He got it!

Austin finally figured out how to use his new jumper!!!

He's actually got blisters on both big toes from jumping in it so much yesterday- does that make me a bad mommy? He's wearing socks today though!

A little boo boo- banged his head forward onto the musical part of the jumper. He only cried for a few minutes though!

Time to pack up the bouncer- he's definitely outgrown it!

Ready for church with Daddy (we go on Saturday nights- hence the casual attire.) Isn't his football shirt cute?

This cracked me up- I put Austin in the exersaucer, and Max refused to move. So Austin just sat on Max while he played.

Pay It Forward

***CONGRATULATIONS to April, Ashlee, & Deborah! Email your addresses to me at wkstarnes@yahoo.com. I'll get your prize in the mail this week! Have fun paying it forward to your lucky 3!***

This is a fun game that I played AND WON on Kim's blog-now it's my turn to "pay it forward!"

This is copied from: http://mom23harrs.blogspot.com/

THE RULES: The main focus is doing an act of kindness without expecting anything in return other than that the recipient will, in their turn, pass the kindness along and pay it forward.I will send a small, fun gift to the first 3 bloggers who post a comment on this entry. In turn, those three will post this information and pick 3 people they want to send something to and then the game will continue!!If you are interested in participating, be one of the first 3 bloggers to leave a comment!! The little something you send can be something you made, bought, were given or found, anything you want!! Just a gift that will make the person's day!!You have to promise that you will then post about this on your blog, link back to me, and then send something to the first three people who sign up to play along through your blog. Doesn't this sound like fun!!??

Jumping

So this is Austin's newest thing- he LOVES jumping! Yes, I know it's cute- but it really hurts my back after a few minutes! Either he's getting too big, or I'm getting too old.... or maybe both.

I even bought him one of those jumpers that hangs in the doorway, but he doesn't seem to like it as well. He just sits in it. Go figure, right? Oh well, at least I'm getting a workout.

Beach Vacation

We headed to the beach this week to visit my parents & had a wonderful time! It was Austin's first trip on the airplane & he did much better than I anticipated.

Here are a few highlights from our trip (and lots of pics):

Wednesday- Travel day. Austin did great on the plane- he just played and looked around a lot. We flew into New Orleans where my parents picked us up because it was 1/4 the price of flying into Destin. Anyway, Austin got fussy on the way back to Destin... he was tired & it had been a long day for us all! Side note- seeing all of the devastation from Hurricane Katrina was so sad. It's hard to believe that several years have passed and there is still so much damage to the city.

Thursday- We ate lunch at Pompano Joe's on the beach. Keep in mind that Hurricane Ike was in the gulf, so the ocean was pretty rough! We had double red flags on the beach until Sunday! Anyway, the beach was still pretty because the waves were SO big! We enjoyed eating some of our favorite seafood & enjoyed time with friends. For dinner we ate Cantina Laredo- mmm... Mexican food!

Eating lunch with GiGi

Smiling at Papa Jim

So do they look alike?

Friday- We headed to Seagrove Beach & ate at this hole in the wall place that has the BEST fried grouper ever! We relaxed the remainder of the day & watched a lot of the hurricane coverage.

GiGi feeding Austin breakfast (notice his right leg.)

Saturday- My parents watched Austin while Shane & I went to do some shopping! Or course we came home with more clothes for Austin than for ourselves. But it was fun to get out by ourselves for a bit- we even had some yummy gelato too! We watched a little college football, but were disappointed that the Texas/Arkansas game was cancelled because of Hurricane Ike. My mom cooked one of our favorite meals for dinner too!

Too cute!

Sunday- We went to church and EVERYONE wanted to see Austin. Most of them have seen lots of pictures and read my blog! Papa Jim & Gigi were very proud and showing him off to everyone. Shane & I just stood back like we weren't even there... Just Kidding. But we seriously didn't hold him then entire time! Afterwards we ate lunch on the harbor & then took Austin swimming in the pool! I wasn't sure how long it would last- but he LOVED it. He splashed around and played for about 45 minutes! And he didn't get upset at all when we dunked him under the water twice! That evening we ordered in pizza and watched football!

Before church

Swimming gear

Gradually making our way into the water

The three of us

Coming up from being dunked by Mommy

Playing in the fountain with Daddy

He loved his boat float

Our little man!

Monday- Austin woke up at 6am... ugh. After we fed him a quick bottle, my mom offered to watch him and put him down for his morning nap. Shane and I left for a walk on the beach (stopping at Starbucks for breakfast and a mocha.) It was beautiful on the beach, and also quite cool! We walked from about 7:30-9, and enjoyed doing something by ourselves once again! We met friends for lunch back at Pompano Joe's (can't get enough of that place), and then went and did more shopping! At sunset we went to the beach for a few pics, but it was getting dark already.

Watching the waves & birds

Shane & I

Shopping wore him out (it's funny that he doesn't know to turn his head when he's sleeping on my shoulder.)

The beach at sunset

Family pic

Tuesday- We headed to the beach first thing in the morning to get some shots of Austin on the beach. He liked the sand until he did a face plant into it- got sand in his eyes, ears, nose, mouth- everywhere. He cried but got over it quickly and we resumed the photo shoot! After a nap, we headed back to the airport. Austin did great on the drive to New Orleans & on the plane trip home! I was amazed at how wonderful he did considering he traveled for almost 12 hrs.

The beach

Austin & Mommy

Waiting for the waves

Standing in sand is tough!

Playing with GiGi before leaving for the airport

6 Months Old!!

Austin turned 6 months old while we were in Destin, FL visiting my parents! I look at his newborn pictures and can't believe he is already halfway to his first birthday! Here are a few new things:

*Austin loves watching our cat, Max. I notice him searching the room for Max & then smiling at him a LOT once he eyes him!

*He is eating really well (like you couldn't tell from the pics, right?) For breakfast he has oatmeal and fruit (we've done applesauce, bananas, & pears), and in the evenings he does rice cereal and a veggie (we've done squash & sweet peas.) He typically doesn't like a new veggie when we first try it (and makes some hilarious faces), but then he gradually starts to enjoy it more. He also loves eating grapes in that net thing where he can just bite on them & get the juice!

*Austin still hates tummy time. I'm not sure if he will ever crawl. Shane is convinced that he is going to go straight to walking. But he's starting doing this thing when he's sitting up- where he rocks back and forth and scoots forwards on the floor.

*He is still a wonderful sleeper. He is also much easier to put to sleep now & we can put him down in minutes (and he sometimes falls asleep on his own.) Oh, and he still likes to be swaddled. His schedule changes daily, but usually it's something like this:
10:30pm-8:30am: sleeping
9:30am-12:00pm: morning nap
1:30pm-2:30pm: afternoon nap
4:30pm-5:00pm: evening nap
8:30pm-9:00pm: 2nd evening nap

*Austin loves the water. Whether it's the bathtub or the swimming pool (which he experienced for the first time during our trip to FL.) He loves to splash with his hands, kick his feet, lay on his belly, and even go under the water!

*He giggles and smiles a lot! He laughs at me sometimes, but Shane can really get him going!

*Austin is hot natured like his Mommy. We can have the AC on 68 in the car, an he is still hot (which in turn makes him mad.) So heat=grumpy... again, just like Mommy!

*He loves to jump! When we hold him up standing he constantly squats down and then jumps up.. over and over... and over. Yes, it gets very tiring on our backs!

*Austin has a little temper. It's more like when he wants something, he wants it NOW. And he lets you know exactly how he is feeling. Shane likes to say that he has my personality... nice.

*He recognizes his name when anyone calls it. He also recognizes Shane & I in pictures and will smile and touch them. For a while he's been recognizing our voices, but I notice it a lot more now. He will stop what he's doing and look for us until he finds Mommy or Daddy.

*Austin plays hard like a boy! He is very strong. When he gets excited he puts a toy into his LEFT hand and just slings it around really rough- I'm always afraid he will hurt himself! He started off using his right hand more, but now he has the tendency to use his left, like Daddy.

*He is VERY predictable. Austin has a schedule and seems to like a routine. The times are not always the same everyday, but the order of his activities are! And it is easy to tell when he is hungry, sleepy, bored. etc.

*Austin is mesmerized by movement and sounds outside (esp trees.) We especially noticed it in Destin with all of the palm trees. He will just stop what he is doing and stare- it's hilarious! I promise I don't keep him locked in the basement or anything at home.

*He sits up very well on his own- I noticed a huge difference just in the one week that we were visiting my parents!

*Austin cries for me! My mom pointed it out a few days ago when she & Shane had been with him all morning while I packed. He kept fussing when I'd walk by & not acknowledge him. Then he could see me in the other room packing and just cried until I came and held him- so sweet!

His 6 month appointment had to be pushed back to the beginning of October, so we'll post his stats then. But I'll tell you now that he's a BIG boy... if you hadn't noticed.

I'll post about our trip to the beach soon!

A few pictures from this week...

Playing with his new toy from Gran & Papa Gary- he obviously loves it!

Looking at Daddy

Sitting up like a big boy!

BIG smile... so cute!

What is this pose?

I just thought this one was cute

Ready for the Longhorns game! Hook 'Em Horns!

Convertible Car Seat

UPDATE: Thanks for all of the comments! We're sticking with our original plan and going with Britax- just trying to decide between the Marathon & Boulevard!

Well, it's time to start looking for a convertible car seat... yes, Austin has almost met the weight limitation for his infant seat (at 6 months old.) Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions from you moms out there! Tell me which car seat you like & why!





Thanks in advance for the information... as there are so many to choose from.

Labor Day Weekend

We went to visit Shane's family for labor day weekend & had a wonderful time! We attended a party for his Grandparent's 60th Anniversary- Isn't that amazing? So Austin was able to spend time with 4 of his great grandparents, his Gran & Papa Gary, his Aunt & Uncle, and many more relatives! Shane also had a chance to go fishing, so that was fun! Here are a few pics from our trip.

Mommy & Austin

Austin & his Great Grandparents (Maw Maw & Paw Paw)

Anniversary pic with the kids & spouses

Anniversary pic with the grandkids & spouses

Uncle Mat & Aunt Shanna (Mat makes silly faces in most pics)

Courtney & Ashley (yes, Ashley makes silly faces too)

Lindsey & Laura

Asleep on Daddy's shoulder- I love this picture

On our way home we saw all of these cars pulled over on the side of the road in Austin (near the airport.) We looked over and this is what we saw~ Air Force One!

And a few pics from the last few weeks:

Cute overalls outfit

Austin sitting up on his own

Austin sitting in his high chair for the first time! Such a big boy!

Have a great week!!