A quick little Thank You

I just read the comments about my cranky boy post and I wanted to post a quick thank you to everyone that has been helping me lately. It really does mean a lot to me. Me being a first time mom, and having NO CLUE! It's nice to know I can post questions and my blogging friends come to my rescue!

It doesn't seem like my blog has been much of a journal for our family like I have wanted it to, it's become a question board it seems. But I really do appreciate all of your input and advice. You have all helped me so much.

Many have asked about the bottle/binky situation. Austin is off the bottle completely and seems to be doing just fine but because of all of his whining lately I have given him his binky back when he naps and is really fussy - but not in public (and he seems fine with that).

I still worry that I am not feeding him the most healthy things for his growing body...I wasn’t raised on great foods, health wise...we were a pop-tart for breakfast, Mac-n-Cheese for lunch, and Pizza for dinner type of family. I have been cooking more than I ever have since Aaron and I have been married and I actually don't mind it....but I won't say I love it. I try to give Austin some type of fruit with breakfast and lunch, and I still feed him baby food veggies with dinner because I want to make sure he is getting something, some what healthy. I still struggle with what to feed him for main meals, the doctor said just feed him what we eat but I have a hard time feeding Austin manwich and tacos (that's what I know how to cook :) But other than the food he has transitioned really well.

As for the bug going around, I really hope he doesn't get it he is finally over his sick stage (with all the ear infections and colds). I have tried giving him Infant Motrin and Ora-jel before bed and he still woke up during the night. Night terrors? Do babies really experience these? I have wondered if Austin has had nightmares before. For one week straight he would wake up at 3 in the morning just screaming and I thought he might be having a nightmare.

Anyways my quick thank you has become a long post...

So thank you for all of the support and encouraging words. I don't know what I would do without my blogging friends.

Hey maybe by the time we have another kid I will have this mommy thing down and I won't have to ask so many questions...and maybe I can help out someone else with all this wisdom :)

Thanks again!

Cranky Boy....

I love being a mother, and I still feel like it's one of the most important roles a woman can have, not to mention the most fulfilling. But sometimes I just want to scream and pull my hair out. It would just be so much easier if I knew what was going on in his little body. Austin has been so whinny the past few days. I feel like nothing I do makes him happy. Saturday night was a hard night for both of us. Austin and I didn't really go to bed until 6 a.m. Every time I laid him in bed he would scream. I would even rock him to sleep and as soon I put him in his crib he'd wake up. We tried this about 4 times. (The whole time daddy was snoring away in bed - which he needed, he hasn't been getting home from work until 3 in the morning the past week) I even let Austin cry for about 30 minutes while I cried outside the door. Finally at 6 in the morning I cuddled him up with me in bed. We slept for about 4 hours and he was wide awake again. I just wish I knew what was going on? He just cut another tooth a few days ago but he has never acted like this when he cuts a tooth. All day yesterday he cried and cried until we went to see Grandma and Grandpa Mc. Today seems to be another day of whining. No matter what I do he cries. It is really starting to worry me and make me think I won’t ever be able to handle more than one kid. Is Austin just being a baby or is something really bugging him? I get little sleep as it is and now he wakes up all through the night…I am like a walking zombie some days, and I look it too. I feel like I am going to lose my mind. But when he comes up to me and smiles I forget how frustrated I am.....until he starts to whine.

Birthday, Bowling, Broken Bones, & Baptism

What a weekend!

Friday night we celebrated Danee’s birthday (Aaron’s little sister). It was her Sweet 16. Jan rented out the bowling alley (Starlite Lanes) and everyone had a great time. On one side was all of Danee and her friends and the other side were all the family and close friends. It was a lot of fun. We haven’t been bowling in years. Aaron and I were challenged to a few games my Jenny and Jason…it was a pretty close game but Aaron and I pulled it off. All I know is I can’t bowl like a used to, my dad would be ashamed! But I broke 100 every time. :) We let Austin bowl once to see what he would do. It was cute. I can’t wait until he is a little older and my dad can take him bowling. I grew up around the bowling alley so I have a lot of fun memories there. But I think Austin had a lot more fun being fed all the good food they had and being loved by every one. It was nice I didn’t have to worry about him the whole night. And Aaron’s sister Mindee was in town and she kidnapped him for the whole days so it was pretty nice to get some stuff done around the house for once. (Thanks again Mindee your wonderful! Austin wished you lived closer.) But since it was Friday the 13th something had to go wrong. Jan was bowling and she slipped on the lanes and landed on her wrist Aaron and Dan ran her to the hospital and she ended up breaking her left wrist. It was a bad ending to a fun night.

Danee the birthday girl

Aaron trying to pick up the Spare.

Austin's first time bowling

I don't think he liked that his ball didn't come back.
Well that was fun...where's the food?

Randee helping Taylor bowl

I had to put this photo in. It shows the humor of our family. Mindee and Brent got Danee some boy underware for her birthday as a joke. And Ryan and Brent were modeling it.

VALENTINE'S DAY

Saturday we were able to watch Ryan (Aaron’s cousin) be baptized. It has been neat to watch Ryan grow in the gospel since he started living with Aaron’s family last year. We are proud of Ryan and the decision he has made. After the baptism they held a lunch for Ryan at the church and I spent most of my time in the gym watching the kids play. Austin was in heaven. He would walk to one side of the gym and than turn around and walk back. I think that is the most he has walked on his own. It makes me wish we just had a huge run where he could run around in. And he has such wonderful cousins that love to play with him. We just wish they lived closer.
I also wished my sister Cyndee and her family lived closer to us. Aaron and I went on a double date for Valentine’s Day with Cyndee and Steve and we had a lot of fun! We ate at Johnny Corinos, I had the Salmon which was SOOO GOOD! But later my stomach decided it didn’t like it and rejected it as soon as we got home, so I will not be eating there again. But we were able to go see the movie, “He’s just not that into you”. I thought it was a cute movie. It was nice to go out with my sister and spend sometime with her. And I am so thankful I have such wonderful in-laws that they watch my son all night for me. Thank you Dan and Jan!!!

Weighing In...

My little Austin isn’t so little anymore.

He weighed in at a whopping 22 lbs. 31 ½ inches.

He is becoming my big boy now. We took away his pacifier and bottles yesterday….and he didn’t like that very much. With Austin being my first child, I am so new at this transition stuff. Luckily I have friends who have been there. It’s been nice to talk to Jenny a lot about it. Thanks Jenny. And after the fit he through this afternoon I am not sure if I can cut him off cold turkey from, formula, binkies, and bottles all at one time. So for those experienced mother’s out there what do you suggest. What’s the best way to transition from formula to cow milk? Did you give your kid’s bottles after they turned 1? And what did you start to feed them at the age of 1? My doctor said to stop formula, bottles, and baby food? I want him to be healthy - unlike mom and dad! :) I am just not sure how to do it.
Yesterday he was ok but today he cried all day until I finally made him a half a bottle of formula, he wouldn't drink it unless I held him....he has never acted like this and I am going crazy. And another thing he is so whinny at home. He throws fits and cries constantly....but once we leave the house he is happy as can be. I really think he hates being home and it's made me hate to be home because all he does is cry. I don't get it?

Happy 1 year Austin

Yeap my little buddy is a year old today. Crazy how fast it went by. It is definately a bitter-sweet day. On one hand I love to see him grow up and discover new things but on the other hand he is my baby boy!

He has his year check tomorrow so I will post about his weight and height then. Im sure it will be big numbers...like always :)

But I figured I would post some pics of how much he has changed in the last year.

Ok so looking back on his pictures totally made me cry. I don't even remember him being so tiny. He sure has changed. I don't have any year portraits yet but hopefully when he is back to his happy self I will get those done.

Happy Birthday Buddy - do me a favor and stop growing up so fast! :)

Remember mommy loves you and no matter how big you get, you will always be my little monkey!

It's My Party and I'll cry if I want to....

Saturday we celebrated Austin's 1st birthday (Even though he isn't 1 until tomorrow). I was all excited for his first birthday party, we did a monkey theme. Everyone told me not to make a big deal about it because he won't show interest....well I didn't listen and I was a little disappointed with his reaction. I don't think he smiled in any picture. He didn't even want to eat his cake. But we enjoyed having our family and some friends over to help us celebrate. Even though Austin won't ever remember this, mom will and it meant a lot to me.

Here are some photos:

All of the kids - Austin crying

Everyone enjoying cupcakes

Party favors, Grandma Jan got these for all the kids.

Opening some presents, not to excited...

Showing some interest...

Getting into it....

Taylor and Bowen enjoyed Austin's presents more than anyone

He finally started to get into it on the last present.

Grandma trying to get him to eat his cake

I don't think he liked the taste..

So we tried a cupcake...still didn't want to eat it, so we just put it all over him.

I don't think he likes to be dirty. And I don't think he likes cake....

He must take after his daddy.

We also got Parker a cake and sang to him, his birthday was in a few days

- he was more excited than Austin

his face was so cute. He enjoyed eating all of the frosting.

I had to throw in these pictures.

Austin would play with a balloon than let it go

and it would float up and he would do the cutest face

like he was amazed.

He Walks, and he Talks....

I can't believe I haven't posted my little man walking yet. He actually took his first steps when he was about 9-10 months but I think with all his ear problems he just didn't have his balance. But in the past couple of weeks he has just taken off....when he feels good. So maybe the ear tubes helped with that. But here is a quick video of his walking a little...he always gets distracted by his toys. Yesterday he was about running...so I am in for a treat! And yes he is talking a lot. I am so proud I taught his to say, "what's that" and point...it's more like, "wasssdat" and he points but it's too cute. And he has "dad" down of course (been saying that since he was about 9 months) and says "mom" when I bug him a lot. Other than that he just likes to jabber on and on.

I will have to see if I can get him to talk on video so you can all hear him. It took forever just to get him walking on video.

Sick again....or should I say STILL

Well my little buddy is sick again. He has a terrible runny nose and a horrible cough, he sounds like he has a hard time breathing but Aaron took him in (a different doctor again) and they said he was just teething and it was irritating his ear so he gave us ear drops which Austin hates. I already knew he was teething but I was just worried about how congested he was sounding. And he is so whining....I guess he's been whining for a while now. Yesterday he was coughing so hard he made himself throwup. But I can see his top tooth coming in. He is looking so grown up. He goes in tomorrow to see his ear doctor for a checkup on his tubes. Than he has his one year checkup next week....that's 3 doctors visits within a week plus shots are scheduled for next week also....I can't wait until he is out of this stage. It's amazing, for a baby who wasn't ever sick until he turned 9 months, he sure has made up for it these past 3 months. I just feel so bad for the little guy. But he does have his moments of greatness where he is so much fun to be around and all he does is laugh.