Monthly Newsletter: Month 8

Dear Colin,

Yesterday you turned 8 months old. We're still debating on how much rent to start charging you. There are many things to discuss about this month, but the first is how much energy you have!



I've begun calling you my little monkey, because you are constantly reaching for things. You love grabbing the remote or telephone out of my hands. You inspect objects like a scientist, end over end, and then you try to put things into your mouth from every angle. First the top of the thing goes into your mouth, then the bottom, and then the sides.

You're daddy jokes that your favorite toy is jungle gym Momma. You love to crawl over me, be hung upside down and twist around. Secretly, I love it too, you laugh and smile right at me and it melts my heart.

Speaking of laughing and smiling, you are such a happy little guy. I get comments on it all the time, how content and, well, happy you are. Sometimes, you laugh for no apparent reason, and sometimes, momma gives you plenty of reason. Your laugh has gone from an infant giggle to a baby chuckle, still the sweetest sound.



In addition to the five bottles you get daily, you are also eating three solid meals a day. You love oatmeal, pears, sweet potatoes, apples, green beans, peas, carrots and last week we fed you the Gerber puffs, the little cereal pieces that melt in your mouth. You do not like avocado at all, little man. Up next is peaches, beets and broccoli, oh my! Your system is handling the new food well as you poop about 10 times a day.

We've also started giving you baths as part of your bed time routine, that way Daddy gets to enjoy them too. Not only that, but you've been taking those baths in your own bath tub, like a big boy. You love, love, love to splash and chew on your little toys.

You're absolute new favorite thing to do is twist your head to the side, trying to figure things out, or trying to see behind you, or just because you know it gets a smile because it is so cute. You aren't crawling just yet, but man are you getting close! You are however waving hi and bye to people. The past couple of days you've even started waving when we get close to the front door, such a smarty!

You've become the best, sweetest, cutest, brightest spot in our lives and I just can not believe how much my love for you continues to grow each and every day. Just when I think I'm going to burst with love and joy, I wake up to another day and another adorable Coly Bear smile and there it is, the ever-growing heart.

Love,
Momma

Colin's Swim Instructor in the News

The Dallas Morning News did a piece on their neighbors Web site about the swim instructor who taught Colin. Click on the link below to take a look at the video. And watch carefully because there is about a 3 second shot of Colin swimming!

http://www.neighborsgo.com/video/1041

Thanks to GG Birdelle for finding the video and sharing it with us!

Jumping Monkey

For all those who haven't seen him in awhile, Colin has become quite the mover and shaker. He is so full of energy he never sits still! I've started calling him my little monkey because he is always trying to climb somewhere or reach something with those little arms. So, yesterday, Colin's super Daddy went and bought him a new toy...a jumper. And boy, does this kid love it.

It's nice because now I can keep this upstairs and his activity center downstairs, so now he has a toy to play in no matter where we are.

Boy oh Boys!

This is very much past due, but I have been meaning to post some pictures and a short video from the Chicago Baker clan's visit at Father's Day. We got some great photos of the boys together. It was so fun to see them together again too, they are both so different, but so alike too. Shane is bigger and much more vocal, while Colin is the quiet observant type. Shane liked to sit still in someone's lap whereas Colin is all over the place reaching and grabbing for anything he can and a constant wiggle worm. So enjoy the video and (quite) a few pictures of the two Baker Boys.

Colin's New Trick

So just before we left on our trip last week Colin started doing something that is just irresistibly cute and annoying at the same time. Only because he does it while you are trying to feed him...


Here you see my point of view, calling him and holding out the spoon full of peas.


Here you see him watching Henry, laying on the floor behind him.

Instead of turning his body to look to the side or behind him, he tilts his head and turns to look behind or to the side. It's too cute, right? Yeah, because you aren't the one trying to get him to eat peas.

Swim Test

Colin finished his swim lessons yesterday and as his final test we created a real world situation in which he fell in to the pool fully dressed and diapered. He did great! He did exactly what he was supposed to, even though he wasn't too happy about it. The kid's diaper weighed about 10 pounds when we took it off!

Colin the Model

Last week we had Colin's pictures done for the first time by a professional. She runs a blog where she posts "sneak peeks" at your photos, so I wanted to share them with you all. There are only 3 posted, but what a cutie!

Colin's Pictures

Just click on the link above.