Changing every day

Here are some photos from 2 different photo shoots this week.  I tried to capture some of Austin's facial expressions and movements.  He is changing every day, so fast!  We went to baby weigh-in on Wednesday and he weighed 10lbs, 14.7 oz.  Big boy!  In other great news, Austin has started sleeping through the night.  I don't just mean 5 hours stretches.  He slept from 10-6:30 on Tuesday night, 9:45-6 on Wednesday night, and from 9:45-7:30 last night.  I know I can't expect this every night, but he sure is doing a great job for now.  David left for Vegas this morning (yes, just for fun with Doug) at 5am and Austin was still sound asleep.  I thought he might sleep another hour or so, but no, he slept until 7:30!  Austin, Savannah and I are on our own this whole weekend.  We will be spending alot of time outside since the weather is perfect!  And of course, we will watch the Texas game tomorrow.  We are very excited because next weekend we are all (Savannah included) going to Steamboat for a couple of days in the mountains.  I am really looking forward to this since I have not been to the mountains since last summer (since we didn't ski this year due to a little guy growing in my tummy).  I am sure we will take plenty of pictures to share with everyone.  

Take note of Austin's adorable outfit below from Aunt Carrie.  He is an advertisement for this organization: http://www.thefeedfoundation.org/

 Look at the camera, Austin

 Looking at my fascinating hands (I call it is "groove")

 More of that groove

 Now you are looking

 And that precious smile!

Just relaxing

And these are from today....

More fun visitors!

Uncle Stephen and Aunt Ricki came to meet Austin this past weekend!  They arrived Friday night before Austin's bath and bed time.  Savannah was VERY excited to see them.  On Saturday morning we all (except Savannah) went to the Cherry Creek Farmers' Market to shop and also to eat brunch.  David and Stephen had a biscuit from the Denver Biscuit Co bus.  It was a large buttermilk biscuit with a fried chicken breast, honey, dijon mustard, and pickles.  David so kindly gave me the last third of his - it was delicious!  After that, we went by Tony's Market to buy a brisket and ribs to smoke on Sunday.  They only had 3 lb or 7lb briskets, so David got the 7lb one.  We have leftover smoked brisket to last us a while.  On Saturday afternoon we just hung out at the house and got showered for dinner.  Showering and make-uping between feedings is an activity for me these days.  Since it was an off-weekend for Texas, we didn't have a game to watch but the guys were able to find plenty of other college football on tv to enjoy.  On Saturday night (well, at 5:45 since we eat earlier these days to avoid waiting at restaurants for a table with an infant) we went to Steuben's for dinner.  It was our first experience where Austin stayed awake in the car for the whole ride to the restaurant and remained awake while waiting for the table and also for about 15 minutes after we sat down.  Luckily we were outside and it was noisy so when he fussed a bit, no one could hear him.  I did have to hold him and bounce him some to keep him happy.  It was another great meal at Steuben's (although I did have the trout again).  After dinner, Ricki gave Austin a bottle around 7:45 and we tried to keep him awake until his bedtime feeding at 9:45.  That is the fussiest time of the day because he is tired, but I want him to stay awake a little longer so that he sleeps when I sleep.

On Sunday, we went to eat breakfast at the country club.  We were on a strict timeline enforced by David.  We had to be back before 11am so that he and Stephen could watch the Texans game (Ricki and I don't understand this because isn't this the point of DVR?).  Oh well.  After breakfast and a feeding at home, Ricki went to the grocery store while I went to the gym (yes, we left Austin to watch the Texans and monitor the brisket in the smoker with the boys).  She shopped for ingredients to make us meals.  We are spoiled!  That afternoon she proceeded to make us 3 different meals, separated into 7 different containers so we could freeze them and pull them out when we wanted them.  This is quite the challenge since David does not like onions or bell peppers or things like that.  She made baked spaghetti (cheese on top!), chicken enchiladas hold the onions, and chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole.  We probably have 8 meals worth of yummy food and it only took her less than 2 hours to make it all.  Thanks, Ricki!  Ricki, Austin, Savannah, and I also went to Wash Park to walk.  It was such a nice day - a little warm for this late in September (highs in mid 80's), but I am not complaining.  That night, we enjoyed a smoked brisket with Goode Company (from Houston) BBQ sauce, sauteed green beans, and homemade mac n cheese.   I didn't do a thing to prepare any of it.  Oh, except for snapping the green beans.  It was great!

Austin and I took them to the airport this morning.  We were sad to see them go, but we will see them in about 3.5 weeks when we go to Houston.  Here are some pictures from the weekend.

 Hi Aunt Ricki and Uncle Stephen!

 Get those Horns up, Austin

 That's not my daddy with the bottle, but I'll take it!

"Enjoying" some football

Bye! See you in a few weeks!

BIG sleeper and smiley baby!

On Thursday night, Austin slept from 10 to 6:30 without waking up!!!  It was amazing!  I don't know what we did differently but it might have had something to do with the fact that I went to Bible study for 2 hours on Thursday night and David stayed with Austin.  Austin screamed for one of the two hours I was gone.  When I got home, I nursed him and put him in his crib.  When he woke up around 6, he didn't even fuss. He just hung out in his crib for a while.  I finally went to get him at 6:30 and he still wasn't even fussing.  Happy baby!  I am not expecting this to be a habit quite yet, but it was nice for one night.  Last night he slept from 10:30 to 4:50, and then again from 5:30 to almost 8.  This morning he hung out in his crib just entertaining himself from at least 7 until 8.  I went on a hands-free 4 mile run at 7:10 thinking that David would have console him until I got back to feed him.  When I got back, and he was still just kicking around in his crib.  Big boy!  He is smiling more and more, which is precious.  Here are a few pictures from this weekend.  I finally captured the smile!

 Big grin!!

 Big belly!  It's not that big...just the angle

 Cutie Pie

Wide eyed

 Hanging out with dad and pup

What is this man talking about? And what is that giant furry thing?

Six weeks!

Austin turned six weeks on Tuesday.  He is growing and changing so fast.  At the weigh-in yesterday he was 10 lbs 7.7 oz!  He has cracked a few small smiles, and I tried to get it on camera in the video below.  He has started to enjoy his activity mat more, mainly because he can see himself in the mirror that is attached to it.  I will also put him in his crib with the mobile music playing while I make the bed or something like that.  When I go back in there, he is contently staring at Peter Rabbit on the crib bumper or looking up at the mobile and listening to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  It is fun to see his eyes focusing better each day.  He enjoys being held upright on a shoulder so he can look around more.  He still loves the stroller (for a snooze).  Laying on the changing table makes him happy too.  He really enjoys baths too, so much that we now bathe him every other night instead of every 3 nights.  I would do it every night but I am worried his skin would dry out (especially since the air here is so dry).  Two of the past three nights he has had a 5-hour stretch of sleep.  I am hoping this becomes a habit!  Six or seven hours would be nice too. Tuesday night was my first night to be alone with him.  David had to travel to Vegas for work so it was just me last night.  We fared alright.  Now, I need to get him bundled up for our run!  It's 39 degrees out there.

Fun, busy weekend!

Annie came to Denver this past weekend.  Annie is one of my best friends from high school in Houston. Her brother just moved to Denver a few months ago so she came to see him, see me, and, of course, to meet Austin.  On Saturday she came over to our house and we went on a walk with Austin and Savannah.  After that, we went to lunch with Austin (again, he slept the whole time). 

Meeting Annie!

On Saturday afternoon, David, Austin and I watched the Horns beat UCLA at the Rose Bowl.  Then, we met Annie, her brother and his roommate for an early dinner at the Cherry Cricket.  We might have gotten some strange looks from people for bringing an infant to a bar - oh well.  He sure was well-behaved (snoozed peacefully throughout the chaos of the loud bar scene).  It was so fun to see Annie.  Thanks for visiting!

Mommy and baby cheering for those Horns

Savannah just hanging out in Austin's activity mat during the game

Sporting burnt orange, of course (his Bevo pacifier is never far away)

Friends!

Don't wake a sleeping baby (even for a pic)...especially when out to eat

On Sunday morning, David, Austin and I went to the Pearl Street Farmers' Market near our house.  Austin is a farmers market veteran.  I think we have been 5 times since he was born.  I am sad that the markets only go until October 1...two more weekends.  After that, David played 9 holes and then I went to the gym in the afternoon.  On another note, I have been running almost every day now for the past week.  My typical morning routine is 5 miles and I run between 3 and 4 miles of the 5.  It is a bit of a challenge to push the stroller and hold Savannah's leash, but I am getting better at it.  I have to say, it is nice when David can stay with Austin so I can go on a run without the stroller (he did this on Saturday morning and one day last week before he left for work).

On Sunday evening, Rachel, Adam, and Brody came over to eat dinner.  They brought all the food and cooked it here (and cleaned up), which was such a treat. Thank you!  It was quite hilarious that both babies started getting fussy right when the 4 of us sat down to eat.  Brody is 7 months old so he wanted nothing to do with sitting in his carseat to watch us eat.  He wanted to wiggle around and play.  Austin was just fussy and also ready to eat.  So we ate in shifts.  The guys ate first while I held Austin and Rachel tried to give Brody a bottle.  Then David gave Austin a bottle and Adam held Brody while Rachel and I ate.  I was just laughing at the whole situation; it was chaos but still fun.  Below are our attempts at a mommy/baby picture.  It was quite the challenge.

Austin screaming

 Bevo helped with that and Brody is interested

Brody found something more interesting across the yard

Who is growing so fast?

This guy!  Yesterday at the weigh-in, he was 9lbs 13.9oz...that is almost 10 oz in one week!  He is becoming more and more interactive.  Today he cracked a small smile, but I did not get it on camera yet. Here is my first try at a video with our video camera; hopefully it works.  Another milestone this week - Austin had his first bottle.  David gave him a bottle at the dinner time feeding and he took it like a pro.  He had no issues with me nursing him at bed time either.  He has had a 4 oz bottle for the past 4 nights at the dinner time feeding.  It is nice for me to have a break once a day!  Now I know he can take a bottle if we are out somewhere that I can't nurse him or when I go back to work.  

 First bottle!

Chillin with dad and pupf

Pic in Halloween onesie because I don't think it will fit in 1 month (it's a little snug now)

Weekend with Mimi and Ellen!

This past weekend, Austin got to meet his Mimi and aunt Ellen!  The weather was wonderful the whole weekend (highs of 75-80, lows in the 50's in the morning and sunny).  They arrived Friday night just in time for bath time!  He slept from 10:45-4:30 (so I got almost 6 hours straight!!!).  On Saturday morning Ellen, Austin and I walked almost 5 miles while Mary and Savanna walked together (David was playing golf).  We all went to Park Burger for lunch and sat outside on the patio (Austin snoozed the whole time).  That afternoon, Austin stayed with his dad while the girls went on a short shopping excursion to Cherry Creek.  Mimi bought Austin some Peter Rabbit board books and a Peter stuffed animal rattle toy.  Soon he will be able to hold it and shake it himself!  Then, of course we watched the Texas game (or should I say quarterback scramble?).  They pulled off a W (by one point, but, hey, a win is a win).  After the game we went to eat dinner at Hacienda Colorado, where, again, Austin snoozed on the patio.  On Sunday, David stayed with Austin while I went to the gym (and did 30 min elliptical and 2 miles of running) and Mary and Ellen went to Morrison to eat breakfast with one of Ellen's friends.  We did some hammock swinging and outside time with Austin in the afternoon when he got a little fussy.  He loves the running water of the fountain!  Ellen and I went on a TJ Maxx shopping spree (thanks Mary!).  I got a new purse, a new fleece, and 3 new outfits for Austin (one of which is his Halloween costume).  Sunday night we indulged ourselves at Steuben's.  Again, Austin snoozed the whole time even when David dropped some mac & cheese in his carseat.  We had only been there one time, but it is so good.  It's upscale comfort food.  I had trout with green beans and potatoes, David had ribs, Ellen had chicken fried steak and Mary had meatloaf.  We split chocolate shakes to top it off.  That is not the way to lose the baby weight, that's for sure.  Oh well; it was delicious!  After dinner, it was time for Austin to eat and go to bed.  Ellen and Mary went to a late-night showing of the Help since Ellen just finished reading the book and hadn't seen it.  I fed Austin and went to bed while David watched some 9/11 documentaries.  It is hard to believe it has been 10 years since that day.  On a side note, our neighbor's birthday was yesterday and he turned 9.  He wasn't even born on that day.  Crazy.

This morning, Ellen and I drove with Austin and the BOB stroller to Highline canal trail to walk.  We did a 5-mile walk.  Austin loves the motion of the stroller!  He was awake and content for the first 10 minutes, and then dozed off.  I have missed that peaceful, scenic trail.  I don't think I have been there since maybe April.  It's my favorite place to do long runs.  Hopefully I will be back out there soon.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

 Savannah was extremely jealous that Mimi was holding Austin (she loves Mary)

 Family pic! (Austin mid-cry)

 Hanging on the porch with Mimi

 Taking her in

 Smiling with aunt Ellen

 Napping with Mimi

Night on the town (red clown-pants and all)

Thanks for coming to visit, Mimi and Ellen!  We will see you in about 5 weeks when Austin is double his age....crazy!  Austin can't wait to meet his cousins, Ben and Summer, and uncle Davy and Big Deal, too!

Happy 1 Month!

With Savannah dog

Today Rachel and Brody came over to walk again.  It was a brisk 50 degrees when we left for our walk around 8:15am so Austin sported the warm hat that BB knitted for him. 

Lately

We have been doing alot of this in the evenings...

The combination of the hammock swaying, the running water of the pond fountain in our backyard, and the cooler fall weather have made this activity quite the hit for Austin.  He is a little fussier in the evenings (when Dad is home), so lounging in the hammock is one way to comfort him.

I guess I haven't written about Austin's first labor day weekend.  It was not very eventful unless you count his umbilical cord falling off as an "event".  We did have some visitors on Sunday - our friends Ryan and Veronica came over to meet Austin and go to lunch with us.  It was fun to see them and get out for a bit.

David played golf on Saturday morning and I went to the gym on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  I can do the elliptical-like machine (one that is more of a running motion than the typical elliptical) for about 40 minutes.  I tried running 1 mile on Sunday and it went fine, but I don't think I am quite there yet.  Maybe next weekend I will be ready to try again.  I am itching to get back to it.  As mentioned in my previous post, we watched the Texas game on the computer on Saturday night.  On Sunday afternoon, our neighbors had a block party BBQ.  We went to that from 4-8, and I had Austin in the Baby Bjorn the whole time (mainly because I didn't want a bunch of people touching him or asking to hold him, and it was easy since he doesn't weigh that much yet).  Since he was in the Bjorn for so long (which most of it was spent sleeping), he did not want to go to sleep that night.  What finally helped him go to sleep was me laying down on the daybed in his room with him close next to me and the pacifier in his mouth.  Our doctor (and many of the baby books) says you can't spoil them at this age since they are still developing in this "fourth trimester".  Hopefully this does not become a habit that he expects every night to help him fall asleep.

Austin has random "good nights" of sleep.  On Monday night he slept from 9:45-3:30am, which was awesome because I got 5.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep!  Last night it was back to the 3 hour stretches at a time.  Hopefully tonight will be another good one.  We try to keep him awake as much as possible between the dinner time feeding (6 or 7) and the bedtime feeding (9 or 10) so that he will be tired and sleep well, but that doesn't always work.

Today we went to baby weigh in at the hospital.  He now weighs 9 lbs 4 oz...big growing boy!  Although he is growing, the 3-month jeans are still HUGE on him. (just testing them out here)

What are these clown pants on me?

 Just dancing on my changing table

Stretch those arms!