7 Months

Well, technically, you started crawling at 6 months, but since I spent the last few weeks chasing you around the house, I haven't had time to notify the blog!
What can I say? You are such an amazing little dude. The last 3 weeks you have sprouted up like a weed. You overflow with energy, determination, and loads of personality! You are a sweet and courageous little soul. You are curious and fearless, this scares us a bit, but we encourage it and love this about you. You blaze through all of your firsts like a freight train; as soon as you started crawling, you became obsessed with standing and walking. With sheer joy and excitement, you run on all fours toward a toy or your daddy. We've spent a bit more time around other babies recently, and each time we are amazed at the personality and courage you exude. Instead of getting scared or crying when you fall down, you just appear confused as to how you landed on the floor, and return to whatever you were after in the first place.  Half of me wants to freeze time because you are SO FUN right now (in spite of teething), but the other half can't wait to see what kind of kiddo and young man you turn into.

I can confidently say that you have changed your daddy and I for life. We are both more loving, compassionate, and understanding people all thanks to you. I think we also have a newfound love, respect and appreciation for each other. Sappy McSapperson here. And no, I won't apologize for it.

Here are a few of your latest developments:

You smile when you see your reflection in the mirror - every.single.time (this is from the iPhone, which shows you your own reflection):

Your daddy is your favorite these days (though I know you're still a mama's boy).

You love your daddy so much:

- He has to do very little to make you laugh

- When he walks into a room, you take off crawling for him, even if he's heading for the bathroom

- He gets within 3 feet and you reach out for him to pick you up

- If he lays on the ground you crawl all over him

- Your favorite is when he lifts you high in the air like you're flying

You laugh when tickled or when we make belly bubbles.

You are crawling like MAD all over the house. We only put you in the playpen when we absolutely have to. (Here is when you first got started):

You took your first plane ride and you did (for the most part) pretty darn good. You are of course LOVING the sound of your own voice:

There are so many more moments that I haven't caught on film, but needless to say, you are SO FUN and we just love you to pieces. xoxoxo, baby boy. Thanks for making life so sweet and rad.

Here are a few randoms:

eating auntie tracy

first boo boo

baby einstein love

you and lincoln love each other

Idaho!!

We have a lot of extended family who are so excited to meet you and for your first adventure we flew you to Idaho to meet your Great Aunt Marsha.

You two were just two peas in a pod, as expected. There is something so awesome about seeing one of my very favorite people in life meet my baby boy and fall in love with him. Two worlds colliding: my treasured childhood memories and this beloved new life we created.

We stayed at your Great Aunt Marsha's Saturday through Tuesday and you had quite the ball! Just like you love your Grandpa, you absolutely fell in love with your sweet Great Aunt Marsha. She truly is an angel sent from above, and I am beyond happy that you had a chance to meet this amazing person. 

We didn't sleep a ton (since you are in the thick of teething), but we did our best and your Grandpa was gracious enough to take you for morning coffee every morning so mama could get a few hours of shut eye. It was so sweet, he sure is thoughtful and given the chance, he certainly will never turn down a few minutes to hang with you - which melts my heart daily.

Here's a ton of pics of you in your family's hometown: Jerome/Hansen/Twin Falls, Idaho!!:

PDX --> BOI

early morning walk in the country

Shoshone Falls

Matchy Matchy!

Great Aunt Marsha at the falls!

You LOOOOVE your cousin Chelsie!!

Dierkes Lake: Your Gma and Gpa's old stomping grounds!

I was pretty excited - your first time swimming!

You and your girlfriend

Like a fish in the water - you're a natural, dude

Flirt

Loving on Great Aunt Marsha in her Betty Boop PJ's!

bath time with Marsha!

BOI ---> PDX

Cruisin

Summer!!

Hey buddy,
It's summertime in Portland. It came a bit late, so we're making up for lost time. Many blog updates are due, you have flown, crawled, clapped and met your sweet Great Aunt Marsha.
More to come, but in the meantime, here is your summatime so far...

Do Not Disturb

For the back half of this week, you and I are on a staycation. I am reliving maternity leave today by not showering, letting you nap on me, and sipping on mimosa's.
I am so in love with you right now. It's ridic.

Bruiser

Dude, you are MOVING!!
All over the place, nonstop. You haven't perfected crawling yet, but you're pulling yourself up onto the coffee table, until you get excited and try to jump, ending up with bruises making it look like we beat you. Best part is: you're a total stud about it. You fall all over the place, you take about 5 nose dives a day, and you never cry. You are fearless and quite the bruiser.

When you nap,

I miss you.
Please wake up so we can play.
That is all.

you are way too cute

you ain't nothin but a hound dog

after that last bath on the counter we decided we shouldn't make such a mess anymore (nor should we bathe you next to the knife block - ahhh, lessons learned).
So, we've moved you into the kitchen sink. And you seem to fit it just perfectly.
Playing the part of Elvis: Sawyer Sizemore.

Good Eats

Watching you eat is pretty much the most fun I've had in years.
You LOVE food and your daddy and I have a blast letting you taste different flavors and textures.
According to professionals, you're supposed to start with rice cereal and then slowly introduce vegetables, one per week, to teste for allergies. But today we couldn't help but see how you would react to Tapatio, and of course, you loved it.
Watching you eat is the cutest thing ever. Here are a few shots from the last week or so. Now if you could only figure out that your feet are not part of the meal...

Hand over the cereal and nobody gets hurt

such.a.blast.

still trying to decide if you're going to be a thumb sucker

having a little foot cheese

make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

First bite. And no, we weren't prepared with a high chair. 

The Bumbo worked just fine

Grandma and Great-Grandma giving you the spoon