It’s back to school time. Summer is unofficially over and fall is just around the corner. I don’t know what it is, but I kinda like this time of year. It also means it’s Shawville Fair time. We have been going since we were kids and this year I got to bring Rylann. She had a blast or at least I think she did.

Of course it was chilly, as it usually ends up being for the fair. There were the usual vendors and carnival rides. Rylann enjoyed the Merry -go-round, the petting zoo, ice cream, and Beavertails! Next year and in the years to come, I’m sure she will get to enjoy it more. Just as we did.

Rylann is 10 months now. She’s a crawling, scooting, babbling, little monkey who can sure make her way around the house. Cupboards, drawers, and baskets are treasure chests to her, and I am now wishing I didn’t have “pack-rat” tendencies.

After carefully inspecting it, then throwing it aside, it’s on to the next treasure, and before you know it every room in the house looks like a burglar ransacked the place. It keeps her busy. Who needs toys when you have all of mama’s “treasures” to find.

And there is no point in putting everything away throughout the day, because as soon as she catches a glimpse of me picking up, she’s either insulted or even more intrigued, and makes a dash straight back to what I just cleaned up, and happily puts things back the way she left them.

[Exhibit A and Exhibit B]

My new tactic…wait until she’s having her bedtime bottle in her bouncer seat, and run around room to room restoring the balance, so I can at least wake up to a tidy house. Win win for now I guess. At least until I get those safety latches installed, or I spontaneously become like those people I kind of envy with the “museum” houses.

Our little girl is growing so fast! Just in the past month or so she has learned to wave “Hi”, clap her hands, get from lying to sitting, pull herself up on furniture etc, and crawl! Its amazing watching her learn to do new things. She is 8 and a half months now, and I have treasured every day I get to spend with her.

My mat leave is winding down and the thought of in just a few short months I will be going back to work is kind of unsettling. I’m sure it will be harder on me than on her, but all the same it will be be a big change. For now I will focus on having the summer with her, and hopefully the time won’t seem to go too fast.