Madeline at 8 months old has been so much fun.  She now weighs 14lbs 3 oz.  This month she learned how to sit up from a laying down position and she started crawling. Halfway through the month she learned how to pull herself up to a kneeling position and finally to a standing position while holding onto something.  We will usually find her standing up in her crib when she is ready to get out.  She can stand at the couch and slap the cushions.  She also loves to slap the desk or table.  She loves to copy us when we clap our hands or wave our hands around and will still clap when we ask her to clap her hands.  She claps when she hears music or when someone is singing.  She can say da da da and ma ma ma this month but not in relation to mom or dad but just as new sounds.  

Madeline has the cutest giggle and has some definite tickle spots.  When Peter laughs at her she laughs back.  She gives kisses on the cheek by opening up her mouth and giving us open mouthed kisses.  She scrunches up her nose sometimes when she smiles at us.  It is the cutest thing ever.  Sometimes when she scrunches her nose she makes huffing sounds real fast.  Madeline loves to kick her feet and is totally fascinated with everyone's toes.  It doesn't matter whether your toes are painted or not, she loves them.  She likes it when we play, "This little piggy," with her toes.   
 
Madeline is all about grabbing things and putting them in her mouth.  Whether it's the new blocks she has been playing with or my lens cap...she likes to put things in her mouth and chew on them.  She still loves to suck on her thumb but only when she is tired and ready to go to sleep.  

Madeline is learning to love the bath a little more.  She will actually sit on her bath recliner and play with her toys.  Bath time is still a pretty quick affair but the older she gets the more she enjoys it.  

This month Madeline discovered the rocking wicker rocking horse and loves to crawl up to it and play with it.  We sat her up on top for the first time and help onto her as we rocked her back and forth all while saying, "Weeee."  She loved that.  She loves it when we make a big deal about everything.