The Life of Rob & Jess Plus Two: Parker's 8-month update!

Dear Parker,

This has also been a big month for you! You have really started to show your personality. I fear you are going to be very mischievous as you grow older. You are also fearless. It's hard to know if you are more fearless because of the helmet or if you would be this fearless anyways. This month you got your helmet, began crawling, began eating some table food, stand ALL day long and smile at everyone. You have such a happy personality. You also prefer to fall asleep on your own these days.. no more rocking you. I think that has some to do with daycare and then some to do with your helmet. It's hard to cuddle on mom's shoulder with that thing! I don't blame you sweet boy.

You have adjusted very well to your helmet. The hardest part was the helmet fitting where they kept taking it on and off of you and then taking it back to the workroom to adjust it. That just took lots of time and you became grumpy. But, you did great. I can already tell a difference! It's very impressive. The first week we adjusted you to it by the following schedule:

Day 1: wear it for 1 hour on and 1 hour off
Day 2: wear it for 2 hours on and 1 hour off
Day 3: wear it for 4 hours on and 1 hour off; sleep in it all night
Day 4: wear it for 8 hours on and 1 hour off; sleep in it all night
Day 5: wear it for 23 hours on and 1 hour off; sleep in it all night

It never seemed to phase you one bit. You actually love it. The only way I got you to crawl at first was if I would set your helmet on the floor. It fascinates you. But then, you don't ever get to see it since its on your head all the time. :-) But, baby boy, your head STINKS! It's the worst smell. Even after washing your head it still smells. The helmet smells, also. It also leaves little red "strawberries" on the side of your face by your ear and on the top of your head where it is applying pressure. We have to wash your head every night per DRs instruction. The hardest part about this whole helmet thing is getting you dressed. We kind of have to dress you from the bottom up instead of putting clothes over your helmet.

Daycare says that you stand all day long. You are on the go.. the call your Mr. Social Guy now. You also crawl over to the cribs and pull up and stand at the cribs while your friends are sleeping. I'm sure they love that. :-) You stand all day long at home, too. But now you are crawling to get you places. I love watching what you will go for next. Mom has to get some baby gates. We don't want you flying down the stairs! You also think you can walk without holding on to anything. But, you cannot. You face plant every time. I think the helmet has given you a little bit of a false sense of security. You pull up on everything including mom and dad.

So, my sweet Parker, here's what you are doing at 8 months

Wear size 3 diapers.
Wear 6-month clothes... you are long and lean.
Became too long for your infant seat, so now you ride in a convertible car seat.
Weigh in at around 19 lbs
Eat 4-5 bottles a day. On the weekends you generally eat 4 bottles, but during the work week you eat 5 bottles. I think its because you generally sleep later on the weekends.
Eat baby food 3 times a day. You eat 4-6oz of solid food at each feeding. You love to eat! You are such a good spoon eater. You just sit in your high chair and open your mouth wide!
Have learned how to drink out of a sippy cup! Yay! This took lots of practice. You still require some help holding it though.
Eat puffs and rice crackers. Though, I gave you some pizza the other night and you were a huge fan. Who is not a fan of pizza?! You also like some fettuccine alfredo. In the past, every time I tried to give you some rice from my plate you spat it out. So, maybe you are starting to grow out of this texture phase.
Sleep about 10-11 hours at night straight. You sleep from about 8-7 each night. We have to wake you up for daycare every morning at 6:30.
Take 2 naps a day, each about 1.5 hours. I can still sometimes get in a third nap with you.
Still a pretty good car rider. You just babble about in the mornings and look out the window to your heart's content.
Favorite toys are mom's purse strap. Mom's keys. Remotes. Paper. I literally can't leave any paper out or your will eat it like a dog. I had to pull chunk of paper out of your mouth two days ago. You also like your standing table still (you dance to the music all the time) and like your alligator that blows balls in the air. You also like diaper boxes. You stand up at them and push them around. You like seeing the flaps of the boxes go up and down.
Have had pink eye twice and one ear infection. But none of those phased you too much. You just had really snotty eyes.
Always smile and still have just two teeth.
Like to play peek-a-boo and patty cake.

We sure do love you baby boy. We love watching you discover new things and see the amazement on your face. We're so proud of you already. We love you always and forever.