Eight Months!

The babe has turned eight months old. Right before my eyes. I can't even believe he's already so big. Here's his latest:

• Pulls up to standing all the time.
• Started trying to wrestle with Eli. He loves climbing all over people.
• Takes a 10:00 and 2:00 nap for 1 1/2 - 2 hours (Hooraaaaay!)
• Typically wakes up once at night either at 10:00 or 2:00.
• Was waking up regularly at 5:00 in the morning, but just started sleeping in until 7:30-8! We've made big sleep strides this month.
• He was sick most of the month and had a hard time falling asleep. We bought him a sound machine to cue him it's sleep time which he resisted at first but now it seems to help.
• Starting to refuse baby food and mostly wants table food.
• Crawls everywhere. Loves climbing up stairs. He can't go down stairs yet, and he doesn't really try to get down them.
• Says Mamamama when he's whining.
• He is a major mama's boy. He has to be touching me for roughly 98% of his awake time.
• He is very skeptical of strangers. If a new person even catches eye contact with him he will sometimes burst into hysterical crying.
• Some favorite foods are bread, carrots, sweet potatoes, applesauce, pretzels, puffs, chicken.
• Doesn't really like bananas or peas.
• Only likes his binky to sleep. Probably because Eli steals it anytime he tries to suck on it while he's awake.
• Loves to head bonk. 
• I think he started waving a couple weeks ago. For a few days he flapped one arm every time someone walked in the room or if he saw himself in the mirror.
• He loves himself. When I'm looking at blogs with him on my lap, he gets the biggest smile every time he sees a picture of himself. Cracks me up.
• Has six teeth.
• His favorite toys are cell phones, remote controls, and plastic cups/bowls.
• His other favorite toy is hair. He pulls hair every chance he gets. He's particularly fond of Eli's hair.
• He also bites a lot. Loves biting my shoulders.
• He's a cuddle bug. Eli never was, so we appreciate our baby cuddles with Carson.

He is on the move. Into everything all the time. (He has a diaper on hidden by the belly overhang.)

He learned how to stand up shortly after his seven-month birthday. This has provided additional getting-him-to-sleep problems because all he ever wants to do is stand!

 Cheese ball. Love him. (Notice the stolen binky lurking in the background.)

Looking for Santa. This may be my most favorite picture of the boys.

 Babies and stairs. Why must they love them so much?

My family recently started taking advantage of group texting. The constant texting has wasted many of my afternoons. For example, one day we were competing to see who had the fattest baby. This was the picture that put Carson in the running:

 Looooooves the dishwasher.

 :)

 Brother pictures never get old. They are so sweet together.

 He is handsome. And he knows it.

 First matching shirts! Melts my heart.

Mr. Smiles.

We love Carson. He's such a doll. I want him to stay frozen at this age forever because it's such a fun, cute stage. I'm soaking up all his adorable babyness while I can!