kaya- 8 months!

(written May 20th)_MG_5938(No headband this month because she kept pulling it off! We were lucky enough to get a photo of her not trying to roll over, pull on the blanket, or put her legs high up in the air. She’s a goofball!)
Height: 28.5 inches
Weight: 17 lbs 14.4 ounces
Clothing size: Mostly 6-9 month outfits. I tried on some of her summer clothes (9-12 months), and they were still just a bit big, so we’ll wait a few more weeks to wear those.
Eyecolor: Still changing… They can seem gray, blue and brown all at the same time! On rare occasion, they even look green!
Teeth: FOUR! The two top middle ones are finally here! They broke through the gum but haven’t come down all the way yet.
Eating: Still just nursing really. I tried a little harder this month to get her to eat, but her gag reflex is still so sensitive that oftentimes putting food in her mouth makes her throw up the milk that was already in her stomach (which is a bit counterproductive). She did eat a few bits of cereal two days in a row, so we tried applesauce and some green beans with corn, but she was either gagging, throwing up, or just making the most disgusted face ever.
Favorite things: She will dance to ANYTHING. You can just barely sing a line or make your own beat and she will start rocking. I love how much she enjoys music! All her toys seem equally entertaining, but she’d rather try to play with tags or power chords… and she likes eating paper. She also loves hitting the doorstopper because it springs back and forth and makes a cool noise._MG_5800

One of her favorite things is getting up on Daddy’s shoulders and going for a ride. She can’t stop squealing and pulling his hair! She loves swinging at the park. She also wishes she could play with our laptops and cell phones._MG_5887 Dislikes: She actually had fun taking her most recent bath, so I don’t know if that is still on the “dislike” list. After she spent a lot of time in the car in Utah, getting buckled into the carseat was torture, but I think she’s mostly over that now.
Sleep: She’s in bed between 6 and 7pm, wakes up once to eat sometime between about 1 am and 5:30 am, and then sleeps until about 6:30 or 7. She still takes two naps that are each about two hours long.
Milestones, etc.: – Kaya is crawling (as of 5/16)! I’m so excited to see her getting around and discovering everything she can see! She was just wiggling, scooting, and rolling before, but she finally figured out how to move her knees forward._MG_5898_MG_5902– Her babbling sounds a lot like made-up words now instead of just random consonants.
– She started waving at people when we were in Utah! She will only do it sporadically, but it sure seems like she realizes what she’s doing.
– She went through the “stranger danger” phase for a couple weeks, but now she’s back to flirting with everyone.
– She can grab onto something and pull herself up… which means we can’t leave anything on the couch now, because she can grab it!
– She’s started playing a little differently- she’ll take her toy and put it up to my mouth and start cracking up about it! I guess it’s funny to see your mom with a very-hungry caterpillar on her face.

_MG_5806Dear Kaya,

You made our lives a whole lot crazier this month because suddenly, you can go anywhere you want! I love how you are starting to venture out and explore the world around you. I’m also so glad that you still like to snuggle when you aren’t busy!

_MG_5807You have the best smile in the world. I love starting my day with your goofy grin and warm cuddles.
_MG_5637I hope one day you’ll read all these letters and realize how truly cherished you are. You are the greatest gift we have ever received. Keep being the beautiful, smart, and silly girl that you are!

Love, Mommy