The Time You Started Trying to Wave & Frolic in the Bluebonnets

You are constantly proving to us that if we look away for too long we are going to miss something. Now you have started waving. Every once and a while, you will do a little graceful, I'm the princess, hello my peasants wave. You are so dainty and cute. Now we just have to get you to wave on command and we are set. At this point it's at your whim.

Today we traveled to Georgetown, Texas just north of Austin to see Aunt Sabita play tennis in a tournament. Because I was at work all hours of the night Friday night, we did not go on Saturday to see her win three games, but we did get to see one, long game on Sunday morning. Aunt Sabita did not win but she put up a valiant fight and gave her opponent a run for her money. We got to visit with them longer when we went to Chili's for lunch and the outlet mall. We also stopped along the highway - yes, we just pulled on over and hopped out and into the field of bluebonnets. We had been talking about finding a good patch of bluebonnets for your first bluebonnet pictures. In Texas, our state flowers are bluebonnets and each year there is a short window of time when they grow. They are wildflowers so they grow in the masses along highways and in fields. We did not get a chance over Easter weekend to find any good patches in Houston, but we happened to see millions of them on the ride to the tennis tournament and we decided to stop on the way home. You were so cute - of course. You also happened to have your super cute bright yellow top on which daddy says "just popped!" Aunt Sabita also happened to have a great shade of yellow as well and she took some pictures with you. You two looked so pretty. It was a wonderful day. We topped it off with a bath sitting up in your bathtub with your new princess bath toys that Grannie Jannie bought you.

The Time You Started Sleeping on Your Own... Kindda

This week, we hit a breaking point. I hate hearing you cry and I often bend over backwards to make sure you are not crying EVER. Your daddy can roll with it much better but I see him pick you up too - because he loves his little princess and you've got him wrapped around your little finger. Long story longer, I also haven't been getting much sleep. I twist around to make space for you in bed and I am constantly terrified that our co-sleeping will take a turn to dangerously wrong - just like all the teaching I've given to other mothers at work. You are getting bigger and you move a lot more in your sleep. You are also waking up and crawling so on the off chance that you wake up and crawl right over us and off the bed, we opted to start getting you used to this nice big room you have here with all of your things. The crib has been your nemesis. Now that you stand up, you hate it and you immediately cling to the bars and scream when left alone. My heart breaks every time because I would hate to be scared and lonely and left alone all night too, but everyone swears you will be fine. Read this and know that I hated every minute you weren't with me. I hated every second you were screaming and crying - and by the way - I was crying most nights too. I hated not snuggling with you all night long, but everyone says you need a little independence and the ability to soothe yourself. Even your pediatrician swears by it. Apparently, daddy and I are waking you up just by being next to you. I've been reading a no-cry sleep solution book but ironically I'm reading too slow and while I'm in my room reading the no-cry sleep solution, you are in the other room crying it out. It's Team McKinney against Team Taylor with the crying it out solution. I broke though, I gave in and let you cry. I'm telling you it's one of the hardest things I've ever done. You look so terrified and sad in your room and you literally look like you are melting as you slowly release your grip from the crib bar or pack-n-play side and fall asleep, BUT you do fall asleep. We've had to let you cry a few times throughout the night as you wake in the evening. The second you REALLY cry in the morning, I'm right there and we get our snuggle in and you sleep with me and daddy a little bit longer after drinking your breakfast. I get that little bit of loving still and I relish those sweet morning moments. You are only going to be this little for a minute and it already feels so fast. We shall see how the crying it out goes. So far, the crying has gone from 45 minutes/never stopping to about five minutes or less.

The Time You Turned Eight Months Old

Another month, another month cute, and another month mischievous. You can do so many amazing things already. I am constantly amazed by you. I can't believe how quickly you change and how quickly you are developing and doing things literally from day to day. I swear you struggle with something new in the morning and by night you are a pro. Another photo shoot down - although now, you are a wiggle worm and getting the shots I want versus the ones you want is an epic battle!

Highlights from this month:
5) You are sitting up stronger and more stable
4) You are downing solid foods and upping your game to 2nd Stage foods and sort of the finger biscuits
3) You are pulling up on EVERYTHING - and getting a few bumps and bruises along the way - SORRY!
2) You flip any time I need to change your diaper - I'm actually getting quite proficient at upside-down diaper changing (a little loose and haphazard but they will do the job!)
1) You backboard every time we try to put you in your carseat which makes going anywhere super fun and at least a ten to fifteen minute adventure/battle royale