8 Months

Ryleigh-

Time is zooming right along these days.
Somehow, the months feel like they move so much more quickly
with a second child.
I want to sit in your chair and rock and read and snuggle,
but you want to twist and turn and wiggle and roll.

Things are BUSY around here as you turn 8 months...
mainly because all of a sudden, you are on.the.go.
While you can't totally crawl quite yet,
you cover serious ground in an inchworm kind of fashion.
Your daddy thinks it looks like you are "doing the worm"
as you scoot along day in and day out.

Little Monkey...does #8 taste any good?!

This is a new development,
and you are happiest on the floor, free to roll over, push onto all fours,
inch along, push back to a sitting position, fall onto all fours again, and on and on.
Mommy (and Lexi) are going to be very careful to make sure all
Barbie shoes, Critter House pieces, little legos, loose change, bracelet beads
(and generally anything else that may be hiding just out of sight)
gets put somewhere safely, pronto!

In addition to being on the go, you love:
splashing around in water, being in the pool, banging Lexi's musical instruments
along with the measuring spoons and going for walks in the double stroller.
You are putting just about everything you pick up in your mouth,
and I imagine that your first tooth can't be very far off.

You still love to eat.
We've starting giving you puffs and teething biscuits, and finger foods are on the horizon.
You bang your tray and moan and groan if we don't feed you fast enough.
You are starting to hold your own bottle, and you laugh when you hear me shaking it up.
You've been a bit more fussy this month as you've gone from three naps to two
and likely started teething, but your personality remains joyful.
You love your sister like no other.
You giggle at her more than anyone else (and boy do you have a great belly laugh)

You still love to stand, though you're not able to pull up on your own yet.
You've had several baby playdates this month, and you seem to like the interaction.
With your sister's school year looming,
I promise to strike a better balance between her needs/wants and yours.
Playdates, baby gym class, music class at the library, sign language at Giant Steps and naps in the crib...
these have your name all over them!
Happy 8 Months, Ryleigh Roo :)