8 Months Old!

When looking at photos of someone as a baby, there's always those few pictures that make one say: "Wow! That looks just like you!" For each photo like that, however, there are dozens that leave one thinking the opposite. "You look nothing like the baby in that photo. Is that really you?" Finally, the inevitable conclusion is "all babies look the same."
While at the cabin, Rai, you turned 8 months old. One day, we were able to take some photos of you that fall into the first category. Somehow, these photos captured what, we think, you will look like years from now. There's just something about the photos that makes you look older. Looking over the photos with your Grandparents, we all agreed that, for the first time, we could almost see in our minds eyes what you will look like in 5 years, 10 years, or beyond.
As to how you've changed over this past month, my comments are the same as they always are: you've come a long way in just one short month. Changes and developments have been almost daily. The two greatest changes we've seen in you are your interaction with those around you and in your ability to move yourself.
You've always been very alert, aware and curious, but this past month, we've seen you make even greater strides in your ability to make solid eye contact and to move your gaze from object to object, and person to person in the room. You now like to do things that show the people you're with that you're trying to communicate with them. That could mean tugging on something and waiting for a response, shouting out, or initiating a game of peekaboo where you move blankets on and off your face, giggling the entire time.
In the mobility department, you've also come a long way. It is quite normal for you to now launch yourself forward from a seated position so that you end up on your belly, a foot or more from where you started. More recently, you've figured out how to go from sitting to standing with a few wobbly steps towards a desired object not being uncommon. Leaving you seated alone is now a dangerous affair -- we don't know where or in what position you'll end up!