6 months.

Dear Beckett,

I have a six month old. How did that happen?! I read something recently about parenthood and it turns out it is absolutely true... "the days are long, but the years are short." Half a year. Oh my.

It has been a busy month.

You started solids! Kinda. Solids in the form of various flavors of mush. :). You tried oatmeal first.

We took your first road trip and you spent your first night away from home. We went to Champaign to celebrate my best friend's daughter's first birthday. I think you had fun at the party. You still like meeting new people. We had lunch with Bailey and her parents as well. You two even held hands, adorable.

We celebrated your dad's 33rd birthday. It was a Friday and he actually had to go dog-sit for Oma and Grandpa, but we had an awesome dinner together. And you had your first bite of sweet potatoes.

We also celebrated my first Mother's Day. You and dad spoiled me. A picture of us for my desk. And a new charm for my charm bracelet. The 'mom' charm. That still blows my mind sometimes. We celebrated with dad's side of the family the day before with a yummy lunch at Buca di Beppo's. On Mother's Day, the three of us joined your Aunt Cassie, Uncle Dan and cousins, Tyler and Charley, at Brookfield zoo. It was very crowded, but we had a great time. I packed a picnic lunch and we spent the day. You were awesome and snoozed several times in your stroller.

We had a party for Nona and G'pa with all their friends to say farewell before they moved. You were quite the hit, as usual.

The big one! Your first vacation!!! We spent 5 days and 4 nights in northern Wisconsin with Oma and Grandpa. You tried pears for the first time and started actually opening your mouth for the food. Played with your cousins. Enjoyed sitting outside. Got a bath in the kitchen sink. Slept in bed with me. Got a cold from your cousins. Yay, sharing. But we had a great time. Your dad and I did a little bit of fishing. The weather wasn't nice enough for you to get your first boat ride or to go swimming quite yet. The drive was about seven hours and all in all you did pretty spectacular in the car.

What else is new?

You straighten your legs to stand.
You're trying hard to sit unsupported, but that giant cranium throws off your balance something fierce.
You roll and have started sleeping on your side on occasion.
Speaking of sleep, you haven't slept in your crib for about a month now. First your teeth ruined you, so you slept with us. Then we went out of town, so you slept with us. Then we knew we'd be going on vacation, no point fighting you now, so you slept with us. Then we went on vacation. Then we got back from vacation and you were sick, so you slept in your bouncy seat to keep you more upright. Or on the couch with us. *sigh*. I do love cuddling you, but we hope to transition you back to your crib soon so we can all get better sleep.
You say "mama" regularly and, although I know you don't yet know what it means, it still kills me.
We've had to move your exersaucer up a notch because you're getting too darn tall and now you're already standing in it again. Only one notch left before you've outgrown that too.
You were supposed to have already had your six month doctor visit, but you were sick, so we actually go this week and then I'll know your new stats.

Favorite toys: your exersaucer, Jungly tales, anything that crinkles.
Nicknames: Becks, Pumpkin, Munchkin, Stinkerpants

Kiddo, we had so much fun with you this month. Love you buckets.

5 months.

Dear Beckett, 

yeah, I'm a few days behind here.  Things have been a bit...busy... around here lately and this month is going to be even busier. 

I can't believe it has been 5 months. 

What's new this month? 

~You can sit up.  Only from a leaning position and you can't hold it yet, but it's something!
~You are rolling like crazy, but only to your left.  :)  This morning, for the very first time, I saw you head to your right, but you didn't make it all the way over.
~You'll chill on your tummy for quite awhile now, with your head lifted and your arms and legs up or down.  That's a big feat considering your giant noggin!  I'm convinced that you're starting to get frustrated that you can't GO anywhere yet.
~You push your arm through the sleeves of your clothes if we put your hand in. 
~You're wearing mostly 9-month clothes at this point, having out-lengthed the 6 month stuff.
~One day after your 5 month "birthday" you got your second tooth.  Yes, you have already bitten me.  No, I did not enjoy it.  Ouch.
~For two days while that tooth made its way out, you refused to be put down at ALL to sleep.  It was rough for Dad and I, but we managed.  Even the baby tylenol didn't help you.  :(
~You have been busted playing with your junk on more than one occasion during diaper changes.  'Nuff said.
~We are still cloth diapering you and we love it.  You haven't had a single diaper rash yet (knock on wood!) and we've only had two "blowouts" and they were both while you were in your carseat.
~You love playing the rocketship game and the "I'm gonna get your ____" game with me.  You know the phrases enough that you start smiling when I say them now.  Awesome. 
~You chew on EVERYTHING.
~Sleeping is still a bit touch and go... good nights, bad nights, good stretches, bad stretches.  You're still swaddled at bedtime, but only with one arm in the swaddle.  We're planning on changing that this week though and then losing the swaddle altogether since summer is approaching.  Dad and I are trying not to stress about your sleep so much and just go with the flow.  Sometimes that means you sleep in our bed (don't tell!).  We have instituted a bedtime routine and you seem to be enjoying that.
~You like your baths... trying to "catch" the water as it pours on you.
~You had your first dose of baby oatmeal in the past week.  You seemed indifferent to it.  And we've kept it secret from all your family at this point, knowing that they'll want to feed you everything in sight!  Soon enough.

Favorite toys: Dieter for naptime, Moritz while out and about, the blocks that crinkle and jingle, your Jungly Tails book, and anything that fits in your mouth

Nicknames: Beck, Becks, Munchkin, Stinkerpants, Mister

It's gonna be a big month.  Your first overnight trip to visit my Champaign girlfriend.  Possibly your first vacation... we'll see about that one!  You'll be celebrating Dad's birthday and Mother's Day for the first time.  And we will say goodbye to Nona and G'pa as they leave for Ohio this month as well. 

You are changing so much.  Every week is something new.  We are enjoying watching you grow and change.  Not too fast though, kiddo. 

We love you.