You were cuddled up against Dad in our bed in the night while I went to the bathroom. When I came back to bed, you sensed me behind you, reached your hand back, felt my shirt, and immediately turned to me and cuddled up against me! So sweet and cute. You recognized the feel of my top!

You love running (we hold you and run) or even just having us run to you. Last weekend we went on a walk with you in the stroller. Eddie and I would go a ways away from you and then run to you. You got so excited./ You're eating better today./ When I went to put Eddie to bed (you didn't see me go) and you stayed in the living room with Dad, you went to the door and made a lot of noise. You got so excited when you saw me-I think you were waiting for me./ You're breastfeeding better but still refusing solids.

You kept saying "buh buh" when we were saying "bye bye" to Daddy today. You kept raising your arm, too. You were waving. And I swear you're saying "duh duh" for Daddy because you did it three or four times today when you were looking at him!/ You are so sick-the sickest you've ever been. Sicker than Eddie ever seemed as a baby. We went to the doctor. You're beginning an ear infection. We got amoxicillian. I love holding you and comforting you. You won't eat-not even breastmilk.

You said, "Da Dee" (like two separate words) today right after Eddie said "Dad". I don't know if it means anything. Your sounds definitely sound more like words. You get really talkative to Daddy. And so smiley./ Still sick./ You love playing with whatever Eddie is playing with. It drives him crazy./ You drove a car on the train track today. So funny./ Your eyebrow was all wacky (all the hairs pointing down at the end of it) just like Dad's always is. I think it may have been because there was something sticky in it.

You are so sick-fever, runny nose, cough, congestion./ You said "Da da da da" today. I don't think it means anything./ When you were really sick in the night, I turned on the tv. You just sat and watched it. Afterward we went to bed in my bed. You were really playful. And then you just fell askeep on your own after awhile./ I wore you in the sling on my hip for the first time. You fell askeep./ You tried to put your nip in my mouth. You're sharing!

Eddie sat by you in the cart at Costco today. Once he got in there, you were so smiley. You kept cuddling up to him. It was so adorable. I really wish I would've had my camera./ You're constantly finding little crumbs on the floor and eating them. You choke way too often. I need to vacuum every day./ You're kind of clapping. When we clap you hit the table with one hand or at least wave one hand in the air. You're getting so close to doing a lot of things.

Tonight when you'd pull off my breast while eating, I'd say, "Peter Thomas!". You'd immediately go back to eating. It became a game for you. You'd go back to eating for just a suck, and then pull off again and wait for me to say, "Peter Thomas!". So funny!/ Sometimes while I hold you and you hear music you'll just wave your hand to dance.

You are finally feeling a bit better today, but not a lot./ You were opening and closing the cupboard doors. You pulled the pots down on your head then the door closed on you and your head was in the cupboard!/ We went outside; you sat in the stroller. You enjoyed watching some kids play with a ball.

You pulled yourself up on your little game table (you were sitting up, then you pulled yourself to standing-first time!)/ You always wave your arm excitedly at lights./ You are starting to wave now. You often will wave when we do, but it's not a goodbye thing./ You're so sick. You won't even smile at Dad./Dad took you from me. You turned and looked at me with the saddest face ever, began crying, and leaned back to me./ Even though you're sick you still dance a little bit when you hear music. It's really cute when you do it while I'm feeding you.

We both have colds. You're really sick today, and, yet, once in awhile, you still dance when you hear music, even while I'm feeding you./ You prefer tylenol to ibuprofen. You take it with a lot less fussing./ You began crawling today! Every time I wasn't holding you, you'd be on your hands and knees. When I'd look at you, it always looked like I'd just missed you crawling. Tonight I saw you crawl three steps (left, right, left) before falling. So close! You seem to get kinda confused. You get on your hands and knees and start to move, but you straighten your legs instead./ You and Eddie liked chasing each other around a chair today./ Every time I blow my nose (it's loud), you jump!

You have a cold.

Tonight you slept two hours 20 min before waking up. You seem to want to just be attached to my breast so you can sleep./ You felt a little warm today. And were a bit fussy./ A pillow was laying on the floor. You got your self over to it and laid your head down on it./ I gave you your own sippy cup today. You couldn't figure out tilting your head back to drink it./ You tried and liked bits of cheese today.

Lately you wake up many times between you going to bed and me going to bed. For a long time before that, you woke up at least once before I went to bed. Tonight you slept three hours before waking up!

You bonk your head often in your moving about; you seldom cry or even fuss./ While laying on the floor you did a little dance where you moved your shoulders and head side to side. So cute!

You have fat wrists! Long -sleeved shirts so often don't fit well on your wrists and are very hard to get on and off. This has been the case for a few months now./ You tried banana pieces today. I had to put them in your mouth as they were too slippery for you to manage. You liked them, but didn't love them./ It seems you're breastfeeding much less and eating a lot- amount-wise-of table food.

I stood you by the window and helped you hold on and you stayed when I let go. You were very proud./ I have to really trick you to get you to eat baby cereal. I have to fly the spoon around til you open your mouth. I have to be fast because, when you see it coming, you put up your hand to block your mouth./ You followed the vacuum around while I was using it today./ You crawled through our tunnel today. Eddie and I were sitting on the opposite side of it, and you just came through! No fears, little boy! You did it several times, but only when Eddie or I were on the other side./ Today you only took a 15 min nap all day! You fell asleep at the dinner table, but wouldn't sleep when I got you up. Apparently you didn't want to be breastfed to sleep. Turning over a new leaf!

Your hair is long enough to get all messed up when you sleep. I've also noticed that it must be growing because there are patches that look longer and patches that seem more sparse./ You tried sweet potatoes today. You liked them but didn't love them. You seem to want to just eat finger foods./ I wonder if you're getting teeth. You're fussier. You wake up a lot at night, and you get really mad if I touch your gums./ You love to throw things. You especially love to throw things into things-like into a basket or pan or in between my legs when I'm sitting like a pretzel on the floor or over the bottom bar on a chair.

You're our brave little boy. You've never been scared of the vacuum. Eddie's scared to push the buttons on his loud fire engine. You push them and don't startle at all. Eddie has you push them for him./ You tried little corn and cheddar puffs. You were so excited you were rocking back and forth./ You love toothbrushes. You can be distracted by them for a long time./ You know doorstops will eventually come off if you work on it, and you concentrate on it til you get it.

When I dance, you smile. If I get down on the floor and dance like you do, you get really excited!/ You dance to the washer and music and every noise. / I think you understand a few words. I know you know all of our names, but you looked on the floor when I said floor. I don't have other examples, but I can tell you understand me. So exciting!/ We're playing- me and you and Eddie- so much more now. You love having me run with you after him and have you "get him".

You really scream when you wake up crying at night lately.

When Dad crawled on the floor, you followed him./You enjoyed throwing a sock to Dad and having him throw it back to you./Often, when crawling around, you stop and put your hand in a fist and put a few of the bent fingers in your mouth./I left you with Dad while I went to the doctor today. When I got back you smiled so big and laughed, and while I held you you kept laughing! So sweet!

You tried and liked strawberry yogurt today./You are really into opening the broiler on the oven. You pick crumbs out and try to eat them, or you suck on the hinges./You were trying to pull pots out of the cupboard today./You took clean towels out of the bin and put them into the dirty clothes./You are so happy and smiley. Everyone comments on it./Peter, I love you so much! Your smiles for me are huge; they make me so happy. I'm so blessed to be your mommy!

You were in the bathroom today while Eddie was bathing. You were able to reach up and open the toilet seat a little ways. You kept reaching to the side of the tub to get Eddie's toys./Every time Eddie would disappear from your sight at lunch you'd look under the table for him./When Dad said "hi" to you, it sounded like you said "hi" back.

You got really excited when you saw me making your cereal./You got up on your hands and knees and rocked back and forth and looked like you were really concentrating until you were able to move each leg once in a crawl then you fell on your stomach. You did this a couple of times today. Very exciting!/Eddie would put a blanket on his head and you would pull it off. Fun for both of you./Eddie would run down the hall and I'd help you chase and catch him. Fun to play all together./You seem to be feeling a bit better today.

You tried applesauce in your oatmeal cereal. You make a funny face on the first bite but seem to like it./You were able to close the laundry room door when it was open. You're now very interested in closing doors and hinges. I'm worried about your little fingers./You're sick and pretty fussy today./I read to you this morning. Every time I'd push the "quack" button I'd open my mouth big and you'd mimic me./You love to crawl into the laundry room and get out the duster and play with the bin that has the washcloths in it.

As soon as you hear music, you start dancing! If you're on the floor, you get on your hands and knees and rock forward and backward. If you're sitting in a chair or being held, you move your upper body left and right. It's amazing and so consistent and so adorable!/You recognize "Pe'er-y" as your name since that's what Eddie calls you./You enjoyed me rolling you a ball today. When I'd hold out my arms to encourage you to roll it back to me, you'd hurry into my arms (you'd try to bring the ball with you, but it was so big you couldn't move with it) to be held! So sweet and funny!

When put down on the floor, you immediately crawl under the table and look for crumbs to eat./Yesterday you grabbed the straw in my Sprite, bent it to you face, sucked, and actually got a drink before I realized! You were mad when I took it./You've had fevers in the night the past three nights, but you're fine during the day. No signs of a tooth.

You seemed very interested in the power button on the computer./You did really well at the movie theater today (The Tale of Despereaux)-watched some, slept some, ate some bread./You picked up your nip off the floor, near the chair, and immediately threw it into the hole made by the braces around the legs of the kitchen chair, just so you could pick it up and do it again./You got really smiley for a picture of a dog.

Happy eight months old, my little boy!/You like being on my shoulders./You got really smiley when you saw yourself in the mirror with a towel on-it was like it took you a second to realize it was you./You get all over the house so fast. You follow us when we walk out of a room./If you want me, you cry and cry until I hold you-no one else will do.

You were smiley while eating vanilla yogurt! The first time you smiled for food! I also gave you tiny pieces of bread today that you enjoyed-and no problems with choking!/You liked flying on my legs though you didn't want to do it for long./We went to the lake to feed ducks. You sat up really straight when you saw the ducks. You made talkey noises and seemed really excited./Tonight I'd ask you where Daddy was and you'd look at him. You were always quick to look at Eddie when I asked where he was. When I asked where Mommy was, you'd always lean into my face and touch me. You're so fun, Peter! I really, really love you! Happy New Year, my happy, vibrant baby boy!