and love on him.  His balance is improving daily and he has gotten pretty good at bracing himself with one hand on the way down and his bottom is a pretty good cushion when he decides to stop standing.  He will also turn on the waterworks if you take something out of his hands that he wants, i.e. Jack's toys, his spoon, his toothbrush, electrical cords, ribbons, shoelaces, dirty socks, and anything else he shouldn't try to eat.

We've pushed bedtime back to 7 or 7:15pm, but we still usually get up between 6:30 and 6:45am.  At least we're taking 2 hour or longer naps, except like yesterday when I had the day off.  We're almost through Level 2 foods, and our favorite food continues to be applesauce.  He absolutely loves to be out in public and have people wave and tell him how cute he is - no idea where he gets it from!  Its great when he smiles and laughs at someone and they tell me how much they needed a pick me up or I hear how they don't get to see their own grandchildren often enough.  Parker is my own little community service machine spreading Christmas cheer wherever we go.

We don't have a doctor's visit until January, but we have hit 20 pounds and his top two teeth should be here in time for Christmas.  They are reading to break through any day and are getting the blame for our inconsistent napping this week.  Several people have commented how blond his hair looks in this picture.  Its coming in even lighter, almost white at the roots, so we may have a toe head on our hands by his first birthday.