8 months

ELIJAH...

- is obsessed with trying to eat paper. I'm ashamed to admit the amount of times I've looked away for a minute and then found him eating the corners off books, our mail, cereal boxes, even toilet paper.

- wants to walk everywhere. He's always whining and squirming out of my arms so he can "walk." My back is constantly sore from bending over and holding his hands so he can go where he wants to go.

- pulls himself up to stand.

- loves other children.

- still gets a little separation anxiety and when he ventures too long on his own he turns back to me gives me a quick hug or two and then ventures off again. He repeats this all day long. Hugs, play, hugs, walk, hugs, stand, hugs, eat, etc... It's one of my favorite things he does.

- is pretty fearless and will often leap off my lap, jump out of my arms or walk away from my hands if I'm not holding him with a vice like grip. He's banged himself up pretty good on occasion.

- went from sleeping 10-12 hours straight to sleeping 3-4 at a time. He wakes 2-3 times a night screaming. If I don't nurse him he will continue to scream for hours no matter what else we do. I feel like a zombie again. Boo!

-had his first cold with cough and fever.

-latest nickname is 'E.T.' When I asked my husband why he calls Eli that he said that it was because, "Eli has a giant head and a thin gizzard neck." He already gets called Winston (Churchill) due to his big saggy cheeks, but now he's being named after an alien? Poor soul.

-is a very happy and energetic baby. He is so easy to make smile and laugh. Often he'll sit playing by himself and just giggle. He also started bouncing up and down on his bum and failing his arms when he's excited.

-started feeding himself. I've really struggled with getting him to eat homemade foods. While we were in ABQ we gave him Gerber baby food. When we got back and I made the same foods he wouldn't eat them. I think it tastes a million times better, but he is unimpressed. It wasn't until I stopped pureeing everything and gave him small pieces to feed himself that has he warmed up to homemade. He doesn't like egg yolk, cauliflower or anything green- he likes Gerber green beans though. He likes sweet potatoes, butternut squash, chicken, cheese, yogurt, bananas, applesauce, apricots, avocados, oatmeal and bread.

-really likes music.