8!

Ellena is 8 months old today! Wow! She enjoyed her trip - she's a relatively good flier. She took two naps on each of the 6-hr flights, but was much more clingy the second time around. Only wanted the Momma. She is pretty much over her stranger anxiety - she doesn't really bawl when people get in her face anymore. But she does take a few minutes to check a new person out before warming up to them. Then, she's all smiles and coos.

In the last week, she has started scooching with a purpose. She shoots her arms out in front of her and pulls her body forward like an inch worm. She will get up on her knees and rock, but has not done a real 'crawl' yet. I'm sure it will be soon though! Now that she is mobile, she likes to entertain herself by finding toys on the ground to play with. Today she had a truck and top in front of her. She played for a few minutes, then did a 180 and entertained herself with the pack of wipes - still her favorite toy.

Ellena has also started making new sounds. At our last well child visit, I couldn't really think of any consonant sounds... maybe a ya-ya-ya, but it was very rare. In the last week, she has started saying new sounds like ba and ga. And she chatters like she's really talking to us about something. Love it!

A new developmental milestone for Ellena that is proving difficult for all - separation anxiety. She all of a sudden has gotten very attached to me and will throw a fit if I leave the room. Last night during her bedtime bottle (which Poppa ALWAYS does), she started crying - and it was her 'I'm in pain' cry. Very unusual. Gas? Bonk? Nope, I picked her up and she gave a sly smile to Pops. What a girl. Hopefully this will pass soon.