Maddie's 8 Months and Many Milestones

Whoa! I can't believe that it has been 2 months since my last post...eek! Sorry about the post drought, but life has been CAH-RAZY here in Mi Casita. We have had our share of ups and a few downs lately, but Maddie always seems to make life sparkle a little more. It is amazing how life has changed, but I wouldn't want it any other way. She makes life so much richer...

This week, Maddie is 8 months! It amazes me how quickly the time has flown by. She has the most beautiful big blue eyes and big, soft curls like her Daddy (Praise God!). She continues to have the sweetest, most laid back personality. We are truly blessed!

In the past 2 months, she has achieved many milestones:

• Sitting up without support. She has graduated from a barracade of pillows protecting potential spills to sitting well on her own.
• Reaching and scooting. She loves all things high techy - tv's, computers, cell phones. All it takes is one misplaced strategically placed cell phone to get her scooting and reaching. Unfortunately once she reaches it, it immediately goes into her mouth.
• Waves goodbye. Watching those little fingers curl into a wave as I leave for work, just breaks my heart... 
• Claps her hands. While Ben's cousins were in town, they taught her how to clap. Even though her hands get tangled together in the first clap, she shakes the clasped hands while giving the most adorable smile.
• Eating solids. Maddie loves food. I can almost see the drool collecting in her bottom lip as she watches us eat. Her favorites are pears, sweet potatoes and squash. She gags on anything "green" (peas or green beans).
• "Kitty Cat" were her first words! No, I am not one of those crazy parents that think their kids drawings are the next Monet or Picasso. She really says "kitty cat"! We video taped it! Ben has been working with since early on to repeat sounds and words. She says "Dah-dah" and "Mom-ma", but mostly just repeats the syllables. I don't think she grasps that she is referring to cat, but she definitely repeats it when asked (sometimes) and says it on her own. We are now working on referencing pictures with the words.

We are very excited to watch Maddie grow up so quickly. Although there are no teeth poking through or signs of crawling, she is picking up on many other milestones!