8 months old

Asher turned 8 months on Saturday. He weighs almost 16pds and is about 25.5in long, which puts him solidly at 3 percentile on the growth charts:) Seriously though, we are so proud of him for getting on the growth charts this summer. The Dr.'s have been super pleased as well. He is much higher on the preemie growth chart, but our Dr.'s have been using a "normal" growth chart. He has until he is 2yrs old to "catch up", before they get worried. So far at each developmental assessment his PT and OT's say he is between his true age and adjusted gestational age and doesn't need regular PT, which is always a relief!

Asher can now roll over, sit-up, turn himself around in circles and he just started boot camp/belly crawling. He loves to stand, but hasn't started pulling up on furniture thankfully! We are thinking of changing his nickname from little mooch to little scooch! He started solids about a month ago and now eats....Buffalo, turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, avocado,

blueberries and bananas. He really likes his meat, pumpkin and avocado best...well, best of solid foods, since he is still quite serious about nursing! (and only the real deal will do, he longer will take a bottle!) He makes eating for us lots of fun as we are constantly trying to hold him far enough away that he can't grab our spoon/fork/plate, but at the same time, not drop all our food trying to get it to our mouths! He loves to give hugs to anyone and kisses to me (ie, sucking my chin, while pulling on my hair!) He is very outgoing and always has a huge smile for anyone that stops to talk to him. His beautiful baby blues gets him a lot of attention everywhere we go!

He loves to go swimming, take stroller walks in the morning with Boots, watch the wind rustle the trees, chew on material of any kind and anyone's fingers that he can grab. Hearing or seeing his Daddy makes his eyes light up and a huge smiles will spread across his face. So far he doesn't have any separation anxiety (though he is rarely without me) or much fear of anything. In the mornings, he and I will lay in bed snuggling and "talking" sometimes for as long as 30min...... He is very vocal like me, though thankfully not loud...unlike me :) He is taking 3 naps a day (2 "longer" and 1 short - though some days they are all short) and then to bed between 8 and 8:30. He still wakes for 2 night feedings, but I don't mind because he is a quick eater and then right back to sleep.

Most of all, Andrew and I continue to feel so immensely blessed by getting to have Asher in our lives. Each day he brings such joy and happiness to our home and others we meet. He is a gift like no other and we feel honored God decided we were up to the task of raising him.