Bathtub & Swimming Pool Fun

This week we switched Austin from bathing her in the sink to bathing her in the bathtub. We purchased a blowup bathtub that fits in the regular bathtub. This way Austin is protected from hitting her head on the side of the tub if she accidentally falls over. It also gives her enough room to play in the tub. Bathing Austin in the sink had become quite difficult. Austin loves to splash, so most of the water would end up on me, the counter and the floor. In Austin’s new tub she can splash and play away.

We have also been enjoying the swimming pool more. This weekend we tried out Austin’s new floaty. She was so cute in it; she even was kicking her feet. It’s nice because it has a built in shade cover that keeps Austin out of the direct sunlight.

That is all for this week, enjoy the pictures!

Michael Phelps Jr!

Okay well maybe she is not quite Michael Phelps…yet, but Austin did go in the swimming pool for the very first time. She seemed to really enjoy it. However like her Dad the sun does not like her. We put SPF 70+ on her and she still got a little pink. She was only in the sun a very short time. Yesterday we went over to my friend Jenn’s Mom’s house. Jenn, her husband Brad and their daughter McKenna are in town from Baltimore this weekend. Ragen also came over with her son Jaxson, so we took the opportunity to take pictures of the 3 babies together. Austin is 7.5 months old, McKenna is 6.5 months old (born 14 weeks premature) and Jaxson is 10 weeks old (born 6 weeks premature). So there is quite a size difference between the 3. It was so cute; Austin was trying to hold up the other babies when we were taking pictures.

I also have been trying to get a picture of Austin’s teeth. Those suckers are as sharp as razor blades and anytime I go near her mouth she chomps down on my finger. I took a few of her laughing and you can kind of seem them poking through. We decided this week to start on a beginner finger food. We gave Austin some Gerber Puffs. They are these little cereal puffs that dissolve really easily and she can "gum" them. She actual got a few in her mouth by herself and it was hard not to laugh at the faces she was making when she was trying to “chew” them. Austin has also been enjoying the mesh feeder we got her last week. All we have put into it so far is ice cubes, but it definitely gives her something to gnaw on while we are making her meals or trying to eat ourselves. We are also getting close to adding meat into Austin’s diet. We have decided to start with chicken first and will be introducing that when she turns 8 months old. Gosh, I cannot believe how fast she is growing up.

We do not have any plans for the rest of the weekend, just hanging at the house and relaxing. Last night I was able to go out with Ragen and we went to the No Doubt concert. I did not get home until Midnight. Luke was nice enough to get up with Austin this morning and let me sleep in. Now both Austin and Daddy are napping.

7 Month Update

I am late blogging this week because we had such a busy week. My Dad and Stepmom came to visit from Chicago. This was their first time out to see the baby. It was so wonderful to have them come visit and for them to get to spend time with Austin.

This weekend Austin got to eat out at a restaurant. It was a good 5 months ago when I took Austin to lunch and it went horrible. This time it went surprisingly well. It was a little stressful (for me), but of course she handled it great and ate her breakfast while we ate ours. It is nice to know that we now have that as an option. Austin’s teething is in overdrive. Her second bottom tooth has started to cut through her gums also. I am very excited for them to come in all the way and I am impatiently waiting. We also added in lunch this week. So now Austin is eating 3 meals a day, plus her formula. Yes, I successfully weaned Austin completely. Monday and Tuesday were quite hard on me physically (and emotionally) but Austin never skipped a beat.

On Tuesday I went to Austin’s gym class and it was absolutely wonderful. I was so happy that I was able to do that with her and hope that I can go again sometime soon. Not sure if I already mentioned this but we recently moved Austin to a big girl car seat, I still don’t know if she digs the new car seat or not. She looks so small in it, but she has a lot more room than her infant car seat.

I have tons of pictures from this week. It was hard to choose what to post.

Happy Mother's Day

Today has been such a wonderful Mother’s Day. Both Austin and Luke surprised me this morning with a little blue box from Tiffany’s. I was beyond excited to open it up. I have never received anything from Tiffany’s and just the sight of the box got me giddy. Austin and Luke picked out the most wonderful necklace for me. It has a pendant with an “A” on it. I was so excited to put it on this morning and look forward to wearing it every day.

We also went to my Mom’s house this morning to say Happy Mother’s day and to hang out for a little while, after that it was back to the house for a nice relaxing day. My Mom and Rob were so generous and got me a gift certificate to get a facial (I love facials!). I use to get facials quite regularly before Austin. It will be very nice to treat myself to some Mommy time. My Dad and Connie sent me beautiful flowers. I am truly blessed to have so many people that love me.

I am also very excited to report that Austin will have her first tooth any day now. You can see and feel the tooth poking through on her bottom gum. It will be interesting to see how days it take for it to completely make it ways up. It will also be a challenge getting a picture of it. Hopefully she will cooperate. I have also decided to wean Austin completely and tonight was my last nursing session. I have been nursing first thing in the morning and right before bed. In the last week we have had some challenging nursing session where I feel like I am forcing her on the breast and I think my supply has suffered from her disinterest. I am not sure if her teething has anything to do with this. I have gone back and forth on the decision for many weeks. I am so happy that I was able to nurse Austin for 7 months. I gave her 7 wonderful months. I know she will be fine without it, but I wonder how I will feel. I assuming I will be emotional this coming week.

On a much happier note, this Tuesday I am going to go to Austin’s’ gym class. Her class is at 11:45am and about 15 minutes away from my work. It dawned on me last week that I could totally go on my lunch hour. If all works out well, I am going to start going regularly. This week is to test how Austin does with seeing me during the day and then me leaving again. It’s also for me seeing Austin during the day and then leaving again. The few times my Mom has brought Austin down to my work at lunch I have been too distracted in the afternoon after their visit to get any work done.

Almost 7 months old

How can a baby not like peaches…but will eat green beans for breakfast? That is the question I asked myself this morning. Austin has officially made it through all the Stage 1 fruits and veggies. This is what we have learned, she HATES peaches. She will scream if they are anywhere near her, she is not allergic to bananas like her Mommy and she loves all veggies. We have a few jars (yes, I am not making my own baby food and fine with it) left of Stage 1 and we will move onto Stage 2. Stage 2 foods are combinations, meats, dinners, ect.

We are still dealing with Austin’s running nose/stuffy nose. It’s getting better, but still an issue. She has no fever, but has been on the cranky side. I check every day for teeth or signs of teeth and still nothing. But on the plus side she has been sleeping like a champ for the past month. She started sleeping through the night and has not looked back. I have not blogged about this out of fear, but pretty much right after I blogged about how she was sleeping horribly; she started sleeping through the night. I think it will take me a couple more months to catch up on all the sleep I lost those first 6 month.

Austin will be 7 months old on Wednesday (Wow!), she is babbling up a storm and her favorite word to say is “ba.” Every once in awhile Luke and I swear she actually says a word. We are definitely wondering what her first word is going to be. Austin is also starting to use her legs more while on her stomach or side she push herself forward, not quite crawling, but I guess an early stage. She has yet to get up on all fours.