Otto Turns 6 Months Old

Happy Half Birthday to our little Sunshine!

Otto Nicholas Richter joined our lives on January 14th weighing 7 pounds and 14 ounces. We knew we weren't prepared, but we didn't know how much our lives would be changed.

The first three months were very hard adjusting to all your needs and wants (a.k.a. CRIES). Some days we felt helpless and exhausted and other days we were elated with joy. Now at six months we are overwhelmed with happiness and couldn't imagine our lives without you. If you cry now, we know what to do.

We love your smiles and can't resist doing anything silly to hear your laughter. We continually find joy in watching you explore your world and experience new things each day. Our parental instincts have taken over like everyone said they would. We feel completely comfortable changing you, feeding you, bathing you and entertaining you. We still check on you several times during your naps and at night because you like to sleep with your blanket over your head, which makes us very nervous.

You used to eat every couple hours 'round the clock, now you eat every three hours and have solid foods twice a day (no more nighttime feedings)!

You used to wake up several times during the night, now you sleep from 7:30pm-6:30am and take three one and a half hour naps.

You used to only sleep in your swing, now you sleep only in your crib (with an occasional snuggle nap with mommy in bed).

You used to cross your eyes and stare blankly at things, now you turn to look at sounds and movement with curiosity.

You used to have a serious look on your face with your eyebrows furrowed, you still do!

You used to never smile, now you smile often and squeal with delight.

We look forward to each day knowing it will bring new changes and many more smiles. We look into your face and wonder what you are thinking hoping we are doing everything right. You bring us unexplainable joy!

Happy Six Month Birthday Otto!

A Half Birthday Celebration

Otto turned 6 months old on July 14th and we celebrated with a camping trip on Hood Canal with lots of friends. Otto went on his first small motor boat ride just to taxi us out to a little island. He seemed to really love being outside, but we tried to keep him out of the hot sun as best as we could (burp clothes make good hats).

He slept very well in the tent with us and even politely woke up for a 3am feeding, so I didn't have to bring my breast pump. He really is a star camper!

Addy Gets a New Home

On Saturday we went down to Olympia to visit my best friend, Nicki. She, her husband Justin, and daughter Addison moved into their first "very own" home. Hurray and Congratulations to them!
We had a fun BBQ together in their new backyard and Nicki and I took Otto and Addy for a stroller ride through their new neighborhood. Addy was born on November 14th (my mother's birthday), exactly 2 months before Otto. She is a star sitter and will be a great friend for Otto to grow up with.
Otto and Addy had fun playing together with Otto's new stacking cups (thanks Great Uncle John and Great Aunt Dana). Addy also shared her Cheerios and sweet potatoes with Otto, so he got to taste them for the first time.

Toes, Toes, Toes

For about a month now Otto has been enjoying a delectable meal of...TOES. I'm amazed at how flexible he is. He grabs his toes and then pulls them into his mouth. This morning he was sucking on his thumb and his big toe at the same time. (Don't try this at home!)

New Milestone - Sitting Up

Otto started sitting up all by himself on July 4th. We still have to keep an eye on him because every once in awhile he topples over onto his head. He really enjoys sitting up and playing with his toys now.

Otto's First Camping and Fishing Trip

What a fun time we had last Thursday as we spontaneously decided to go camping with our friends Cate and Brian. We packed up the car and headed to Lake Easton for an overnight. Otto was a rock star camper. He didn't fuss at all and seemed to have a really good time. He LOVES being outside, a trait which he gets from the Richter genes (his Opa is a wetland biologist). Otto went to bed around 8pm in his Moses basket in the tent and slept until 5am.

Then he went fishing and watched uncle Brian catch a beautiful brook trout. He got to try out his new (thanks Heidi and Sean) backpack as daddy fished. We are sure to go camping many more times for which I'm sure Otto will enjoy.

The Relatives Came

Otto got to meet his Great Uncle John and Great Aunt Dana from Idaho as they were visiting the area last week. He took a liking to Dana very quickly!

Otto's First Hair Cut

Today was a big day. Otto went to the "Kitchen Barber Shop" to have his first hair cut. He sat all by himself in his Bumbo chair, which by the way is from S. Africa (we'll have to tell Otto the significance of that when he gets a little older). He got to play with the wire whisk and Mommy used the kitchen scissors to cut the patch of funny long hairs on top his head, they now match the rest of his new growth hairs. He looks more even now. All in all, the trip to the barber shop took a mere 5 seconds and Otto looks handsome in his new do. We saved the hairs from his first hair cut to show him when he's older.

First Overnight Vacation with Grandma

My mother finished another school year and we headed to the beach! We decided to stay in a cottage out at Long Beach for two nights.


On the way out to the beach we stopped by the Grays River Covered Bridge and Otto got to see the last covered bridge in Washington. He was wide eyed and curious of the sounds inside the bridge.

I brought Otto's "pack-n-play" for him to sleep in. Since this was the first time he was very curious of the mesh sides and noisy fabric, so needless to say we all didn't get much sleep. Thank goodness there was a coffee shop right behind our cottage.

As usual it rained most of the time we were there, but despite the crummy weather we had fun exploring by car and by foot. While we were exploring we came across a black bear and these crazy cows who apparently don't like to get wet.

We were rewarded with a beautiful sunny sunset on our last evening there.