Already 8 months!

What! Ashlyn is 8 months?! Where is the time going? Her little teeth are so freaking cute. They have grown in a lot and you can't miss them.

She loves riding up here. Also loves to make that funny face she is making. The "closed lips" smile. so funny.

She is very happy sitting next to a basket of toys. She will pull them out one by one until it is empty.

And I can't help but laugh when this happens! She gets a little carried away and gags herself. Luckily she doesn't seem to mind. And I do try to hide my laughter. (this picture is for you, Tara!)

Ashlyn's "high chair" for eating has been the Bumbo.... but she has outgrown it! She started pushing herself around (and almost off) the table with her feet! And she could twist and turn so much she could almost get out of it! It was not safe anymore! So, we got this:

And love it! I don't think we will need a bigger high chair, although we will see. We don't really have room for one and this little one is awesome. I can actually turn my back for more than 2 seconds without fear that she will go catapulting off the table! And she LOVES to slam toys onto the tray to make loud noises, constantly. (so fun.) I also have to note I love how Lucy is also looking at me in this picture! So funny!

Ashlyn loves to spend time with Daddy! On the days I teach he picks her up from the sitter and spends the evening with her. She especially likes having him read stories to her, and getting carried on his shoulders. It's so cute.

We had a quick visit from Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunts Jodee and Andrea (on their way back from Hawaii--eye roll), and I thought this was a cute picture! Ashlyn was again doing her favorite, slamming a metal plate onto the table as loud and hard as she could.

She has pretty much mastered sitting up by herself, although if she gets startled or gets really excited all of a sudden, she will fall backwards or sideways! Sometimes she catches herself, sometimes she doesn't... in which case it's the classic "thump" . . . wait. . .wait . . . SCREAM. I noticed I had grown used to this when I heard the "thump" in the middle of teaching a lesson (Collin was in her room with her) and I found myself cringing waiting for the scream! ha ha! Anyway, now if toys are out of reach she starts to lunge forward in this weird position for them. Eventually she ends up on her tummy, but she is not cool to just sit without moving around anymore. NO, no crawling. But thanks for asking.

Swinging! She really likes to be outside. It is great. I am sad it will soon be too cold for this! She is super mellow in her stroller and pretty much any time we're outside. It has been a lifesaver at times!

We also recently went to Utah and Ashlyn got to spend some time with some Robertson cousins! They all adore her and it is cute to see her interact with them. She got a litle overwhelmed by all the attention a couple of times, but overall she was really happy hanging out with them! When I took these pictures she was literally in the center of a crowd of like 8 people! I think she got enough attention!

Ashlyn is still a super champ at sleeping also! She will take 2 solid naps during the day, often one of them is 3 hours long! And she is sleeping at least 12 hours a night. I am SO lucky! Already I feel like all those sleepless nights are a distant memory. I am crossing my fingers that this lasts. She even slept 12 hours one of the nights we were in Utah.

What can I say, she is the light of our lives and brings us so much joy. It is not always a walk in the park being a mom, that's for sure, but I am always thankful for the fact that Ashlyn has been brought into our lives. We waited a long time for her. We are so lucky! I have been really overwhelmed with emotions lately since our adoption just finalized, and it is still fresh how hard it was waiting longer than we hoped to start a family. Having Ashlyn I know she was meant to be our daughter and I'm so glad Heavenly Father had us wait until the perfect addition to our family came along! We love love love!