Crib Notes: 5 months

Playing at Daycare is Hard Work!

This week I turn 5 months old. Can you believe it? Mommy says time flies when you’re not getting enough sleep!


Being 5 (mo) is great! There are so many things that I can do now that I couldn’t do when I was only 4. Let’s see…

• I can hold my head up so high, and I can see so many things! I’m learning that the world is really exciting. There are so many colors and sounds…lots of people to watch and things to do! It is hard to fit everything into a day since Mommy still makes me take lots of naps.

• I can hold onto things and get almost all of them into my mouth. Daddy says he hopes I’m coordinated like Mommy, but I think Daddy is pretty coordinated. He only drops food on himself once or twice a day. And if it’s popcorn that he’s dropping…well he drops more than one or two pieces of popcorn…but Nemo is always willing to help out.

• I help out when Mommy is holding me by trying to hold on to her. She has built in handles on both sides of her face. She keeps telling me her hair is not a handle, but I think she’s wrong. I think it is a perfect handle. It’s a little harder to hold onto Daddy because he doesn’t have handles, but I’m open to trying to grab his lip, nose, or ear.

• When I’m tired or just waking up, I love to snuggle my head against Mommy or Daddy. I could hold my head up on my own because I’m a big boy, but it is so comfortable to rest against their cheeks.

• I can sit up all by myself in my bumbo seat, and I can sit with barely any help at all in a lap. We’re going to Sassy and Mr. Jim’s house for Christmas this week. Mommy says I will have plenty of laps to sit in!

• I can TALK. A lot. And I have so much to say. And I love to hear myself talk. And Mommy and Daddy love to hear me talk. And it is so fun to make all those sounds. And I can do it any time I want to. And I use lots of words so I can talk longer. And I repeat myself. And I wake up talking. And I talk all the way home from daycare. And I talk in the middle of the night. And I talk to Mrs. Fran and Ms. Rahill. And I talk to my toys. And I talk to myself. And…well, I guess you get the idea. I can’t wait to talk to you.

Maternal Musings

It is much easier to clean out a baby's nose before he learns to find his face with his hands.

Santa Claus is Coming

To MY house!!

That's right!  Santa Claus came to see me and to ask what I want for Christmas.  He said he knew  I would be traveling on Christmas Eve, and he wanted me to know he'd be able to find me. 

 I wasn't at all scared of Santa...but have you seen that beard???  And I had lots and lots to tell him.  It seems that my list is pretty long for someone who has only been around since July!

He even brought presents that he gave me 3 whole days early.  I must have been really, really good this year!

New Photo Albums

There are new photo albums (from Bitsy Baby) on the photo page for your enjoyment.

Crib Notes - Week 21

Did you know that it is almost Christmas? Someone finally told me. Now I understand why Mommy keeps dressing me in red. AND….I got to go see Santa! Santa told Daddy that I had a really long list! Santa’s elves kept trying to get my attention so they could take a picture, but the other kids there were so much more interesting than the elves.

I even missed my nap after seeing Santa because we stayed at the mall. Well, I was supposed to take a nap while Mommy shopped, but there was soooo much to see! People and packages, music and laughter. I just couldn't sleep. And when I got hungry, I was too interested in looking around Mommy’s fitting room to nurse. It was all very exciting.

I started sitting all by myself in my bumbo seat this week. It is really hard, but I'm using my super strong muscles. I also sit in Mommy's lap to read stories and play games at night before bed. I can almost always get the book or toy (or burp cloth or Daddy's tie) Mommy is holding into my mouth. I'm very good at that this week.

Now that I can sit up better, it is easier for me to watch football with Daddy. We’re learning “touchdown” with my arms straight over my head. I still need Daddy’s help to get my arms over my head. It makes me laugh, and Daddy seems to be very happy when the 49ers score a touchdown. If touchdowns are so much fun, can anyone explain to me why Daddy gets so mad when the other team scores one?

Christmas time is such a busy time of year. It is busy for me, too. I come home from Mrs. Fran’s exhausted from all the playing some days. One night, Daddy and I were so tired that Mommy found us asleep on the couch. I don’t know why Daddy was so tired. He hardly ever has playtime during the day.

Crib Notes - Week 20

Daddy was out of town for business again, but this time I didn't get to go help him.  Mommy and I stayed home together, and I kept her company.  I sure did miss my Daddy time in the mornings.  Mommy is great, but Daddy is sooo funny.  We play and laugh in the mornings.

I look so handsome going to Mrs. Fran's in all my great Christmas clothes from YaYa.  Mrs. Fran has trouble giving me enough tummy time because all the girls want to help me.  I must look great in red!

Mommy took pictures of me to send to Daddy every day while he was gone, but I wanted to do something more.  I asked Mommy to make a video, so I could send Daddy a message.

It sure is cold here.  Daddy says we good looking guys without hair have to keep our heads covered so we don't get sick.  I'm not quite ready to fill Daddy's shoes, but I'm doing a pretty good job filling his hat, don't you think?

I've been noticing some things lately.  I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure Mommy and Daddy are eating things that aren't milk.  I'm not sure, but I'm watching very closely.  I'll let you know what I learn.

I rolled over from my tummy to my back at Mrs. Fran's this week.  I haven't done it at home, but Mommy sure is anxious to see.

The Austin Manifesto

Crib Notes- Week 19

This was such a big week for me!  I earned my very first frequent flyer miles.  Since I live so far away from all my grandparents, I expect to earn a lot of frequent flyer miles over the next few years!  Hopefully, you all will earn your own miles to come see me!

I was a bit cranky when Sassy and Mr. Jim left because I wanted them to stay longer.  I think I got a little bit clingy and made it hard for Mommy to pack for Tampa.  I was going on Daddy's business trip to help!  We stayed with Papa Mac.  I was such a good boy in the airport and on the plane.  I did have trouble sleeping at first because there was so much to see on the plane!  Finally, Mommy covered me up, and I slept nearly the whole way to Tampa.  I would have slept all the way except there was a little boy sitting behind us that wasn't nearly as well behaved as I am.  He kept screaming and waking me up.

Papa Mac picked us up, and once the nice security guy showed us how to put my seat in the car, we headed to the beach!  I love the beach!  I got to have naked toes!  No socks or footed sleepers necessary when it is 85 degrees!  Papa Mac has a sparkly, twinkly blue thing outside the patio.  Mommy said it is a swimming pool, and she said I will love it when I'm older.  Papa Mac also has the biggest sandbox ever!!!  I can't wait to play in it!  I wonder if we can talk Mrs. Fran into getting a sandbox like Papa Mac's? 

Papa Mac even had a perfect bedroom for me...Mommy said something about turning his 3 bed 3 bath condo into a 4 bed 2 bath condo for a week.  The first night we were there, I woke up in my new bedroom and started talking.  My voice echoed and sounded strange, so I talked louder and louder and louder...until I realized I wasn't happy about being alone.  Mommy was right there to take care of me.  I slept better after that.

Yaya came to see me.  We got to go out and play.  She wheeled me around in my stroller and made me laugh...and then I fell asleep.  I didn't mean to, but I did.  She said I'm getting so big and handsome!

Papa Mac introduced me to cartoons!  Cartoons are even more fun than football!  So many colors!

I'm getting really strong.  I'm just about to roll over!  And I can reach out and grab my toys and put just about everything into my mouth.  You already know how good I am at making bubbles!  I was so happy being with Mommy all week long.  We got to play, and cuddle, and talk, and go for walks.  I love being with Mommy.

I got to meet more of my cousins.  Aunt Donna, Uncle Kelly, Shelby, and Sophia.  It was so fun.  Sophia LOVED me!  What is it about these older women?  They won't quit kissing my head.  I got a little overexcited by all the people and activity, but Daddy got home in time to calm me down and help me go to sleep.

I had a little harder time on the airplane ride home (although I was still about the best boy ever).  I cried and cried when Mommy tried to make me go to sleep.  No one seemed to want to sit by us...  Once I calmed down, I was fine for the whole rest of the trip.  Mommy took me to an empty row to change my diaper, and she let me stay there and play until it was time to land.  I love making Mommy laugh!

Apparently Mommies are Never Satisfied

I've decided that babies sleep entirely too much!

It wasn't so long ago when I despaired of ever getting 4 consecutive hours of sleep again.  Today, our child is a wonderful sleeper and sleeps 11+ hours a night - consecutively.  We are so blessed to have a baby that sleeps through the night.  However, I get to spend so very little time with him during the week.  I often wish he would go to bed a little later or that I could still wake up to cuddle him for those 2 am feedings. 

Mind you, we have teething and growth spurts on the horizon and probably our share of winter colds which will keep us up more than a few nights.  At that point, I'll miss the days when I put Austin in his crib at 7 and didn't hear from him again until 6 the next morning.

Apparently mommies are never satisfied.

I LOVE BUBBLES!!!

My new favorite activity is blowing bubbles! Fun, fun, fun! Bubbles make the best sound, and they tickle my lips! And I can do it anytime I want to...and I want to a lot. I entertain myself for minutes at a time. Mommy says I might drown myself if I get any better at it, and Daddy says I save him time. Who needs a shower when I'm around blowing bubbles? I kept Mommy entertained with my bubbles on the airplane ride home from Papa Mac's house. Wheee!