Figuring out the World

You are quickly figuring out how the world around you works!
When I dress you in a onesie, I stand you up to pull it over your head and arms, then I sit you down to buckle the bottom. Today, as soon as your head and arms were through, you sat down because you knew the buckling was next!
Daddy hid a toy in the trunk of your walker car and you figured out exactly where it was hiding! You also figured out that you could open the trunk with one hand and reach for the toy with the other! How coordinated of you!

You find Riley's bowl of water very intriguing and go for it every chance you get. Every time you get close, we say "No Scarlette." You are such a good listener - you stop, look at us, and smile!
On our morning walk today, I was eating a banana and you were very interested in it, so we ate the banana together - our first shared meal!

Inna and Dima

Inna and Dima came to visit you today! Immediately you wanted to play only with Inna's sunglasses! You only let go of them to get some dinner!

Ded Moroz

New Year's is coming up so we're off for your first pictures with Santa Claus (or Ded Moroz in Russian). It is a long wait in line and you spend the time smiling at everyone around you and enjoying your animal book. When we get to Santa, you get very upset, and Mommy and Daddy end up being in the picture to keep you calm. (Mommy has a huge cheesy smile on her face trying to make you do the same, but it doesn't exactly work, haha!)

1st Thanksgiving

Today you had your first Thanksgiving dinner! You sat in your high chair and joined in the feast!

Later, you figured out how to stand on your tippy toes to get stuff out of reach!

Kisses

You love Mommy kisses! You lean forward and I give you kisses! And you just can't get enough!

Games and Naps

You were having a hard time falling asleep for your evening nap so I thought it might help if I sat by the crib and sang to you. Instead, you came up with a game - you would reach for me through the crib rails, pet me, and then crack up laughing! After playing this sweet little game of yours for a while, you finally fell asleep on me. There is nothing more precious to me than to be able to hold you so close!

Happy 8 Months!

You are 8 months old today, and I still can't believe you are real and that you are my daughter! The pure joy and bliss you have brought into my life, you will only understand when you have a child of your own!

Happy 8 months, my sweet little girl!

Babbling Baby

You are talking so much! Bub, bub, bub! Your intonation goes up and down and everything, it sounds like you are speaking in whole sentences and only you are privy to this new beautiful language of yours!

Dinner with Jo

Auntie Jo came to hang out with you today! She misses her little Squishy!

And you got to go to dinner with her too and show off how well you eat from a high chair!

Pincer

Gerber baby puffs are delicious! You love to snack on them! Today you figured out you can use a pincer grasp to pick them up by yourself and you even got one in your mouth!

Big Bath

You are getting too big for your infant bath where we have been bathing you in the kitchen sink since you were born, so it is time for a bigger tub! You are NOT a fan. Maybe we'll try again in a few weeks...

Ever so Graceful

Grandma Toma and Grandpa Kostya came to visit you today and when they were saying goodbye to you, you waved!! It was the most graceful wave I have ever seen - you are such a little princess!

I Love to Eat, Eat, Eat, Eat

Today you explored your first finger food and your first fruit - banana! All of your grandparents gathered to watch you play with, and try to feed yourself, this new and very slippery food!

Surreal

When you were first born, you would spend some time in your bouncer each day so that I could use the bathroom, get showered, and get dressed.

Today, at 7 months, you used this toy, where you played since you were a newborn, to pull yourself up to standing! What a surreal moment!

Cruisin'

Now you're really moving! You pulled yourself up using your changing table and then you cruised around it reaching for different toys!
Funny Fact: You love signs! The "pool hours" sign, the "for sale" sign down the street, the "stop" sign - you think they are all hilarious! We love taking you to all the different signs around our neighborhood because they bring you so much joy!