A Good Life

8 Months
Our sweet Maria turned 8 months. She continues to bring more joy to our lives than we could have ever imagined. I was a bit worried that Maria wouldn't get very much attention from other people that didn't know her when we moved to Oregon, but there has been no lack of attention given to this little munchkin, especially because she continues to capture peoples' attention around her and is so interactive.

Maria's stats:
Ht: 26 inches
Wt: 19 pounds
Still pretty bald but some hints of curls!
Still our chubby "Chunk of Burning Love"

Maria's latest milestones:
**She got her first tooth. I think it has been trying to break through for a while. The tooth is now a new toy of sorts for Maria.
**She continues to love music. Last week (the day we got our new computer - YEAH!!!!) while Ben was setting up iTunes, some ACDC song came on and Ben was singing to it. Maria and I were in the other room and she got so excited and starting "singing" and moving all over. She loves music!
**She is such a good sport! Maria has traveled (by car, plane, stroller, backpack, etc.) so much in her short life and continues to enjoy it quite a bit. One of our favorite things about pushing Maria in the stroller or carrying her on our backs is that she hums and talks to us so much of the time. Baby sounds....nothing better.
**She is standing on everything: the rocker, the couch, the crib (inside and out...a little more difficult to think "Oh, she'll go back to sleep," when she is standing in the crib!), and whatever else she can pull herself up on.
**She still says "Hi." It always catches me off guard, but she will say it when I say, "Good Morning Maria, Hi, How was your sleep?" I think it catches other people by surprise too.
**She loves the water. We went to the Aquatic Center on Saturday (her "birthday") and Maria crawled through the water, even over the spraying fountains and it didn't even phase her.
**She likes to throw things out of her crib and still manages to get her arm (sometimes arms) out our her night gowns...looks like she is wearing a tube top when I go and get her out of bed in the morning.
**She loves to look at herself, in the mirror or a screensaver or pictures...she just lights up and squeals with excitement.


Maria has made our move to Oregon and my move to being a stay-at-home mom so much more enjoyable. With her little songs and babblings, slobbery "kisses," soft baby-soft skin and touch, big smile, and huge amount of happiness and excitement for life, Maria has made Ben and I feel like we can do this and we can have a great time as we do it. We love you Maria.