8 Months (& 7 Months)

I never got around to Jack's 7 month post since we were traveling a lot during that time, so I'm just sort of combining them! I really can't believe my baby Jack is 8 months old now! Time goes twice as fast with the second child. I adore this age and can't get enough of my sweet baby. James tries really hard to help with that, too! Jack is just starting to get active. In the past few days, he's learned how to scoot forward, and today he started doing something in between a scoot and a crawl. It's fascinating to watch him learn to move his body to get where he wants to go! He is very focused, methodical, and determined. I just sit and watch the wheels turn in his brain as he slowly figures out how to do what he wants to do!

Jack is such a sweet baby. He is like a little baby doll who does what you'd want a baby to do. He lunges for you, hugs your neck, lights up easily, gives sweet open-mouth kisses, laughs easily, travels well, goes to bed easily, eats well, and snuggles against you. He was such a squirmy, high-maintenance newborn that I never would have thought he'd be so easy going now! He has got the sweetest disposition, and the look on his face is usually just so...SWEET! No better word to describe it! The only thing that is difficult about Jack is that he has been a horrible sleeper his whole life. We've just started letting him cry it out, though, and that has worked really well. He was waking up all throughout the night, sometimes 10 times a night, but now he's sleeping from about 8 until 5, eating, and then going back to sleep until anywhere from 7 to 8:30. I also "dream feed" him around 10:00. He also has a side that lets you know fast that he's unhappy. He won't take a second of being in a position he doesn't want to be in. He also started separation anxiety a few weeks ago and falls apart sometimes when Josh, James, or I walk away from him.

Jack is very vocal! He squeals a lot when he's excited, he's "sings" at church with everyone, and he is just a very loud boy! About a month ago, he started babbling, and then just a few weeks later, he repeated "Mama" after me three times in a row! It melted my heart to hear him say it, and he had the sweetest voice!! Every time he said it, he got the biggest grin. Tonight, he was crying for me when I walked away from him, and said, "Ma!" Jack goes crazy with squeals when James or his cousins get him riled up.

Jack is a huge mama's boy, but he also has a special bond with Daddy and James. Every time Josh walks through the door, Jack lights up with the biggest smile. He also can't get enough of his brother. He is infatuated with him, gets so excited to see him, and just studies him. James is a little too rough with Jack, but just when I think Jack is about to cry, he gets the biggest grin on his face! When he sees a picture of James, he gets the most excited. It's so much fun watching their relationship develop!

The last thing I wanted to make note of about this month was out trip to Seattle. Jack and I traveled to Seattle for my cousin's wedding a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't believe how well Jack traveled. He was as happy as can be, despite being on Pacific Time, staying up really late, missing naps, and going longer between feeds. He was an angel on the plane. I just had to keep pulling out toys for him! On the way home, our 4 hour flight turned into a 7 hour flight. He slept most of it, and the rest of the time just stood in our laps! It was also easier because my bother was there on the flight home to take turns! It was a fun trip that was made more fun by getting to spend lots of quality time with him (which is rare with the second child) and introducing him to family!