I pictured this the summer of hikes -- we even got Beckham a hiking backpack to ride on Dallin's back Yzma-and-Kronk style.  Unfortunately, Beckham's legs are too skinny to fit comfortably in the backpack, and he's getting quite heavy for his front carrier. We had to find family friendly trails that were shorter and overall less intense. This June we found four beautiful waterside trails, each of which I would do again! 

Willow Lake Trail

Not pictured: the furry chirping critters that scurried around the lakeside that Beckham REALLY wanted to touch

 This was the second July 4th that our family was struck by COVID.  Dallin (and many of his coworkers) tested positive for the illness on June 29; by July 2, Beckham was at the pediatrician's office with a 104 fever and inability to keep anything down. I became sick a day later and thought that we were all getting better after a short stint, but we had to take Beckham in again to get a steroid shot for croup on July 6; meanwhile, I was diagnosed with bronchitis (but tested negative for COVID and the flu) on July 8.   The Urness family was in town all week for July 4 festivities including the Stadium of Fire, but we missed everything. Instead, on July 4 Beckham went to bed an hour early and Dallin and I watched fireworks from our bedroom window. The only upside of this whole ordeal is Beckham's squeaky voice from being sick is so cute and funny.

 This kid is WILD.  At age 9 months Beckham started pulling himself up to a stand and trying to climb on and over everything (the couch, dad, you name it).  He loves books, not just for mom and dad to read to him, but to use as a quick-sliding tool under his hand when crawling around. The family room has become a jungle gym of couch cushions which he scurries up and down and does little somersaults off of if I'm not fast enough to catch him (he loves it though). He puts everything in his mouth and has been caught eating cat food and licking the cats' catnip roller. He moves SO FAST. If I'm trying to cook, I'll put him in the family room with lots of barriers, but they do not keep him contained. 

 He has started biting, hitting, pinching and scratching, and we are working on toning down the violence. But we are still learning, so my arms has a few little bruises from him biting me while carrying him at the store. We are trying to use a homemade nursing necklace to keep his fingers from pinching during feeds. Unfortunately, the nursing necklace does not prevent him suddenly and ferociously using his four little chompers on me.

He now immediately says "dada" when he sees Dallin and has also said "mama" after seeing me. He has learned how to wave and waves not only at people but at the mirror and at Dallin's truck.  He babbles even more and will sometimes babble-sing to himself while bopping his little head around. He is very stoic on FaceTime calls.