6 Months

Bennett is now 6 months old – getting so old! We take him in to the doctor for his appt later this week, so I’m curious to see how big he’s getting. We’re hoping we’ve got another couple months before he outgrows his carseat (and thus also his stroller, which is basically just a car seat frame – anyone have a favorite as we search for a new one?). I’m sure his weight has a ways to go but I think his height may be getting close.

Probably the biggest change in the last month is his mobility. He can roll over across the floor, and can turn himself around by pushing with his arms (when he’s playing, even if I put him down on his back, he usually ends up on his tummy – I think it’s a better perspective to see his toys and look around). I have to remember not to put him on the bed when I’m doing stuff because he moves so easily now.

He also is getting a lot more interested in non-toy objects, so we have to be careful. He tries to grab anything we’re holding, but we also have to watch plastic bags, cords, books, etc. that he may be able to reach. It’s fun to see how fascinated he gets looking at and playing with things that are so simple to us – like a clear plastic cup, or an envelope, or tissue paper. Unfortunately, I think we’ll have to break down and do some babyproofing. He discovered all the things (books, wedding photo album that’s in progress, etc.) I have under the coffee table in our living room, so I’m in search of a new place to store them.

Bennett just started “eating solid food”. I use the term loosely, because a) he doesn’t actually eat very much of it – most of it ends up on his chin, on his bib, on the tray, on the counter, on his legs – anywhere but actually swallowed, and b) at this point it’s just watered-down very liquidy rice cereal. But it’s a start. We’re hoping for some improvement. Here’s a video of his first solid food. It was pretty entertaining – one of us was feeding him, one was holding his hands so he wouldn’t grab the spoon / bowl, and my brother Dave was acting as the photographer / videographer.

I think that’s about it – still no teeth, although there have been several times I thought one was coming in because he was extra fussy or chewing on things, but nope. Here’s a cute picture I caught of him at the coast watching the sunset (or maybe just spaced out :)

Coasting

The first weekend in August, we had the annual Morris Family coast trip. My family has been going to Brookings, Oregon once every summer for probably 15+ years. We camp at Harris Beach, where the campground is at the top of a bluff / cliff, so we can just walk down the hill to the beach. The trip is mostly the same every year, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. This year, we had a Morris Family tennis tournament Friday morning in Ashland before leaving for the coast. Nate and I made it to the finals in the double-elimination tournament, but after beating Dave and my dad once in the finals, we couldn’t quite pull off the second win to become the champions. We’ll have to practice for next year, especially since the winners were awarded surprise T-shirts (designed by Nate and I).

Some of the highlights from our time at the coast were:

* delicious food (especially considering that we were camping – highlights were tin foil dinners, croissant sandwiches for breakfast, breakfast burritos, and scotcheroos)

* Spending the day at the beach with no real plan / schedule

* getting in the freezing cold water – although it didn’t last long, and I only got wet up to about my waist. Nate was more daring and dove all the way in

* making a big, well-protected sand castle (I didn’t really participate in this one – mostly just watched) with a massive moat to catch the waves

* burying various people in the sand

* watching the grandkids play together

* watching the sunset over the ocean

* sleeping in a yurt for the first time (we got spoiled since we had a baby)

and generally just being with my family and spending time with them. The trip was definitely too short and went by too quickly, but it was so much fun and great to see my family!