braxton michael | eight months.

You're eight months old today, meaning that there are only four more months until you turn one. Mommy needs a long moment to process that...how in the world is our first year with you going by so quickly? Someone once said that "the days go slow, but the years go fast," and that has become a regular reminder that I tell myself each day. We have slow days where it's just me + you hanging out around the house from the time you wake up until bedtime, and then we have days when I put you in + take you out of your car seat a dozen times. This past month has been full of more of the same, day-in + day-out things that we normally do with a little spontaneity thrown in to switch things up, too. We have play dates with friends (both yours + mine) often, and we spend a lot of time at local parks around us - something that we'll be doing a lot less of, unfortunately, now that summer is leaving us behind until next year. You love to swing, and some afternoons I will push you for an hour straight and listen to that giggle while I thank God for these moments. Your first trip to the zoo was just a few days ago, and we both had so much fun! You're already a professional hiker, too, and everyone we pass on the trails comments on two things: 1) how cute you are, and 2) how you've got the best travel system. It would be so easy to just let our days slip away from us as we live, but I'm very thankful for the passion that has been placed in your our souls to inspire us to spend time disconnecting with the world so that we can better connect with each other + with our precious Creator. Your daddy + I pray often that you would grow up with a desire to learn in hands-on, tangible ways, which is something that is decreasing in popularity with each passing second. There is so much to see outside, and we want you to see as much of it as possible!

You're still growing like a weed, and those chubby legs of yours are constantly getting longer. You're more on the "lean" side, but you are a strong, dense, healthy kind of lean (translation: you're less like the Michelin Man, and more like Captain America). Eating is one of your favorite things to do, and we recently started feeding you solid foods three times a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) that are less-pureed every few days. You looooooove eating puffs + fruit/vegetable melts, and it only took you about a week to master the art of feeding yourself using your teeny, tiny fingers. You, also, had your first attempt at feeding yourself sliced fruit (bananas and cantaloupe) for the first time a couple of days ago, and you're already getting the hang of that, too. We're still waiting on your first tooth to pop up, but that doesn't stop you from putting those gums to work! You still nurse four times a day, you're still sleeping about eleven hours at night, and you're still a wiggle worm while you're in your crib. You haven't started pulling up on things just yet, but we know that it won't be long until you do. You can, however, move from laying on your belly to sitting up on your bottom - you showed me this for the first time about a week ago when I walked in your room to get you up from your nap, and you were sitting up grinning at me. I almost had to pick myself up off the floor because of all that cuteness hitting me at once! You're scooting around the whole house, especially when you see something you like/want, and you're finally figuring out how to move your legs + arms together to actually "crawl" places. You've got several toys that are your favorites, but you like a bright orange Clemson coaster that is made out of rubber the best (yep, it runs in your blood, kid). The walker is your most favorite place to be, and you literally run across rooms until you slam into something (usually a door frame or a cabinet), and watching your little legs move so fast makes me die. Seriously, it is SO stinking CUTE! You always look back at me (or whoever else is watching), and then you always give the biggest, proudest grin as if to say, "Did you see that??" You are a ticklish little booger, too, and I am always happy to play the role of tickle monster.

Pretty soon the leaves will start changing, and you will be able to see trees in a whole new way - something I hope will further intrigue your imagination + curiosity. I'm hoping there will be some apple-picking for us in the near future, too, because then you'll have some extra yummy apples for your applesauce. This next month will hold all sorts of adventures for us, both new + old, including your first camping trip with some of our best buds. Yippee! You make life so much sweeter, baby boy, and I will keep on telling you that for the rest of your life. I love you, B!