8 months...and October...

I'm a bit late on Riley's 8th month update, but better late than never, right!? It's been a crazy month once again. Braxton was gone for 3 weeks which definitely makes life a little extra crazy. So glad to have him home now. Looking back at the pictures I took this month, I'm embarrassed to admit there aren't many to choose from. A dead camera battery is partly to blame...but I really don't have a very good excuse. It is what it is...

 Riley Kate. I just can't get over how big she's getting. Suddenly, she seems so big to me and it's awful and wonderful all at the same time.

This month, Riley's second tooth broke through - about two weeks after the first. She tolerated it pretty well. A little extra fussy perhaps, a little more clingy, a runny nose and constant drool but other than that, she did great. She's finally starting to like some of her "solids." Loves squash and peaches. And that girl would probably eat an entire container of Gerber puffs if I'd let her. She's also starting to get the hang of drinking from her cup. See what I mean!? So big!!

Just this past week she's started standing at her music table. Mom still needs to be close by, but she's doing really well. Now that dad's home for a while (whoot, whoot!!), our next goal is to work on night time sleep and nap time. I'm ok with taking baby steps, but I'm determined to get this kiddo in a better pattern/routine. Riley's is babbling and talking so much recently. She says da-da all day long. Her little voice is just the sweetest thing. Sometimes she'll be playing on the floor with her toys and totally crack herself up. It's too funny.

Since I failed so miserably at documenting the past month, I figured I'd throw in a few pictures I did manage to snap. We really had lots of fun last month celebrating fall with some of the usual activities. Avery, especially, loved visiting the pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, and, of course, trick-or-treating.

Well, hopefully November will be a little less crazy for this busy momma and maybe I'll manage to get more accomplished. I've got so much on my "wish-list" of projects and activities to do...but I also want to protect my time and our days together as a family. It's definitely a balancing act. I'm working on it...