Today I am eight months old.  I can’t believe I’m so close to my first birthday!  I’m getting so big and have learned so many new things.  Here is a list of some of my new tricks.

1.  I’m crawling.  Everywhere.  Momma and daddy try to keep me trapped in the living room, but I’ve found several ways to get out.  Silly parents.  I like to crawl into the kitchen when momma is fixing dinner and try to help.  I have my very own drawer full of things for me to take out and play with.

2.  I can pull myself up into a standing position.  I pull up on the couch, on the ottoman, the kitchen bar stools, momma and daddy.  Basically anything that’s taller than me and relatively stationary I pull up on.  I like standing a lot.  I even like to stand in the bathtub, which daddy does not like at all.  He tells me that I have to sit down and I don’t like it.  So I cry.

3.  I’m trying really hard to walk.  I pull myself up on the couch and walk along.  Yesterday momma left an empty laundry basket in the living room so I pulled myself up and started walking around the room.  It was so much fun and momma and daddy were very proud of me.

4.  Last week when I was over at my Aunt Angela and Uncle Pete’s I crawled towards the stairs.  I looked at them for a while and then just decided to go for it.  Momma was feeding my new cousin Brandon and when she wasn’t looking I started climbing the stairs.  By the time momma noticed I was already on the second stairs.  She freaked out a little, but when she calmed down she stood behind me and let me climb up the stairs all by myself.  When I got to the top I was so proud of myself.  Momma and daddy said that it is ok for me to go up the stairs with proper supervision, but that I’m not ready to go down by myself yet.  I agree with them, but that doesn’t stop me from freaking them out and pretending like I’m going to go down.  My parents are silly sometimes.

5.  I like to eat dog food.  Stella’s food bowl is in the kitchen and I like to crawl in and nibble on some when momma and daddy aren’t looking.  I think it taste ok, but momma freaks out and sticks her finger in my mouth to get it out.  Of course I cry.  Now momma and daddy make sure Stella’s food is on the counter whenever I’m awake.  That’s no fun.

6.  I’m eating a lot more big boy food now.  If fact, I prefer it over baby food.  I’ve tried lots of veggies, chicken, ham, roast beef, pasta and pieces of fruit.  I can’t wait until momma decides that I can eat big boy food all of the time.  I have eight teeth, after all.  Hey, that’s one for each month I’ve been alive! 

That’s about all for now.  Check back in the next few days for some cute pictures of momma and me.  For now, here’s one of me crawling under my jumparoo.  I told you I was crawling everywhere!

Grandpa and Grandma Burkhardt came down this weekend to meet Brandon.  We had a great visit!  And Grandpa and Grandma watched all three boys on Saturday night so the four of us could have a much-needed dinner outing.  Thanks again, Grandpa and Grandma!

While Angela was in the hospital Tyler came over and spent some time with Nathan.  They play very well together and had a lot of fun!

We read books…lots and lots and lots of books.

Tyler and Nathan had a lot of fun in the bathtub together.

On Brandon’s birth day we took the boys to McDonald’s for lunch.  Tyler had fun playing in the Playland.

Tyler was very good during his visit and we enjoyed watching he and Nathan play.  We had a great time!