Kate: 8 Months

Another month has flown by, and it has been a busy one! Here is Kate at 8 months:

I feel like Kate has grown up a lot this month (as well as out. Her thunder thighs are impressive!)

Right around 7 months, she got up on hands and knees for the first time. She spent most of this month practicing hard on her rocking skills. She knew she could get somewhere, but she couldn't quite figure it out. This was while she was practicing in the foyer during a training with Elder Neil L. Anderson that she got to attend with me.

Kate has been eating all the things this month. She has pretty much given up on purees in favor of table food. She likes basically anything we give her. I hope this means we have another good eater in our future.

Salmon and broccoli were delicious! Kate gets very excited when she sees the food coming to her tray.

 First trip to the swimming pool. I was worried about how to deal with everyone at the pool by myself if she didn't want to get in, but she loves it! She starts kicking her little legs as soon as she gets in the water.

 First camping trip: ward campout at Phillips Lake. There was very little sleeping involved until she got to come in Mommy's sleeping bag. Then she was happy to sleep. Sleep has been a troublesome issue in general this month. Kate has suddenly decided that she wants to wake up multiple times a night and be awake for hours before she will go back to sleep. She is in danger of losing her Best Baby Ever title.

 Practicing those hands and knees skills at Grandma Judy's house in Spokane. She would get on her tummy and sort of pivot around to get to anything within her radius. 

 Happy vacation baby

 Kate had her first ophthalmologist appointment this month. She has anisocoria, meaning her pupils are unequal. I noticed it a few months ago, so we made an appointment to have her checked out. She passed with flying colors. Apparently it is a normal condition in 1/3 of people. Who knew? 

 Learning about new textures in the grass

 First trip to the zoo. We went with Grandma, Aunt Katy, and cousin Anne. This was taken in the butterfly exhibit. Right after this was taken, I looked over to see she had a huge, blue butterfly clasped in her hand. She didn't kill it, but it may have been maimed. She was quite proud of herself.

 Grandma's yellow swing - a popular summer pastime among Hindman grandbabies

 1st Fourth of July celebrated in Baker City and Haines with the Hindman

 I was afraid she would hate the fireworks, but she didn't seem too bothered. 

Hanging out at Uncle Jeremy's house

 2nd (and probably last until she decides to sleep better) camping trip. Phillips Lake with the Hindman crew. She loved playing in the lake and trying to eat all of the rocks and weeds.

 Lake time with Aunt Katy

Doing some reading with Sarah. Kate is lucky to have an extra mommy around.

 Kate has some impressive noises right now. Her most common one is squawking like a pterodactyl. She also yells Dadadada a lot. We are going to work hard on Mama before she realizes that she is actually saying Daddy's name.

•  Big milestone for the month: Kate is crawling! She had moved forward a hand or knee a couple of times earlier in the month, but she finally got the hang of it at Grandma's house over the 4th of July. Something about Grandma's house is encouraging for learning new things. As soon as I got the camera out to take these pictures, she crawled across the bed at top speed to get me. 

 Could she be any cuter?

 Yep, Kate is officially mobile, and the honeymoon is over. She is figuring out how to crash her siblings toys and generally be a menace. She doesn't like having her knees on cold surfaces, though. She does an impressive splits move. 

Sleep or no sleep, I guess we will keep her. She is just the sweetest baby (as long as it isn't bedtime)!