Almost There...

I might have been a bit premature for the crawling by 7 months thought, but I don't think I am that far off.  Austin's been scooting around backward all over the house.  Recently though, he's tried crawling/scooting forward.  This usually results in him falling forward onto his nose (ok on the blanket on the rug, but not so fun on the kitchen tile!).

Just this morning I noticed he was picking up 1 hand and getting it slightly forward and down, stopping himself from faceplanting.  I love having a video camera on my phone, because I was able to catch it.

Check it out!

6 Months?!?!

Half a year??  I can't believe it's been 6 months already!!  Austin has grown and changed SO much in just 6 short months!  He's sitting all by himself, falling onto his tummy when he wants, and can hold a push up position for 5-7 seconds!  He's even turning in circles when he's on his tummy!  I'm calling it now, he'll be crawling by his 7 month birthday!!!  He's nearly gotten himself up on hands and knees, but he can't/won't hold it.  We've been on the lookout for new teeth, but nothing yet.  It seems Austin likes being 6 months, he's happy nearly all the time, which is a WELCOME change from his first few months!!!  John is getting more excited now that Austin is more mobile.  He's still anxious for the day Austin begins walking, but I'm sure that's the case with most daddys.

Here's our fantastic little 6 month old.

So Smiley!

A Natural!

I LOVE being outside mom!!

6 Month Check-up

Well, Austin went for his 6 month check up on the 10th.  Daddy took him this time.  He got 4 more shots (including the flu shot).  I wondered what would happen when he got his shots and couldn't nurse afterward.  Apparently he did really well, crying for just a few minutes before calming down.  Daddy didn't get Austin's percentile scores, but here is where he's at now: weight 17.4 lbs, height 27 inches.

Here's our little man sporting all his colorful band aids.   All smiles despite the 4 shots he had.

It might've helped that it was bath time... his FAVORITE time of day!!

5 Months!!

For the record, this post has been nearly complete for a while.  I was waiting on pictures from Janel.  I got them last week.  I know, I just needed to paste them in, what took so long?  Well...life got in the way.  Better late than never right?

Well, Austin is 5 months now.  It's interesting, as it feels like we just brought him home, but at the same time he's been here forever.  Life before Austin is difficult to remember.  We don't see our friends nearly as often as we like (especially since John's friend Jeff moved to Portland, OR for his residency), but don't realize how long it's been until they call and ask if we're still alive.  Austin may take up all our time, but we love it and wouldn't have it any other way.

Our little guy is really sitting up well on his own, rarely falling over.  His favorite is to lean forward and fall onto his tummy.  All those months before when he hated tummy time, he now purposefully falls forward to get onto his tummy!  One day, while I was at work, he spent 45 minutes playing on his tummy with John!!  He got to spend his 5 month birthday in Nebraska with his cousins Brinley and Titus, Aunt Janel and Uncle Roger, Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Eric, Great Aunt Vicki and Great Uncle Doug, Great Uncle Terry and his girlfriend Chris and her son Sam, Great Great Aunt Cathy and cousins Bridget and Rachel.

More on that trip in another post... On to the pictures!  (the outdoor pictures are courtesy of Aunt Janel).

I'm handsome and I know it

Drool face!

Not so sure

Flying man!

I love this one

He should be fatter for as much as he likes to eat!

Hot and tired

A pro at sitting

Here comes the big spit up!

Getting tired

Z

Yup, it's time for a nap

OK...Now WHAT is THAT???

Austin was taking a bath on Saturday the 13th, and found something new.  It held his attention for quite some time, check it out:

What's THAT??

Why won't it come off?

He's really going to hate me one day!!  (I love you Austin!)

What the...??

I meant to put this up Tuesday, but life got in the way.  When I got home from work, Austin was asleep.  I was doing something around the house (laundry, eating, cleaning, I don't remember), and John called me into Austin's room.  He had just woken up.  I went in, and there was Austin, laying on his back looking befuddled.  We always put him to sleep on his tummy.  He must have rolled over in his sleep and woken up.  It was pretty funny.  Look out world, Austin's nearly on the move!

4 Months!

I know, I know, it's MUCH delayed, as Austin's 5 month birthday has passed, but with the editing I need to do for these pictures (they've gotta look better than just snapshots!), it takes longer to get the monthly picture posts up.
Austin started sitting up for short bits at a time, and he has started mouthing EVERYTHING.  He also started at the baby sitter's.  It was a hard transition, and I fluctuate daily between guilt, relief (to join the grown up world again), and more guilt because I am relieved.  Austin also began teething, although no teeth yet.  His teething made for some funny pictures!

Ha ha!

Close up.  Definitely teething!!

Timber!

Huh?

I'm so cool I suck my thumb with my pinkie up!

Just Because

I didn't have any other blog post planned (outside of the 4 month post- yes I'm getting to it, those pictures require editing, and this one didn't), but wanted a reason to post this picture.  So, I'll just post it all by itself for your enjoyment.  John was home with Austin 3 days this week, and they spent quite a bit of time at the park.  I checked my phone at lunch one day, and was greeted by this awesome face.  Definitely one of my favorite pictures of him thus far!

No, I didn't dress him, daddy did.  I guess he knew it would make an awesome picture!  :-)

A TOOTH!!

When we picked Austin up from the sitter yesterday, she said he had a REALLY rough day, crying most of the 7 1/2 hours, sleeping only 1 hour.  I felt awful she had to deal with him like that, but he came home with something he didn't leave with.... a TOOTH!
He had been snotty and mildly feverish for about 2 weeks, but we thought it was just a cold.  Nope, he was cutting a tooth!  This is the day I have been VERY nervous about.  As a nursing momma, I have a very real fear of being bitten.  So, now that he's got a tooth (and MAN is that thing SHARP!!!), I'm on edge, trying to be ready for the first bite.  Luckily it's on his bottom jaw, which means his tongue should cover it while nursing.   Although, with my luck, he'll bite me as I'm falling asleep nursing in the middle of the night.  That'll be a pleasant wake up!!

Here's the best picture I could get of his tooth.

4 Month Check-up

It's that time again, back to the doctor for a check up and *Ugh* shots.  Austin was pleasant and content on the way to the doctor (I think he's warming up to his car seat, I guess our daily trips out during the summer are paying off!)  He was happy and giggly in the waiting room, loving starring at the toys around the room.  His favorite was the table with the windy colored wires and the beads that slide along them.  Everyone commented on how beautiful his eyes are, and I must agree, they are quite pretty (you're welcome son!).
He weighed in at 15 lbs. 8 oz., measured 26 inches tall with a 43 cm head circumference.  That puts him in the 60th percentile for weight and 80th percentile for height.  While waiting for the doctor, Austin LOVED looking at and talking to the frogs and ducks painted on the walls.  He did get cold though, sitting around in just his diaper.  I didn't have a blanket, but I was resourceful and used my sling to wrap him up.  He was much happier then.
The doctor said he looks good, and isn't worried he isn't rolling over, as he's beginning to sit and grabbing his feet.  The doctor left, and the nurse came in bearing a tray with 4 shots and an oral syringe.  I had just given him some Tylenol before she came in, and he had no problems.  He took the oral meds with no difficulty either.  He cried and screamed with the shots, but after the nurse handed him to me, I nursed him, and he fell right asleep.  He slept all the way home, including the transition into the car seat and from the car seat to his crib.  He proceeded to take over a 2 hour nap, which was a relief to me. Here's hoping he doesn't have too much of a fever and isn't too terrible for the sitter tomorrow!!

Resourceful mommy!

So sleepy boy.

The Sitter's House

Austin went to the baby sitter's house for the first time today.  He "met" her a few months ago, but he slept and cried through most of our visit.  I expected it to be harder leaving him there than at home with daddy, and I was right.  I have no concerns for his safety, and trust this woman entirely with my son (especially since she watches our friend's kids as well)  After explaining where things were and when he last ate, I handed Austin over, and immediately walked out the door.  I couldn't be around when he realized I was gone and started to cry.
As I descended the steps, I could feel the tears well up, and was able to fend them off until I got into the car.  I shed a few tears, sucked it up, and concentrated on driving to work.  I spent the rest of the day trying desperately NOT to call or text to see how he was.  I even called John at one point, asking if the sitter had called him for anything, luckily she hadn't.  Around 2 pm, I got a text with a picture of a content little Austin letting me know everything was fine.  The relief I felt upon seeing that was immense!  (The sitter later revealed she had heard from our friend that I was having a hard time leaving him and decided to send me a picture to let me know everything was ok).
When I went to pick Austin up, he was sleeping.  I hated to wake him, but couldn't wait to hold him.  He woke and cried on the way home, but snuggled right up when we got home and fell back asleep.  He woke up 3 1/2 hours later, a very happy boy and let me take a few pictures for his 4 month photos.  I'm hoping to get a few more pictures before I post them.
I hope you enjoyed my little story, and the picture below.  I'm sure (and hoping) that it will get easier as time goes on, but I'm prepared for more waterworks for the remainder of the week.  :-/

Sitting!

Well, almost.  Austin can sit for a few seconds unsupported.  Here's proof:

He may not roll over, but he IS making progress!  A relief for this worried OT mamma!

New Deck!

We've been putting off rebuilding our deck for some time now.  But, after this past fall, we no longer had a choice.  After living in the house 4 years, and having 4 different fire pits burning on it all fall long (and sometimes into winter), we had a mishap.  No one was hurt, and our house is fine, but the bottom of the fire pit was so hot, it charred the deck, leaving behind a circle-shaped burn in the deck.  Since John and I aren't exactly super handy, and not well versed in building things, we waited until Grandpa Eric was in town to help John rebuild the deck (just like we waited until Grandpa was in town to expand our closet.  Thank you Grandpa!!)
It took 1 day of planning, 2 days of demolition, lots of lumber, a new electric saw, and 2 days of building to get the job done.  While Austin, Grandma Cindy, Grandpa, and I were in South Carolina, John demolished the deck.  Our battery powered saw just couldn't keep up with the job, so he had to buy a corded saw (which moved the job right along!).  When we returned from South Carolina, John and Grandpa spent 1 day planning and measuring before buying supplies.  When returning home from Home Depot, Grandpa shared the story of transporting lumber in his old van.  He pushed the lumber in too far, and cracked the windshield.  No sooner did he finish that story, John hit a bump in the road, the lumber jumped, and CRACK went John's windshield.  A major bummer, but funny at the same time.  Subsequent trips for lumber resulted in 2 people holding the wood, and driving slower down the roads to prevent further damage to the windshield.
2 days of construction later, in the sweltering heat, the deck was finished!  It looks beautiful, and we couldn't be happier.  John says he will be putting the fire pit back on the deck, but will elevate it on stones.  Some day, Grandpa will hopefully be able to come to St. Louis and enjoy his trip, rather than being put to work!

Before

Notice the black ring under the umbrella stand?

There was a cement pad under the wood deck!

Setting up

What was left of the old deck

The windshield crack

Grandpa and his assistant

Grandpa did a good job teaching Daddy how to build a deck.

What a mess!

Framing is done!!

Time for the top boards

Thank goodness for power tools!!

The deck base is DONE!

A door to nowhere

The stairs were left for the second day

Time to build some stairs!!

Can we come out yet Grandpa??

Daddy building the railing for the stairs

Almost time dogs, wait just a little bit longer

Nearly finished!

Daddy prepping the spot for the steps down to the sidewalk.

The new deck!!  We LOVE it!!!!

Grandpa, you should be proud, Daddy said he feels comfortable building a deck at our next house, should it not have one.  You're such a great teacher!!!!