8 Months and Almost 4.5...and loving it

Eli better known as Squirmy and E I:

• You just turned 8 months old and I cannot believe how fast the time has gone!  I often feel like each day is a bit deja vu "like" but you are finally starting to really shine.
• You are a lover of pretty much any kind of food!  This weekend you tried black beans, guacamole, and while mommy wasn't looking some frozen yogurt.  You can thank your Auntie Mimi for that one.  And of course you loved it.
• You have become a total rock star at sitting up.  If you are laying on your stomach you will push yourself off your hands and sit right on up.  So impressive.  It is amazing how quickly you mastered this.
• Crawling is getting so close and I am having to child proof everything.  You have done a couple crawls and then fall down on your tummy.  It is so cute to see you get yourself ready, you rock back and forth and then...take off!  I think it is the take off that gets you a bit off balance.  We are hoping that you will be crawling by the time Nana comes next week.  That could be wishful thinking though.  
• You sit up in your crib and have now started to grab onto your bumper to pull yourself up on your knees.  You have also done this with your bouncer as well and it totally scared mommy and Will because you were so un-steady!  But, I am so impressed and in awe of how quickly you have mastered some of these new milestones.
• You seem to be doing a lot of more "milestones" and getting into everything more than Will did.  I have a feeling you are going to be my little dare devil.  Please, just don't put on a super hero cape and think jumping down the stairs is a good idea.
• You are majorly teething.  You have four teeth.  Two bottoms and your K'9's.  To say your smile is not just the cutest thing ever is an understatement.  I could totally eat you up!  But, I think your top teeth are wanting to make an appearance soon.
• You love your walker and Will rides his plasma car around while you cruise.  It's kind of your guy's game.  And so it begins.
• Knock on wood this past weekend you started to sleep through the night.  I am thinking it's all these new milestones making you tired or a serious growth spurt happening.  I am loving it! 
• I can't believe in 4 months you will be one.  And this is probably the last time I will celebrate a 1st birthday.  I just can't imagine you not being the baby of our family.  

Will better known as Willsy...stinker or Bubsy

• Next month you will be 4 1/2!  I started this blog when you were just a couple of months old.  I chronicled every little detail about your life from bumps on your head to giving up binki's.
• You are super sensitive.  You don't want to kill any bugs but would rather us let them go.  Although, you would like to take the lizard we often see on our front steps in as your pet.
• You definitely have a love for all animals.  Dogs, cats, fish, lizards, birds and even ants.  
• You have been wondering when we will get another dog and often talk about Ella and you even pretend that she is here at times.  Totally melts my heart and makes me miss her terribly.  She was our sweet girl who loved you so much.  A little protector through and through.
• Food.  Don't get me started.  You are picky and you are stubborn.  Not a good combination. One night you made yourself gag after sitting at the table for over an hour.  Over macaroni and cheese.  What kid doesn't like it?  You.  I have to say, I think a lot of it stems from your chronic ear infections in your second year because you were constantly on some kind of medication which made everything taste different to you.  Before that, you ate everything!  Loved broccoli, loved macaroni and cheese.  I just keep telling myself you will get past this.  I hope.  Any helpful hints?
• You love digging in the dirt and making rock towers.  And just making a mess of the garden. Which, I am okay with because honestly, I don't have a green thumb.  
• You haven't quite grasped that we are moving.  But, you do say I can't wait to go to Georgia and see your cousin Annie who is just a month older than you.  I am so excited that you guys will be such good friends growing up together.
• You always protect mommy.  When you hear daddy tickling me, you always come to the rescue.
• You love cupcakes.  In fact, you haven't met one you didn't enjoy.  Kind of like your mommy.
• You have a memory that is out of this world.  You often tell me about your tube surgery at the age of 2 and how you were calling for mommy and daddy.  
• You love puppy movies, especially the "Buddies" movies.  I think we have them all.  I actually like to watch these ones with you.
• Dino Dan is one of your favorite shows along with Pound Puppies...go figure.
• Happy almost 4 1/2 years my fun, loving Bubsy.  You have taught me so much.