7 Month Mark

What the stink!? The monkey is 7 months old! And we love him more than ever. He is pretty much the cutest thing to have ever wiggled and rolled around on our floor.

7-month milestones and favorite things:

*He has officially discovered the baby in the mirror. More than just the occasional smile, as he was wont to give himself before, he'll now squeal with delight and react more energetically. 

Pretty stinking cute.

*He can sit up by himself for long periods of time. To my great relief. Sometimes his head still throws him off balance, because he has a lot of brains he's keeping up there.

*He's in a stage where he likes to know where I am at all times. Apparently I'm very cool. So cool in fact that he'll FREAK OUT in mere seconds if I walk past and do not come directly to him. FUN.

*This picture is not a milestone. But I love the look of pure joy on his face. 

 So look at his face. Not his bum.

*He still loves to squeal at the top of his lungs. Though he's still a serious boy around other people. And he still likes to fake cough in hopes of eliciting sympathy.

So far, 7 months is treating him well. And we love the 7-month version of the monkey lots and lots.

Teething

How does Devin feel about his fantastic ability to grow teeth?

Pretty thrilled. Obvs.

Temple Trip

Annalisa's mom works at the Oakland temple the second Saturday of the month, and since I'd mentioned to Annalisa when we moved here that I wasn't sure how we would be able to go to the temple since we live 2.5 hours away and leaving Devin with someone for 6-8 hours would be asking a lot, she and her mom came up with the great plan that her mom would stay after her shift at the temple and watch Devin for us. I'm so glad Annalisa and Rosangela came up with this solution to our problem!

We were able to make things work this past Saturday, and it was such a huge blessing in our life. Rosangela is one of the sweetest women, and her good friend was there attending the temple as well, so Devin got to hang out with two fun grandmas!

Living 2.5 hours from the temple really isn't that far--in fact on Sunday I read an article in the Ensign discussing how a couple in India saved and waited for two years to attend the temple in Hong Kong-- but it seems like forever away when you can't just go whenever you want.

I'm grateful for the service that was given on our behalf this past weekend. And I'm grateful for my forever family.

Britton Family Adventure Number Two

It was time for our second Britton Family Adventure, as Rich had Monday off work.

We got some opinions on where to head, and decided to head out to the coast. Bodega Bay was our main destination, but we had some fun other places, too.

Devin got so excited about his second family adventure that he sprouted teeth en route. I swear they weren't there before we left the house!

We first stopped in Jenner to get a pic of the mouth of the Russian River, which was, sadly, a little anti-climactic. I think we should have walked on this beach to get a close up of the sea lions huddled together for warmth. Because let me tell you, that sunshine streaming down upon our house was no where to be found at the coast!

We didn't mind the lack of sunshine, and instead boosted our spirits, and Devin's, by having a family round of Old McDonald. Devin is one lucky kid. Because the dad is AMAZING at animal sounds. Especially the exotic animals. Old McDonald's farm is certainly much more exciting these days.

We stopped at Portuguese Beach along the way to Bodega Bay. 

Since the day was still brisk, we had to cover the wee one up, but he still loved his first ocean adventure. 

I didn't mind the un-beach-like weather. It was great to just walk along the water and see the waves.

I was brave and decided to get my feet wet. 

 Holy freezing! 

 We got some nice shots, and Devin and Rich were almost were stranded on a rock in the name of picture taking.

  I think the nice lady who took this family shot for us was wondering why in the world Rich was taking the babe onto the rock!

Especially since this sign told us very clearly that we needed to respect the sea. 

 Warm, sunny, San Diego beach this is not!

After our shots of the coastal area, we headed for Bodega Bay. Where we were totally sucked in by the pink and white shack. 

 We had to stop and get some unique flavors of salt water taffy. Thankfully the taffy didn't disappoint--coconut salt water taffy won the favorite award.

After the taffy buying, we drove back and forth, to Rich's delight, from one restaurant to another. I just couldn't decide! After comparing prices, we finally settled in for a great seafood lunch.

After lunch we drove to Bodega and took shots of the church and school used in the movie The Birds. Neither Rich nor I have seen the movie in its fullness, but now it's on the Netflix queue for future watching. 

 When we were at the church there was a girl about eleven there with her family, and she just kept repeating, "This place is haunted. The people in the windows are morphing," in a monotone, creepy voice. If that didn't prepare me for a horror movie, I'm not sure anything could. She was one creepy child. 

This bird was flying over the church just as we were leaving; I saw him follow us a ways down the road. He was considering an attack. 

 I could just feel it. But he decided we wouldn't taste so good, and instead flew in another direction, so we didn't get to experience the possessed birds for ourselves!

It was such a nice family day. Our second family adventure definitely gets two thumbs up.

Motherhood

This is beautiful and exactly what I needed to hear.

4th of July

Our 4th of July was rather uneventful. But that doesn't mean we're not patriotic, rather, that we're just laziness.

Our celebrating spanned the 3rd and 4th. 3rd of July highlights included having a pancake breakfast with our ward members, getting a free piano, taking a family nap for 2.5 hours, going to Walmart, and, finally, watching some fireworks.

Waiting for the fireworks. Luckily we could see the whole show right from our backyard.

Rich would like everyone to know that stain on his shirt is from Devin. 

4th of July highlights included attending church, playing said free piano, and having Rich get a great idea to make homemade snow cones.

She may not be the prettiest, or be all the way in tune, but I'm still very excited to have her!

Devin was pretty stoked about the out-of-tune, and out-of-practice, piano playing.

Rich's genius plan included chopping the crushed ice in the Magic Bullet, then drizzling some lemonade powder mixed with very little water over the ice.

Which produced one sour treat!

But Rich thought they were tasty tasty and wanted to make seconds.

Just How Big?

Devin had his 6-month check today. He was very brave and screamed for approximately 30 seconds after the nurse poked him. Then, once he was back in my arms he was fine. He loves me, you see. I wish the comforting was always that easy. Because when he needs comforting at night, it does not take a mere 30 seconds to calm him. Apparently having to go to bed at night is much more terrifying and trying than having your legs poked.

Devin grew exactly one and one quarter inches. And gained one and three quarter pounds.

Weight: 16 lb 4 oz 50th percentile

Height: 25.75 in 50th percentile

Here are some 6-month Devin tidbits:

*He rolls and rolls. And then rolls some more. He loves it. And apparently he was a closet stomach sleeper this whole time, because now that he has learned to roll, and has a crib in which to roll, as soon as I put him down he's already turning over. Definitely puts a cramp in the doctor's direction "to only put him to sleep on his back."

*He is nigh unto crawling. Rich thinks it great fun to "practice" at night. I do not condone such practicing. Devin deliberately raises his butt up in the air and pushes with his toes to move forward mere centimeters, enough to get within toy reach, and then Rich moves the toy further away. It's mean, really. He's gotten up on his knees, and I'm just really not excited for the mobileness.

*He has finally figured out the full potential of the door jumper and exersaucer. However, he does not like it when the air conditioner blows directly onto his bare legs while in the door jumper, thus making him ice cold. We'll be monitoring this situation in the future.

*He enjoys his baths evermore. Especially since we've been trying harder to be good parents and bathe him more often.

*He's still a serious kid. Loves the seriousfaceness.

*But behind that serious face is a grinner. It's rare to catch a grin in the wild, and when the camera is at the ready. You have to be quick, as the babe is an adorable, but fleeting target.

*He continues to love his daddy. Joy emanates when Rich goes in to get him from his late afternoon nap. He also just enjoys watching him talk. 

 Here he says, "Meh, you can eat my face, I'm really too serious to care."

*He loves solids. He hasn't had a wide array yet, but I can tell you that green beans and sweet potatoes are preferred over the rice cereal, which the pediatrician likened unto eating library.

Clearly really excited about life right now.