Seven Months Old

 

Well dear love, it is hard to admit that in less than five months you will be celebrating your first birthday.  I don't even want to think about it or believe it! Where has the time gone sweet love? I am amazed and how much you change every day and just how much you've grown.  I can remember the first time that our eyes met, it was like you were telling me "Hello Mommy". Now, I'm lucky if I can get you to sit still long enough to eat! So here are the things that you have been up to this past month:

• You sit up and you love it!  It is a whole new world for you now with your new view! Of course Michael and Ava's hugs and kisses knock you over every time but they are learning how to be more gentle. It's just they love you so much, it's hard not to squeeze you!
• You are trying to crawl but aren't quite there yet.  Instead you get up on your knees, scoot and then lay back down. Your little knees get so red but you are happy to keep trying!
• You love oatmeal! The chunkier the better.  None of that first foods strained stuff.  It is pretty weird since you have yet to sprout a tooth but you want to chew everything.  Your doctor says you will be ready for table food much sooner than your brother or sister were.  You do seem jealous when we sit at the dinner table and eat in front of you. You desperately want what we have.  Soon, my love, soon.
• You are so ticklish! It almost seems painful when you get tickled.  I don't want to torture you, but your laugh is too precious not to hear!
• You are beyond patient. I wonder if this will be part of your personality as you get older.  You are content to wait your turn and you seldom cry.  It's like you know that Michael and Ava need something so you'll gladly wait your turn.  I am so grateful for this character trait but I want you to know, it's okay to be a little selfish sometimes.  You are after all, my sweet baby.
• You love to sit on the floor while Michael and Ava dance around you.  It seems that their new hobby is to figure out what will make you laugh.  There is this amazing bond between the three of you.  The way that you light up for them and just coo when they talk to you is something you save only for them.  I know what it is like to have a brother, so it's such a joy to see what my parents experienced when Matt and I were little.
• I still believe your eyes will be blue.  They just seem to stay that pretty slate color so we will see.  By this time, Michael's eyes had already turned brown and Ava's had turned light blue.  Time will tell, my love.  I won't hold my breath just yet because everything about you has been a surprise so we will see.

I cannot get enough snuggles and kisses from you.  I would be happy for the rest of my life if you stayed seven months old, but I know that you must grow and I must come to terms with it. So for now, I will live in each moment and enjoy every single second that I have with you at this age.

Six Months Old

No doubt about it, Austin, you are getting bigger by the day and changing by the second.  I cannot believe that you, my sweet little love have already celebrated your half birthday and are zooming to your first! What have you been up to my sweet baby boy?

• You are a great sleeper! I cannot thank you enough for being content in your crib and falling asleep without mommy having to go in the room and soothe you over and over.  You are happy to lay down, suck on your fingers and fall right to sleep.  What's better than that? Oh, you sleep all night!  Thank you sweet boy, thank you!
• You have had your first taste of antibiotic and you didn't love it.  I was worried something was wrong when you started coughing and running fever and low and behold, you had two ear infections.  So you have now survived antibiotics and I'll be honest, you weren't a fan.
• You roll everywhere and I mean everywhere! 
• You grab things and try to eat them.  Yep, I can't hold anything in my arms but you because you will immediately try to take whatever I have from me.
• You're still toothless and I have to say that I love it and cherish your gummy smile.
• You babble and blow raspberries.  The best part about this? You seem to crack yourself up.  I love to watch you make yourself laugh. 

Well my love, you have grown so much in the past month that it aches my heart just a little.  I am unbelievably blessed that God gave you to me and your brother and sister are so in love with you. Michael cannot get enough of you and absolutely loves to be wherever you are! You are a lucky little man and you don't even know it!

Five Months Old

Well, my littlest love is five months old.  It is truly astonishing how quickly the minutes fly by.  I am daily reminded of love when I look at all three of my little ones.  Austin, you have grown up so quickly and have quite the cute personality.  There is no denying how you light up and react to Michael and Ava, I can already tell that you love them as much as they love you.  You are quite the large baby but that makes me happy!  Here are the amazing things you are doing:

• You have discovered your hands and feet.  You love to hold your feet and play with your toes.
• You suck on your fingers like you are making the hand sign for the Texas Longhorns.  Silly boy!
• You now realize that you and I aren't connected.
• You sleep in your own big boy crib now. 
•  Most nights you sleep all night but every once in a while you wake me up four or five times a night to eat.  I know that you are just growing and I'm not complaining because one day, I will miss those middle of the night moments with you.
• You roll over!  It is too cute to watch.  You were so proud of yourself the first time and Michael was just as excited!  He gave you his green Wilson to play with as a reward, and
• trust me love, that was a HUGE deal!
• You rarely cry and I mean rarely.  I am so amazed at how content and happy you are.  I can only assume it is because you are constantly entertained by Michael and Ava.

So it has been a month of firsts for you and there are more to come.  I will be there for everyone of them, camera in hand. (Get used to it sweetness) :)

Christmas 2012

Well, we definitely made the rounds this Christmas season.  I was almost giddy at the thought of watching the kid's eyes light up whenever they saw the Christmas tree and all that Santa had left for them.  It was like being a kid all over again.  This year was all about trains, Toy Story, Minnie Mouse and Brave.  All things that I love so it was fun shopping for sure!

We spent Christmas Eve with Mamlu, Lulu, Gigi and Cliff.  We ate the best Chinese food I have had in a long time! This is a tradition I feel we should definitley begin. The presents were amazing, Michael getting his fill of trains and Ava getting all the princess things she needs to dress up. Of course Austin got some cute clothes and toys as well.  He just sat through the entire thing and allowed us to open his presents for him, how sweet.  We did learn a valuable lesson in present order for sure; Michael needs to open everything else first and save the trains for last.  He wouldn't set them down for a second, it was almost impossible to get him to open anything else.  I can't wait to see Ava next year as she gets more into the spirit, I think it may take two more years for Austin though.

Christmas night we drove up to Roanoke to see my parents, my brother and his family.  I was so excited for my babies to spend Christmas with their cousins.  The coolest thing? SNOW!  A winter storm blew in as we were traveling and there was snow (and ice) all over the ground.  I was so happy that the babies got to have a white Christmas.  It was a blast.  I don't know how I ever thought my house was loud before, but add Quinn, Nash and vaulted ceilings to the mix and it's a whole new volume! We went to the Gaylord Texan to see the ice sculptures, this year was Madagascar on Ice.  It was freezing in there!  Austin was beyond warm, snuggled up with me underneath three layers of clothes and two parkas.  He slept the entire time.  Ava and Michael, they weren't exactly well behaved during the tour.  Next time we will be sure to go right after nap time and when everyone can walk.  It was incredibly packed and to be honest, it felt like the Griswold Family Christmas.  Just look at the picture and you can see.  It was hilarious, I think Michael's face says it all. Nonetheless, I couldn't believe how beautiful the ice could be and I have no idea how they added all of that color.  Gorgeous!  I loved it! We opened another round of gifts with Matt, BittBitt, Quinn, Nash, Nana and PawPa, Grammer and Slickpaw.  The chaos of it all with paper everywhere was just too cute; the honest joy on the kids faces when they opened their gifts from their family was priceless and a memory I will always treasure.

I can honestly say that the highlight this year was getting to see my Grandpa, whom I haven't seen in four years.  Watching him hold my babies and play with Ava was so sweet for me.  He had never met them before and he was quick to spoil them.  Michael wanted to eat everything he saw, especially some chocolate covered raisins and jelly beans that my Auntie Ev had out. I told him no and almost instinctively, without hesitation, Michael took the jar to Grandpa and asked.  Grandpa immediatley opened it and ate some right along with Michael.  I told him that I had said no and Grandpa explained that it was his duty to spoil my children and then hand them back over to me.  How can I argue with that logic?  I loved getting to eat with Auntie Ev, Grandpa, Uncle Steve and Uncle Joe.  I am so happy that they are all in Texas now, it took them a while but there are finally here. Santa left some more presents for everyone at Auntie Ev's house including a sweet baby that Ava can bathe and feed all by herself (this will give Austin a much needed break).

It was a whirlwind week and one that I will not soon forget.  We had an amazing and blessed Christmas season with good food and family but most importantly, we celebrated the birth of our Savior Christ Jesus.  That is truly the best gift of all.