Raspberries

You've heard us mention them. You've maybe even received one. But for posterity, here it is: our sweet little man's emerging musical talent.

Summer Ends...

The last weeks of summer have slipped away somewhat quietly. Noticing that it has been too long since I've posted anything, here is a quick post. One recent highlight has been Oscar's first (second and third) swim (and I am still without pictures, as I haven't yet figured out how to bring a camera safely into a public pool). He is a natural in the water and loves gliding, kicking, and splashing. He will start swim lessons in a couple of weeks. Other highlights include some noisy work on the house, pictures to appear soon.

Here are a few miscellaneous pics from the last few weeks.

Our friends, Adam and Susie (above), are expecting their first baby in September. I helped host a baby shower for her, which was really a lot of fun.

Oscar tried on the "birthing necklace" we made at Adam and Susie's shower. All of their friends and family brought beads that we then strung together. They will hang it in the birthing suite to remind them of all of the people close to them who will be thinking of them.


We are using our Beaba Babycook almost daily now. With this cool gadget we are able to easily make fresh healthy food for O.K. in around 10 minutes. He is eating two "meals" a day, each time a little closer to getting the food from his hand into his mouth.


Bone is truly the best cat ever. She has been so patient with O.K., even as his reach and grasp have become more precise and persistent.


Oscar's peek-a-boo skills are also improving. We continue to have fun with all of the ways he is growing and changing as we near his 7th month of life.

West Coast (be warned this is a LONG post)

What a sweet two weeks in the Pacific Northwest. We decided we weren't going to rush around trying to see EVERYONE this during this trip, which took some of the ol' travel stress out of our time there. Still we managed to see (and relax with) lots of family and friends. Here are some of the highlights (there were a lot of highlights)...

We didn't know how Oscar would take to flying, but he proved to be quite flexible and though he didn't sleep much, he was pretty happy to bounce around and smile at all the people.

O.K. finally got to meet his Nana, who, we are pretty sure, was equally excited to meet him.

We spent the first weekend adjusting to the time change and hanging out with Nana. We ate yummy food (a theme throughout our trip), including the tasty breakfast shown below. We RELAXED, and enjoyed small town Newberg--a pleasant shift from our noisy summer street here in Philly.

Gum (aka Pop/Mauri) returned, and we were happy to share our mornings --complete with home-roasted coffee, and a variety of special breakfasts (if you've never had a fried egg on a jalapeño-cheese bagel or peanut butter-apple buttermilk waffles, then you need to wake up at 514.)

How about fried mush with butter and syrup and a little bacon on the side?

"No TV for babies" didn't always hold up around Gum.

During our days we visited friends and more family.

Grandma Williams and Oscar practiced saying "b", Oscar's newest favorite consonant.

We ate lunch with Grandma Williams and Uncle Keith. O.K. enjoyed a little watermelon rind.

Grandma Macy fed Oscar while Grandpa napped. Grandpa did wake up after a while to goof around with his fourth great-grandchild.

We also saw cousins, Derrin and Andra, as well as their new super-cute home and their even cuter puppy, Jasper. Uncle Daryl drove down from Bellingham to see us -- thanks, Uncle D!



We met up with dear friend, Lupine, and her sweet daughters, Dot and Bina, for some water fun. Later, Dan joined us for dinner. We love the Swanson-Blakers!




Temps were well above 100 degrees, so the next day, we found more water with Uncle Dave and Grayson, Oscar's cousin.


Grayson was so sweet with O.K. We were glad to get to spend some time with our nephew.


Uncle Dave knows how to hold a baby AND make delicious homemade ice cream.


Elizabeth (aka Nana) put together a lovely family picnic at Forest Park for her "kids" and grandkids. We ate fancy subs with red pepper aioli, a "signature Nana" pasta salad, and plenty of chips and cookies. Grayson climbed everything in sight, and in between a long walk, watching Grayson run an obstacle course, and kicking around a hacky-sack, we caught up with each other.



Nana and her grandsons.


Oscar loves his Nana.


Later that day, we hung out on the shady porch of our favorite old friends, Kelly and Joo Ree.



Sally and Stephen, and their boys, Miles and Cole, met us for coffee and a chance to play a bit at the park. They are such a sweet family and we miss living closer to them.




We met Gus and Gum's soon-to-be puppy, Jane Austen, otherwise known as Mr. Darcy (though apparently everyone will call her Darcy). She is one cute pup!


Saturday evening, Uncle Howard and Aunt Margi hosted a family dinner. O.K. met all kinds of family, and there was so much food, I forgot to get out my camera. Here are a few pics, taken by professionals, Uncle John and Aunt Erin.

John hacks.

Gus (aka Sherry) returned from her trip to Ethiopia where she met two more of her grandchildren, Paul Toshe and Addison Serkalem.


Farmer Oscar.


I have to admit, O.K. and Aunt Linsey look like they could be related...


And then, we packed up and headed out to Rockaway on the coast with Gum and Gus, and the four Macy aunts and uncles. We ate (no surprise there), played on the beach, visited the Tillamook Cheese Factory, and otherwise relaxed in a house right on the beach. It was a wonderful way to spend our last days. (Most of the photos below were taken again by the pro's, Uncle John and Aunt Erin).

Oscar ate mashed potatoes for the first time. But when he was done, it looked more like a potato had been eating him.


Shrimp boil -- yum!


Massaman curry -- double yum!


Compared to last time, Oscar hardly spit up on Aunt Erin at all.



Oscar loves playing with his uncles.


Oscar and his Gus.


Gum calls this the "Vulcan mind meld".


Some bad-ass Boccie ball on the beach.


And then a little boccie ball juggling (as bad-ass as juggling can get, really).


A first -- Oscar sticks his toes in the sand.



We already look forward to our next west coast visit. Hopefully, it will be soon.

FOOD...

So I've seen babies eat food before. I've even seen pictures of babies eating their FIRST food. Of course, I've always been appropriately appreciative of the sweetness of it all, but it hasn't been until now, until I've seen OUR baby grow from this sweet and warm lump-of-baby to this little person who is doing new stuff all the time that I really appreciate how amazing each change and new experience really is. So, now I'm sharing O.K.'s first official food (Organic Rice Cereal in breast milk, by the way) with you. And if you've had your own warm lump-of-baby turn into a tiny wiggly eating person before, you'll know how cool it is.

YUM!