8 Month Update

So this week, Charlie learned how to whine.  It was the cutest thing I'd seen all week until I realized he wasn't stopping.  If I put him in his high chair for breakfast/lunch/dinner and he doesn't have food in his mouth in 3 seconds or less?  WHINE.  If he wants a toy that is just slightly out of reach?  WHINE.  I put him on the changing table to change his diaper?  WHINE.  I leave the room (gasp) without him?  WHINE. I'm trying to make a big deal about every time he's not whining (which is not that often) so hopefully he gets the clue that whining is not cool.  I know it's just his way of communicating so I'm trying to say things like, "Oh, you're hungry, aren't you?  You want to eat.  I'm making your food right now"  And then he continues to whine...but I'm hoping MAYBE it will help in the long run.  :)

Despite the whining, he's the cutest thing ever.  He's really into smiling so big that his eyes squint.  He lights up when Andy gets home from work and always gives him a big smile.  Charlie can officially roll BOTH ways!  We're so grateful!  For a week or so he was rolling onto his tummy at night and waking up unhappy because he felt stuck so now that he's able to get comfortable on his own, we're all happier.  This also means he's much more tolerant of spending time on his tummy which is good for his range of motion that we have been working on in physical therapy.  He is really working on lifting up that big ol' noggin of his higher and higher when he's on his tummy and I think he'll be moving soon.
I put him down the other day so I could get dinner started and I went back to check on him and he'd rotated himself and moved at least a foot...I'm not exactly sure how he did it but I'm thinking he just rolled over a couple of times in a row.  He likes going anywhere he can ride in a shopping cart.  He's been smiling at the store clerks and old ladies.  And he likes paper.  Shopping lists seem to be his favorite.  He's also starting to make more sounds.  His favorite this week is HA.  He's sleeping through the night most of the time, usually 10-11 hours.  When he is up at night, I'm reminded how quickly I adapted to him sleeping through the night!  I love when he sleeps through the night because he seems to feel better when he wakes up (and we do, too) but I don't mind the quiet time to snuggle with him either.     

Wearing his shirt on his head!

Our physical therapy appointments are becoming less frequent and have been told that Charlie doesn't need any more sessions unless we feel it would be beneficial.  His head shape has really improved and we're confident he will not need any more intervention.  His neck is still a little tight but as he's moving more on his own, that continues to get better, as well.  Since torticollis and reflux are related, we're hopeful that the strengthening of his neck will also help with his reflux.  We are on our second attempt to wean Charlie off of his medication.  We first tried a month ago and realized within a few days that he still needed the medication.

We're still waiting for teeth but Charlie has two on the bottom that seem to be ready to poke through...but we've thought that for months now!  He's continuing to eat well.  This boy likes his food.  His favorites are sweet potatoes and peaches.  He loves yogurt, too.  He's eating peaches as quickly as I can get them pureed!  I've taken to baking an oven full of sweet potatoes at a time.  I'm a little worried about feeding him as a teenager if this appetite keeps up.  :)  He's a bit of a texture snob and doesn't want much to do with anything that isn't perfectly smooth.  He's starting to try some finger foods but hasn't quite mastered the hand/mouth coordination but he's getting closer.  I love seeing him try new things.  We've tried every sippy cup I could find but today I offered him a regular cup and he couldn't get enough.  It was a little messy (ok, a lot) but he kept wanting more...and of course wanted to do it all by himself.  Here's a video of him trying out a rice cracker.

Charlie LOVES books.  My little reader.

Charlie (And Andy and I) loved having Grandpa and Grandma Rink visit a few weeks ago and Grandpa and Grandma Albrecht arrive on Tuesday.  We're planning on visiting Iowa for Charlie's 1st Birthday in July.  1st Birthday.  Wow.  My little boy is growing up so quickly!