8 Months

This is coming a bit late, but Christmas got in the way.

Baby Derek is so much fun. And so much work. So very much work. It's a good thing he was blessed with such a cute little body and face and personality because were he not he would have been rather difficult to live with. 

The trouble with little Derek is that he is far too good at whatever he does. He has been crawling for almost four months, pulling himself up to stand for about two, and had better be close to walking, because nothing offends him more than being left behind. His hand-eye coordination is superb; he has his pincer grasp down pat and can shovel any sized morsel into that little mouth of his. Like his brother, he's a little mountain-goat climber and made it up the entire flight of Mere and Opa D's steps on his first try. He's got little legs of steel and a rock-solid stance and has been able to both stand up and sit back down almost from day one. His grasp is vice-like and painful when it grabs the loose skin on your neck and he also seems to find biting sort of endearing. 

But he's also so happy and giggly and social. He loves to laugh along with other people and loves to interact with Luke and loves to hear himself squawk and sing and babble. Baby D finally started eating (only feeding himself though, still no spoons) and seems to really like food, but it should be noted that he only started eating after I announced that I had given up and he could nurse forever, for all I cared. (he has also been able to get liquid out of a straw since he was about four months old) His smile is easy and charming and his little face can just melt your heart. 

We love our little Baby Derek!