Today you turned 8 months old! You continue to be such a happy little guy and Daddy and I love you so much! You're growing up before our eyes and mastering all the "tricks" you learned to do last month. You crawl faster, you stand more easily, you feed yourself like you've been doing it your whole life, and you babble constantly! You now say Mama & Dada and it is clear you know what you're saying. It melts my heart every time you say "Mama Mama!!" You interact and play with toys more and more. You try to put the right shapes in the correct holes on your shape sorter, you take your animals in and out of the Ark, and you snuggle stuffed animals. It is so much fun to play with you!
This past month was a month filled with new and exciting experiences/changes. Perhaps the biggest change is that I started watching your two cousins Julia and Caitlin 4 days a week and working one day a week at "Dr. Bob's Place." You are adjusting very well, but it is very hard work! Nana is helping me A LOT and I am very nervous about the days when she doesn't help (which will be soon, since Nana has to have a surgery). Most of the day it will be OK, but feeding time and nap time will be a challenge. But, I know we'll figure it out and you and Julia will be OK. You may cry more than you do now (as you'll be learning to wait your turn) but that will be a good life lesson.
You also did a lot of other new things this month. You went to the beach for the first time, and you had a blast! (See previous post I wrote about our trip to the beach).
We also went to the State Fair with Grandma, Grandpa, Great-Grandma, & Great-Grandpa. You went on a Merry-Go-Round (you didn't seem to love it, but you didn't hate it either), you won a GIANT puppy dog just for being cute, and you got to pet a baby goat which made you giggle. It seems you love animals!
Because you seemed to like the animals so much we decided to take you to Clark's Elioak Farm where you got to pet goats, a donkey, a horse, chickens, bunnies, and pigs. Pop-pop went with us and we all had a blast! It is so much fun watching you explore the world! You are so curious! You love to experience new things which makes doing new things with you so much fun! Daddy and I cannot wait to take you on even more outings as you get older!
In accordance with all previous updates, I have to at least mention your sleeping. But that is all I am going to do. Let's just say that your sleep habits leave much to be desired lately....but we're blaming this on teething (your top two teeth are coming in) and this has made you somewhat miserable at times. We love you to pieces, but we don't enjoy seeing you at midnight, 2:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m., AND 6:00 a.m. when you wake for the day. Let's get back to the one time a night wake up schedule, OK? Or, even better yet, how about you actually sleep through the night!?!?! There's a novel idea!
But truly, Ryan, aside from you're sleeping, you are a joy! Daddy and I love you to pieces and we are so glad that you're a part of our lives. We were meant to be your Mommy & Daddy, and you were meant to be our son. I'll love you always and forever, no matter what!
Love always,
~Mommy
