Today Fraser turns 8 months old! So here he is wearing a twelve month outfit that just fits. I have already packed up most of his 6-9 month clothes and only need to get another container to finish packing up the rest. I'd like to know who comes up with the sizing for kids clothes. It seems like the sizes should really read "could fit your child anywhere from approximately 3 months to 13 months, or something like that."

So, Fraser decided to start off his birthday on the right foot by getting up at 3 a.m. and demanding to be fed (no, that wasn't the first time he was up), eating his bottle sleepily for about 5 minutes and then, after being struck by a major coughing fit (he still has a cold), throwing up all over me. After completely soaking my pajamas in vomit he seemed satisfied and went back to sleep. At 5:00 he woke up again and Andy deposited him in bed with me before leaving for the gym. It took approximately 3 minutes for Fraser to settle down, and by settle down I mean it took three minutes for him to get into a comfortable position lying on my chest so he could vomit into my hair. Thanks buddy. I know, everyone reading this is thinking "Poor guy! He must be feeling so awful!" Well, I'm sure he was feeling pretty badly, but after he threw up he seemed to feel better and fell asleep next to me which meant he was happy and sleeping and I was awake and covered in puke (i.e. not happy).

Since Fraser caught this cold (number "I-have-now-lost-track" of the season) his sleep has been erratic at best. Yesterday he refused to nap at all which predictably resulted in his waking up screaming several times last night. So today I was determined he needed to nap. I put him down for his first nap and went to take a shower so I wouldn't be tempted to go get him when he freaked out, which he did. For his second nap, however, I didn't want to traumatize the poor little dear, so I gave him his bottle and then rocked him to his lullaby CD for about half an hour. When he still wasn't sleepy I let him stand on my lap and we made faces at each other. He laughed, I laughed, and I began to think how really sweet my darling boy can be. I stuck out my tongue at him, he laughed, he leaned in and made sucking noises on my cheek, I laughed, he licked my cheek, I laughed, then he suddenly leaned in and bit my face. I did not laugh but he thought it was freaking hysterical. I kept my cool and went back to rocking him, trying to ignore the nagging voice in my head that maybe I should make time to see Hannibal Rising so I can learn what key childhood behaviors Hannibal the cannibal might have displayed.

Finally I decided to read him Goodnight Moon, the book proven by generations to whisk thousands upon thousands of children into peaceful slumber. I got as far as the comb and the brush before Fraser wrenched the book out of my hands and began chewing enthusiastically on the corner (mental note: check if Hannibal enjoyed devouring reading material as an infant). Luckily, many years of babysitting have rendered the book unnecessary for me to continue with the story. So just as I leaned down to whisper "hush" in my very best soothing mommy voice Fraser flung the book above his head and smashed me right in the face. He was deposited in his crib shortly thereafter.

Well, here's hoping that the eighth month, like the month of March, may come in like a lion, but will go out like a lamb. (Possibly a lamb being led to slaughter....)