Playtime

We are finally celebrating weekends full of warmth and color. It's hard to top May in Minnesota, unless it's June in Minnesota. The days are long, the sun is brilliant, and everything is lush and green. We had been promising Oliver that winter wouldn't last forever, and now we could prove it. 

First, a lovely, rainy Saturday with my two best buds. 

We spent a relaxed and sunny Sunday playing in the yard. Friends from the North stopped in for a spell, and then we burned a few hours doing absolutely nothing. And we loved it.

Oliver would like Adam to wake up and play. Please.

Google has compiled this frenetic assortment of images that essentially sums up the day.

We still love all things tech, especially phones and laptops.

We also love to blow raspberries on everything, but especially arms. Oliver has mastered quite a solid grip, too. My left arm (generally nearest his head) is covered in little scratches. 

 

Trying to catch the camera.

 One more kiss for the road!

  

We're still working on figuring out Oliver's eczema triggers, although we are in a much better spot this month than last. Eliminating some of his known dietary allergens (peanuts/tree nuts, eggs, wheat, and dairy) from both my diet and his has made the biggest improvement. We only need to use a topical steroid perhaps once or twice a week, instead of multiple applications per day. The biggest change has been in his relative happiness, though. Although he's always had the best, most laid-back personality, it is so much more rewarding to watch him smile and laugh with ease. No more stubborn itching and persistent scratching to keep him awake at night. We can let him be, just to play by himself or bounce in his jumperoo, without constantly monitoring his hands. He scratches now more out of habit, I suspect, than actual itch. I think we still have quite a road ahead of us, but he's doing so well!

The little chunk-master is about seven and a half months now, and coming in at 21 pounds. He lives to eat and loves it all! I do wish we could introduce foods a little faster for him, but we can't. If he reacts to a new food, we have to pull back to his safe foods again. His all-time favorite food is still prunes, but apples and avocados tie for a close second. Unfortunately for Nicole, he also loves bananas, the smell and texture of which makes me want to throw up. Adam usually has to finish the banana feedings. Blech. He is, however, feeding himself actual solid pieces of bananas and avocados, and he loves to try to feed himself using the spoon. Our little guy is just growing up way too fast. Good thing that every day is a party!

Upside-down baby giggles - another favorite game.