8 Months

8 Months

* He can crawl across a room so fast! When we put him on the floor, he is on his hands and knees in a flash. He also wakes up and immediately goes into crawling position. He loves to MOVE!

* He enjoys playing by himself a lot more than he used to because his increased mobility allows him to explore everything around him. He is very curious!

* He loves to play hide and go seek with his daddy. He doesn't exactly crawl to find Nathan, but he can easily hear his voice and turn to where he hears him. Once he spots him, he giggles! It's so much fun to watch!

* He pulls up on everything! This new skill has resulted in a lot of new bumps and bruises. I am trying to teach him that some things are not safe to pull up on, but he is having a hard time grasping stability!

* He seems to enjoy going on walks/runs more than in the past! I wouldn't say that he loves his stroller now, but he is at least enjoying 20-45 minutes of walking/jogging on a fairly regular basis (and mommy is loving it too!).

* He is eating a few finger foods (all quickly dissolving). We are pretty sure he likes being able to eat on his own more than he likes the taste of these foods! We are still trying new foods with caution and are avoiding all acidic foods! We are so thankful that his reflux has remained stable (a few flares here and there, but nothing major) for yet another month! We continue to pray that Judah will be healed of his reflux as he grows older.

* He has his two bottom front teeth!

* He loves to splash around in water. When he takes a bath in the sink, he splashes about half of the water out of the bath. He really enjoys going to the pool, but any small tub of water makes him laugh!

* He only likes to be read to if he can see the readers face! It's so much fun to sit him on the floor and make silly faces as I read to him. He definitely likes to look at my face more than he likes to look at the book!

* He was able to spend some quality time with his Grandma, Unlcle Trinity, Aunt Carley, nephew Kolton, and niece Kadence earlier this month! They drove all the way from Nebraska to spend time with us. We played lots of games, went swimming, and even went for a short hike on the mountain. He had so much fun with all of them! *GRANDMA- we need your pictures from the trip!

* He is such a gift! I am so thankful to be able to spend my days caring for him and helping his daddy.

* Nate took all of the photos of Judah in the gray linen suit. He even used his tripod to get a few family pics! He is so talented!

All Things Baby: Might I Recommend

When I was pregnant with Judah, I loved when other moms gave me recommendations and tips! Now that I am a mom, I want to be sure to pass on what has worked for our family! I realize that everyone has a preference when it comes to raising babes, but these are some products that I have really enjoyed so far.

Many of these recommended products are far from "necessities". If you are trying to get ready for baby and you don't have a large budget, do not fret! Many women have raised babies with little to no equipment or special products. I read a great article on baby essentials here. If you are wondering how to balance all the baby "must-haves", I suggest you read this article! My advice is to shop wisely and know that you do not have to purchase every baby product/toy you see at the store! Chances are, your baby will be just fine without them!

* I've included links for these products, but I am in no way suggesting that you should purchase the products from these links. I simply included the links so that you could see the products.

Baby Carrier
I have loved wearing my baby! He enjoys the comfort of being close to me and I enjoy being able to use my hands! The Moby Wrap has given me the freedom to go anywhere! It is easy to put on and can be worn all day. I have worn Judah in it for up to 4 hours without any back pain. It is by far my favorite baby carrier (and I have used 5 different styles of carriers).
* I've seen used moby wraps on Ebay. Just make sure they come from a smoke and pet free environment.

Bumbo Seat
We take this seat EVERYWHERE! It is pricey, but I have seen several on craigslist!
* Buy used!

Boppy Pillow
I wouldn't buy one of these brand new, but I loved sitting on this after I gave birth. It's sold as a nursing pillow, but I quickly discovered that I liked it for my bottom more than I liked it for nursing.
* Buy used or ask a friend if you can borrow hers.

Fuzzi Bunz Cloth Diapers and Wipes
I am working on another post that provides all of the details on our cloth diapers, but let me just say that they are SUPER EASY! Don't count these out until you get more information!
* I do not suggest buying used diapers unless you can verify that they have been used and WASHED properly!

Simple Clothing
I like sleepers with zippers, onsies, and lots of cotton clothing. For the most part, I like to dress Judah in comfy clothes that are easy to take on and off! Before you purchase something for your baby (especially your 0-6 month old), think about how practical it will be to take it on and off several times for diaper changes! Then, think of how difficult it will be to keep it clean! Also, If you plan to wash frequently, you don't need a large quantity of clothing. If you have enough clothes to rotate through the wash, you have plenty!
* Thrift stores and Consignment sales are a great place to find lightly used clothing, but I highly recommend washing all used clothing with soap and a cup of vinegar!

Changing Station
Instead of purchasing a changing table, we simply purchased an inexpensive changing pad and placed it on a dresser. A changing table would be nice, but this works just as well and grows with your baby.

Teether
This Born Free teether is really simple, but babies love it! It was recommended by a friend of mine and I would highly recommend it to you all!

Coconut Oil
I use coconut oil to prevent diaper rash, clear up baby eczema, and to keep Judah's skin nice and baby soft! A jar of this oil goes a long way!

Homeopathic Meds
Teething Tablets
I was skeptical at first, but they actually work great!

Natural Antibacterial/Anti-fungal
I recommend tee tree oil, grapefruit seed extract, and/or colloidal silver (I use the Sovereign Silver brand). These can be used to treat the whole family! I have used them to treat everything from breast infections to an ear infection. Do a little research and you find that these products can be used for almost ANYTHING!
* Amazon.com has great prices on these products!

Charlie's Soap
Charlie's is an all natural soap that is gentle enough for baby skin, but also tough enough to clean most stains. I buy Charlie's by the gallon bucket. One tablespoon is enough to clean a large load of laundry so it goes a long way. It also safe on cloth diapers!