8 months

Ezra at 8 months (September 7th)

This month we moved to another apartment (we like it better and it's cheaper, although it's in the same complex) and made another trip to Pendleton to meet Uncle Kody (my brother) for the first time. Kody has been in Africa for 3 1/2 years and came home to visit for a while. I was scared to drive 8 1/2 hours straight alone with a baby, but he was an angel! It was pretty much like driving by myself. At 8 months:

• LOVES his solid food. He prefers it over milk (boo). He LOVES fruit now, too. Especially bananas and strawberries, though most of it ends up in his lap or on the floor. He also loves baby snacks that he can grab, like "baby cheetos" (the little corn puff snacks).
• He got his two top teeth.
• He is getting up on hands and feet every once in a while. It's obvious he really wants to get moving!
• He is sleep trained!!! Ezra was making us get up and put his binky back in A LOT through the night. We decided it was time to let him cry a little. We started a bed time routine of a bath, reading books, saying prayers, and laying him down awake. We also started using a white noise app on my old iPod touch. It took him a couple days to catch on and now he does great. He learned to put his own binky back in. We "sprinkled" his crib with binkies for good measure, too. He now goes to sleep at about 7:30 pm and sleeps til about 7 the next morning. It is amazing. 
• He was sick for the first time. That was not fun AT ALL. Very stuffy nose for like two weeks. Sick babies are so sad. 
• He sits up completely unsupported.

7 Months

Ezra at 7 months (August 7th)

We've had a busy month! We went home to Pendleton, Oregon and Twin Falls, Idaho, which means we spent most of this month away from home. Our little guy still behaved like an angel!

• He's eating like a champ, twice a day. He has started eating fruit and has been more picky about it. He has tried bananas, peaches, nectarines, mandarin oranges, and applesauce. He took to bananas very easily but the rest he didn't like at first. The only other fruit he's sticking with is the applesauce. 
• He LOVES banana mum mums (rice biscuits).
• He likes apple juice. With all these new foods he's been trying, he's had some constipation issues. Apple juice works like a charm and he thinks it's great.
• He has his two bottom teeth and is working on the two top teeth. He doesn't seem to be any fussier, but that can still change!
• He is moving like crazy! He definitely can't be left alone for long. He rolls wherever he wants and grabs whatever he wants. These are the times that swing and chair seat belts were made for (even if he's asleep). Lots of close calls have been had....
• He had his first fall off the ottoman. Bad mom award.
• He is sleeping without a swaddle. He gets so sweaty and rolls around so much that we felt it was time to just stop swaddling. He doesn't sleep as well without it but I have hope he will learn to. We know he prefers to sleep on his side now.
• He has lifted himself up on all fours a couple times and has been trying really hard to will himself forward. He will be crawling soon!
• He had his first long car trip. We drove 8 1/2 hours straight to Pendleton and he did great! We didn't have to make any special stops for him or anything.