8 Months

Dear Kellen,

This past month, you have gone from being so nice to be around to being a kick-ass time. We are having so much fun now, it should be illegal.

What makes me so fun at 8 months, you ask? Let me tell you.

1. You are "talking". And none of that babbling stuff - that's for babies. You have one word, and it's "Oooo". You might think that "Oooo" doesn't count, but you have shown me that this is the most versatile word in the world. "Oooo, look at the kitty!" "Oo, Oo, gimme that food!" "OOOoooooOOOoo, my feet are so interesting!"  All of us around you find this incredibly adorable, obviously, and your father and I have more than once laughed and said "There's a message in my Cheerios! It says 'Ooooo'." 

Don't worry, I'll teach you all about the Simpsons someday.

2. Smiles, smiles, smiles. Smiling is about all you do these days. You sit and play, look up every once in awhile, smile a HUGE grin at me, and go back to what you are doing. How are you so happy all the time?

3. You can clap! I have been sooo excited for this development, and it was worth the wait! The clapping is more like smashing your hands together and sometimes hitting your thighs instead, but oh man is it cute. And so much fun to do with you!

4. I am actually a bit apprehensive about this next one, because OHMYGOD, but, my dear son, you are CRAWLING. MOVING. Seeing that I have frozen yogurt and COMING TO GET IT SO DON'T YOU DARE GO ANYWHERE WOMAN. When we were in Alaska this past month you started getting up on all fours, and although you haven't yet graduated to hands and knees crawling, you are army crawling. Left hand SLAP!, right hand REACH!, both arms PULLLLLL! You first accomplished this feat yesterday on your 8 month birthday, and you also had a huge day when you turned 5 months and you learned to roll over (both times you were only doing it to get your hands on the camera). As your dad said, you're like Ken Griffey Jr. - you come out for big days.

Don't worry, I'll teach you all about Ken Griffey Jr. someday. Well, your dad will.

All of these things add up to us having a great time, every day. You have become more prone to separation anxiety though, which can make it hard for me to leave you. Just walking to the other room and out of your sight can lead to you bursting into tears and falling over, trying to claw your way in the direction I just left. Don't get me wrong though - I love the fact that you love me so much you hate to see me go.

I left you for the longest time yet this past week. Five girlfriends and I went on a three-night camping trip to the other side of the mountains where there was no internet and no phone service - in other words, no way for me to have contact with your dad or you - and while it was a fabulous, rejuvenating time for me, my heart ached for you every day. You are my favorite, my bestest, my Kelly Belly, and I missed you so. How happy I was to have you back against my shoulder, "Oooo"-ing in my ear, drooling on my shirt, crying when I walked outside to unpack the car. Your dad and I are so lucky to have you, and every day I am thankful that  the healthy, happy little baby we were finally blessed with turned out to be you.

I love you so much Kellen, so very much. You are the most kick-ass time I have ever had.

Love, Mama

This is the actual first time he crawled, which is why I get so damn excited on the audio.

The following pictures were taken in Alaska. You looooove your Uncle Drew, Uncle Geoff and Aunt Shalie (and Ruger the dog!)