Austin's First Christmas

We had such a fun first Christmas with Austin! It felt like Christmas lasted longer than normal this year. Grannie came out to visit the week before Christmas to help me while Andy was out of town, so I think that made it seem like a 2-week extravaganza. When Grannie was here we shopped, wrapped presents, and hung out with Austin. It was sooooooo wonderful to have her here - I wish she lived next-door!

Since we were going to spend the night at GranDude and GranJan's on Christmas eve, we opened our presents from Grannie and Grandpa with Austin a little early on Christmas Eve-Eve so we would have less to haul over there. Even though Austin had no idea what was going on, but it was still special to open presents with him that night. We were spoiled - including the Dex Man! He was in heaven with his new weasel toy. Andy got some much wanted Bronco parts, Austin got a mound of fun presents, and I got these amazing memory keepers from Paper Cotiere that I am obsessed with!

 Link to Memory Boxes: http://www.papercoterie.com/product/memory-keepers/. I made one for Austin and one for our Wedding and will use them to save special cards, hospital bracelets, little keepsakes, etc.

Dexter and his new toy. You put an empty plastic water bottle inside the weasel...sounds gross but its dog heaven!

Early Christmas present from Aunt Robin - a TCU sweatshirt. 

On Christmas Eve we loaded up the car with enough stuff for a week long trip and headed over to Andy's parents. We had a relaxing low-key Christmas Eve. Our night involved lots of hanging around, overeating and of course, playing with little Austin.

Austin didn't have the best night's sleep on Christmas Eve so I felt a little cracked out on Christmas morning, but it was still so fun and I did manage to score a nap later that morning.

Jan always gets everyone matching pajamas (such a fun tradition). Here we are looking a little frightening with no makeup and matching pjs. Life with a newborn, right?!

We got a ton of great presents. I can't tear Andy away from the iPad. Its great! I actually wasn't sure how necessary they were since we all have iPhones...but it so fun and convenient! I'm pretty sure I will never get to use it ;)

Here is Austin with all of his loot on Christmas morning. We opened them all for him since he slept through present opening time on Christmas morning. He usually wakes up to eat around 6:30, then is ready for another nap by 7:15 or 7:30. And will usually sleep until 9:30 when he is ready to eat again. Our mornings are pretty predicable but the afternoons still get a little dicey. I think he is playing catch up still from his low birth weight and he likes to eat about every 2 to 2.5 hours in the afternoon/evening. Some nights we get to sleep 5-6 hours at a time and others he wakes up every 3. Who the heck knows. I'm trying to "schedule" him and follow all of the rules but he obviously has his own little personality and internal schedule.

Here are a few more pictures from Christmas Day:

Austin and his Great Grandpa Bob. I'm pretty sure Grandpa Bob said "isn't he beautiful" about 50 times...so cute!

 New sweater vest. Love it!

Robin being Robin ;) Working on her Lego retro VW van.

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas! We missed all of our Texas family, but are hoping to make a visit sometime in February!

Christmas Party Fun

Last weekend we went to two fun Christmas parties! Austin was a trooper and it was nice to "get out" and socialize a bit.

On Friday night, we had our first (hopefully-annual) Progressive Dinner Party on Cottage Way. We went to four houses on the street for four different cocktail style courses - appetizers, soup/salad, light dinner, and dessert. It was a blast! We say this all the time, but we LOVE our neighbors!

The kids drew names about a month ago and had a secret santa gift exchange to kick of the night. There are 19 kids just on our little part of the street and they are so cute! The bigger kids stayed at the Bailey's for the evening (with babysitters, of course) so the parents could have a night "out."  Austin hung out in the Bjorn most of the time and did great.

We were the first house for the night - appetizers. Andy had a last minute work trip, so I actually had to set up, cook and host alone - eek. I was a little freaked about it all week, but the timing worked out just right and we survived! Austin fell asleep right as everyone was getting there. I was afraid he would be hungry or screaming right as everyone got there, but it couldn't have worked out any better timing wise!

I meant to take pictures of every house as we went along, but of course, I forgot. I wish I had a picture of Thuy's dessert spread - amazing!! The best butterscotch pudding you've ever had in your whole life...I swear.

On Saturday night, we celebrated with a few of our friends at the Schoneman's. Katherine is definitely the hostess with the mostest and the party was so adorable and fun as usual! We were supposed to wear tacky sweaters, but this little mama didn't have the time or energy to make it to goodwill this year - does a red puffy vest count...even if I wear it on a normal day?!

Here is Austin with his buddy Grace. Grace was actually due 3 days before Austin, but he decided to make his appearance 8 days before her. He was early and she was late. She's a cutie!

We were supposed to have one more Christmas party last night for my girls bible study, but Andy is in Tennessee, so I didn't want to brave it alone. I took Austin to bible study last week and it was a disaster. I threw off his little schedule and had a terrible time getting him to sleep. We aren't quite ready for prime time.

Grannie is here for the week - yay!!!! We've been having fun hanging out with her doing a little Christmas shopping, wrapping presents and hanging around the house.

Austin's 2 Month Milestones

Stats from your 2 month checkup:
Weight: 10lb 1z (14%) - moving on up the charts!
Length: 23 inches (51%) - you grew 2 1/4 inches in 1 month!

We had your 2 month checkup yesterday and you had to get 4 shots - poor little guy! Broke my heart. 

You've outgrown most of your newborn sized clothes and fit into about half of your 0-3 month clothes. They are still a little big, but the newborn sized clothes are too small. We just switched you to size 1 diapers.

Your neck is so strong. You hold your head up so well!

You are still a good eater and you continue to take a bottle from anyone. And you don't discriminate about the temperature - you will take it cold. 

We've started to get out more. You don't mind the carseat at all and usually fall asleep a few minutes after I put you in the carseat/stroller. You sleep while I walk/jog. We usually do a little run through target on our way home from walks to pick up any groceries we need. It's way easier to walk to the store vs. loading up the car and driving

You still sleep in your bucket in our room at night but you're about to be too big for it. For naps, you sleep all over the place - in your bouncer, in your bucket, in the bjorn. You are a great napper during the day - we've just got to work on that whole consistently sleeping through the night business.

If you have one, your witching hour is around 9 and will last until midnight or 1. It's hard to get you to sleep and to stay asleep but we know you are tired.You seem to eat every 3 hours in the morning/early afternoon, then every 2 in the late afternoon and evening. You smile at us and can track us across the room. You started smiling around 5 weeks and its the stinkin' cutest thing. Just a week or 2 ago I noticed that when I walk in the room you look and me and follow me with your eyes.

You are much more alert during your wake times and I can tell you are soaking in your surroundings.


You smile and stare at the toys on your playmat and will happily sit in your bouncer and stare at the toys or look around the house.

You still love to state at the ceiling fans. You always smile and coo at them. I think you're trying to tell them a story! 

This month you also had your first Thanksgiving and you also attended your first Christmas party!
We just love you to pieces and are having so much fun watching you learn and grow.

Austin's 1 Month Milestones

This is basically a month late, but I wrote everything down right after Austin turned 1 month old so I wouldn't forget.

Stats from your 1 month checkup:
Weight: 7lb 10z (7%)
Length: 20 3/4 inches (22%)

You are long and skinny, but are gaining weight like a champ. You are a great eater and I am so grateful for that! 

You’re still wearing newborn sized clothes but have outgrown all of the premie clothes. Most of your clothes are hand me downs from our neighbors Billy and Jackson. We only had a few newborn sized outfits when you were born, so they let us borrow their preemie and newborn sized clothes!

You wear newborn sized diapers and we definitely go through at least a 12 or so a day! Thank you, Amazon Mom!

Everyone says you look just like your dad. You have big blue eyes like him and you definitely have his Darcy nose.

You’re starting to be more alert. Your eyes can focus on our faces and you can follow us from side to side. If we open our mouths wide, it seems like you’re trying to do the same thing back to us.

We introduced a bottle of pumped milk to you at 3 weeks and you took it with no problem! Your dad usually feeds you a bottle once a day so we can make sure you continue to take it.

You sleep in your "bucket" in our room at night. Our pack and play came with a newborn sleeper and you seem to sleep better in this than in the bassinet. I think because it hugs you a little bit on the sides.

You like your pacifier but will only take the one they gave us in the hospital. I ordered a bunch of backups just in case!

You are starting to look around at your surroundings and seem curious. You like when we hold you so you can see over our shoulder behind us. You just hold your head up and look around at everything.

You love to look at lights, ceiling fans and the vertical lines of the blinds in the living room.

We swaddle you at night to sleep. When you nap during the day unswaddled, you often sleep with your hands up by your head in “touchdown” position.

You don’t mind riding in the carseat. In fact, if you are fussy, it usually calms you down.

We’ve practiced tummy time a few times and you like it. You can lift your head and usually turn it one time from side to side. 

So far, you seem to enjoy bath time!

You like to be held and are definitely a snuggle bug. 

You usually eat every 2 or 3 hours. The longest you’ve gone is about 4 hours one or two nights. I’ve tried to get you on a schedule, but have now decided to let you do most of the leading. I just try to follow the E.A.S.Y schedule. Eat, Activity, Sleep…so I try not to watch the clock too much but make sure to keep you awake for a bit after you eat. If I don’t feed you fast enough, you get really mad and let me know that you’re hungry!!

You met your cousin Riley and went to your first tailgate for the San Diego State game.