Meredith’s 8th month was full of firsts and fun!

Samantha, Amelia and Meredith at 8 months. Meredith is really looking like her own person these days. It’s so fun comparing these three– they are so different! If you’re in need of a laugh, check out Samantha and Amelia at 8 months here.  Good times (and I can’t believe Samantha was crawling so well by her 8 month birthday– Meredith isn’t even close)!

Unfortunately, there will probably be no more milestone block pictures with the correct numbers on them as Meredith loves to occupy herself eating/swiping/throwing them during picture time.

Who, me?

Meredith is HUGE and sported 12-18 (and sometimes 24) month clothes. She started dropping the 3rd nap (Hallelujah!) and slept 11-12 hours at night.

Firsts included Meredith’s first bike ride, first trip to San Diego, first time swimming in the pool, first Utes game, and, sadly, her first time rolling off the bed! Good thing she’s a tough one.

Meredith started eating finger foods regularly, and my time spent cleaning increased exponentially. Guess it couldn’t be worse than the twins at this age.

Meredith ate Cheerios like there was no tomorrow! She also loved sweet potato, squash, pasta, avocado, green beans, broccoli and cauliflower.

PRUNES AGAIN?

Meredith devoured 8 pieces of pita bread at Panini Cafe and I was so afraid she was going to get so constipated! I don’t know where it all went, but she was fine. Note the seven tons of basmati rice all over the floor. Understandably, bus boys flee when they see us coming into restaurants.

Meredith’s excursions also included visiting Great Grandpa, co-hosting Allison’s baby shower, chilling at the beach, going raspberry and apple picking, swinging (ALL THE TIME), playing at home, and hanging out at the park with sisters. Meredith also goes along for the ride to the girls’ gymnastics, dance and soccer practices and can’t wait for the day she can join in.

Now that Meredith is more mobile and interactive, Samantha and Amelia have a blast playing with her and keeping her entertained. She is absolutely bored to tears when they are at preschool and looks at me like, “WHERE IS MY ENTERTAINMENT?”

Meredith and Maple enviously watched the big kids roast s’mores at the pool.

Samantha and Amelia are awesome with Meredith and treat her like their own little dolly. Seriously, they get 5 stars all around. It’s cute to see how nurturing and caring they are with her, and they’ve become so much more responsible and grown up as a result. Their favorite thing is to tell all the kids at school (and strangers at the park) that they have a “baby sister named Meredith who is 8 months old.”   Out of the blue, sometimes they’ll say, “I LOVE my baby sister!” and I melt into a puddle.

“Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth…because I’m happyyyyyyy!”

I find it hilarious to contrast Meredith with the girls at each stage.

Thinking back to the first year, I always tell people all I remember is 365 days of crying, but I do sometimes wonder if I’m exaggerating about how hard it was. Looking back at pictures confirmed my memories! It was rough!

I NEED A SHOULDER TO CRY ON.

Occassionally, the twins were in good moods. Like every 1 out of 250 pictures.

No one ever accused Samantha of being skinny.

Samantha the Grump at 8 months.

I WILL NOT SMILE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.

It’s hard to believe I used to have nothing else to do but chill at the park and watch these two play. Now Meredith is the one observing the chaos.

Good times at the park!

Like the twins, Meredith enjoys the outdoors and wiggles her whole body when I put her in her stroller or Ergo because she knows an outing is coming. She’s just like Bandit!

Meredith started completely rejecting purees this month and pretty much grabbed the spoon out of my hand whenever I would try to feed her. She would either attempt to feed herself, or demand finger foods. Let’s just say it’s been an epically messy month. Bandit was not complaining.

Meredith loves to engage with people and makes friends wherever she goes. The teachers at the girls’ preschool remarked one day at how it brightens their day to see her in the morning. Whenever I walk or jog with her. it’s funny to see the smiles on bikers or joggers coming the opposite way– for a split second, I always think they are saying hi to me, when I realize that Meredith must be giggling at them.  

Still no teeth or crawling this month. Meredith’s preferred mode of transportation was rolling. Nighttime sleep took a little bit of a downhill detour once she started rolling all over the place in her sleep and woke up disoriented.

Still, I can’t complain. She is a sweetheart and full of personality. Love you, Mer Bear!

Lots of love,