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.