Violet at 8 Months

I am really enjoying this age with Violet.  Don't get me wrong, making meals one handed and her lack of good naps are frustrating, however her personality is unfolding before our eyes, and it is so much fun to watch.  This past month she has really expanded verbally and will call for Will and I by name - Dadadada when she wants to play with Will and Mamamama when she is tired, hurt or hungry. She makes a clicking sound with her tongue, and if we mimic it she will play a game with us where we go back and forth clicking our tongues at each other while laughing.  She will also do this same game with her sisters - except instead of clicking their tongues, they making spitting sounds with each other.  It is amazing to see Violet making verbal connections and interacting with us on this whole new level of fun.  She also will say nigh nigh nigh nigh when she is tired and baa baa baa is a part of babble talk for her too.

Violet still doesn't have any teeth at 8 months, making her my latest baby to get teeth.  She sure loves chewing on anything and everything though, so I'm guessing her teeth will pop through all in good time!  Here she is below, gnawing on one of her favorite teethers, the metal rung on the folding chair in our kitchen.

 Violet has discovered our cat Charlie.  It will be very interesting to watch their relationship develop, but for now, Charlie seems cautiously laid back as Violet grabs fistfuls of his fur between her fingers while pumping her legs excitedly.  Below are my two cuties in their favorite spots, sizing each other up with the safety of glass between them.

 Violet still loves her jumper, and loves the freedom it gives her to jump to her hearts content while chewing on toys and watching her sisters play.

Violet isn't a fan of her bath, but will tolerate it long enough for me to get the job done.  She's about to outgrow her little bathtub but I'm hoping to prolong the tiny tub's use, as I don't want to feel obligated to clean the real bathtub.  There's nothing like a sweet baby's bottom to magnify the prolific mold and soap scum on your tub.

Violet has become quite attached to a little baby doll that Santa put in her stocking.  She carries the baby doll with her wherever she goes and will give you the biggest smile if she loses the dolly and you hand it back to her.  I've decided to name the baby Rosie, but I think for now Violet knows the doll by the name Baby.  If you say, "Where's your baby Violet?"  She will look for it until she finds it.

 Violet loves to play with her sisters, Will and I.  She's up for anything and especially loves a good laundry basket ride.

 Here Violet is below with her God Mother and her Grandpa T.

I feel like Violet's babyhood is just flying by.  She is now wearing 12 month clothes, which her sisters wore when they were almost two years old and being potty trained.  Because of that, we don't really have any footed pajamas in the hand me down bin that fit Violet.  As I am not ready to give up on one of my favorite baby clothes for Violet yet, I went to the store the other day and stocked up on footed pajamas.  Will can attest that I was a complete emotional wreck making comments like, "How did my baby get this big?!" while getting looks from other shoppers (who were probably thinking heck, my baby is in college, get some perspective lady!).  Either way, it was nice to have a reason to buy baby clothes again, since I really haven't had to with three girls in a row, all born in the spring time and the generosity of our family and friends.  At the rate Violet is growing though, Emma may be wearing Violet's hand me downs soon!

Violet, all you know and give is love, which keeps the rest of your family from getting too far away from what matters most.  We have reached the point now where we can't imagine our family without you!