Eight Months

So I have been a terrible blogger! The last post is from Andrew's four month birthday so I only need to update you on what happened from the last four months - ha ha! I've decided it would be easier to do a list of updates and then I can add more detailed posts as I have time. (Which is hard to find with school and baby and household responsibilities...) So anyway, here are some of the things that have happened in the last four months:
• I started school at the end of August – Andrew is kept during the day by his Grandma Karen.
• He got his helmet on in mid-September. (More about this in another post)
• He began laughing. Baby giggles are the best! He is very silly right before bath time and we can usually get a lot of laughs from him around then.
• We had to “Ferberize” him to get him to go to sleep without being held. (About 5.5 months)
• He began to tripod sit – which is where he would sit but lean forward and support himself with his hands on the ground in front on him. (About 5.5 months)
• He began to sit unsupported. (A little after 6 months)
• We gave him solid food for the first time – we started with rice cereal, and it was basically slightly thicker milk. He was NOT a fan at first, but now he can’t get enough of it. We are actually feeding him oatmeal now, but he will fuss and shout and open his mouth and lunge for the spoon. You cannot feed him fast enough for his liking! He is still not a fan of any other foods yet, but hopefully this will change with more exposure. Although I’m predicting we will have a picky eater on our hands!
• His cousin, Bronc Paul Riley, was born on October 13!
• He “graduated” from physical therapy in late October. We are so proud of the progress he made. Looking at pictures from when he was little it is clear how much the torticollis affected him – you can see the tilt and how he was always looking in one direction.
• His first Halloween! We had a quiet night at home. Dad had to work and he helped pass out candy wearing his skeleton pajamas (his “costume”).
• He visited the Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Mike’s house by the lake in November and got to swing on the swing they bought for him! He loves to be outdoors, and he loves the swing.
• He got his helmet off the Monday before Thanksgiving – yeah for no more helmet!!!
• His first Thanksgiving – we went to stay with Uncle Nick, Aunt Jessy, and Cousin Bronc down in New Braunfels. We spent Thanksgiving at Jessy’s parents house and then went to their ranch in Lampasas. It was a fun trip, although Andrew does not sleep well in the same room as us. And when he doesn’t sleep well, none of us do!
• Andrew spent his first night away from Mom and Dad – he spent a night at the lake house with both sets of Grandparents. He was loved and spoiled for every moment, and it wasn’t too traumatic for me! I definitely enjoyed sleeping in a little!

The past month with Andrew has been amazing and wonderful. When anyone asks me how he is doing, all I can say is fun. He is at a fun age! He babbles a lot, especially at meal times and after bath time. Although I'm sure he is not associating meaning yet with the babbles, it sounds like he is saying hi and yeah and dada. He sits very well on his own, and has also started scooting around on his head while laying on his back. He will arch his back up and push with his feet so that he is moving around toward his head. He looks like an upside down inch worm! We also think he may be crawling soon. After months of HATING tummy time, and rolling immediately onto his back when set on his belly, it was like something clicked and he decided he doesn't mind being on his belly. He now rolls onto his belly if he wants something and will sometimes get up on his hands and knees. So far the only direction he can go is backwards, but I think he may be moving forward soon. He loves to sit and play with toys and can entertain himself for quite awhile. His favorite toy is a talking book about animals. You open the first page and it reads to you "Animals love rain and sun, count them one by one." When you turn the page it reads "Animals are big and small, can you count them all?" Andrew likes to open the book and turn the pages back and forth as fast as he can so all you hear is "Animals, animals, animals, animals". He loves the book so much! Right now all of his favorite toys seem to make noise and light up. One of his favorite things to do with his toys is hit them on things. He'll take his toys and bang them together or take a toy and bang in on the table or his high chair tray. He giggles and smiles when we encourage him and say bang, bang, bang!

Overall, he is at such a fun age! He is such a joy in our lives - he is happy and sweet and loveable. I know it will only get more fun from here on out, and we can't wait to see how he grows and changes in the next four months. And now, as a reward for you if you read all that - here are some pictures from his monthly photo shoots.

Five months:




Six months:






Seven months: I'm having trouble locating these... I will update when I find them!

Eight months: