Mission accomplished...

I finally got the garage situated!!!! Everything is put away where it needs to be, but I'm not sure if we are going to be able to pull the car into the garage or not. I have all of my totes on one side of the garage so that means that the mower has to go on the other side! I haven't tried to pull it in yet but I may have to do a little more rearranging so that we can get it in the garage!

But anyways, not much has been going on! Austin is continually getting into things he shouldn't have! I was doing some ironing yesterday and he kept trying to pull himself up on the ironing board to try to get the iron cord. I had to get it done so I got out his pack n play for him to play in and he didn't go for that what so ever!!!! But at that point he was so tired, but refused to take a nap so I'll have to try it again some time! He got up at 5 am when Daddy left for work and didn't take a nap until 2 pm! He was driving us both nuts with his crankiness!!! I think he is really starting to get some more teeth because the drooling has increased and he chews really hard on everything. He also has his first cold right now. He was really stuffed up yesterday and sneezing but today his nose is constantly running and he is still sneezing. He still sounds a bit stuffed up too even though his nose is running. He probably caught it from me because I feel like I have a touch of a sinus infection. I don't know what triggered it but I was sneezing all weekend and was stuffed up too! But what can you do?

Michael's back to work during the day so Austin and I are hanging out at home all day! It's not too bad! I do miss going swimming and walking with Jamie though! Shawn is working during the day too so she doesn't have a car during the day either! Hopefully we'll figure something out!

We've been getting a lot of use out of our new grill the neighbors gave us lately! Last night we had chicken (with teriyaki marinade) and baked potatoes! It turned out really great, thanks Dad!!! Jamie and Shawn came over for dinner before we went to a FRG meeting (Family Readiness Group). It is a support group for soldiers wives. Jamie and I are looking forward to attending and hopefully finding more mom's to start a play group with! I'll let you know more when we go to another meeting!

Hope everyone is having a good week! Hope you had a good first day with all of your "little people" yesterday Aunt Jan! And Libby, you wouldn't believe how many people have said that Austin looks like the Gerber baby!!!! I can't believe how cute he is, I am constantly kissing on him!

Lots of Love
Andi

I guess he needs to get a close up view! Do I have to say it again, he keeps getting into things he shouldn't be!!!!!!!!! 

He is such a big helper! Here he is helping me fold his laundry, or should I say unfolding his laundry!!!  

Austin floating around the pool! 

Austin and Mommy swimming in the big pool on post! He is starting to move his arms and kick his feet when he is swimming! He's so cute in his bathing suit too! 

Coming home...

Michael is coming home today!!! Austin and I are so excited. He won't be home until later but Austin and I are going to go swimming in the mean time! We are going with Jamie and Devlin again but we have to wait until they get done with Devlin's doctor's appointment (4 month check-up)!

There are new pictures on Austin's photo album on pages 4 & 5! I'm sure you all will see them at some point in time! Hope you enjoy them!

Have a great day!

Andi

Doesn't he look like a big boy in this picture? He is getting ready to take a walk. Love the outfit! Thanks Libby & Jackson!!!! 

We've been busy...

Hello everyone! Austin and I have been pretty busy lately. We've been walking every day with Jamie and Devlin and then hanging out with them a lot lately. Saturday we went to dinner with them at Applebees. Sunday they came over to walk and then swam in Austin's little pool. And yesterday we took the babies to the big swimming pool on post and had a great time! When we got to the pool there was only one other person there so we didn't have to worry about anyone splashing or playing around us. The babies had a great time along with a couple of big gulps of water from time to time! Austin and Devlin took turns floating in Austin's floaty toy. Austin loved to just float around in the water. He thought it was really funny when I went underwater then came up to surprise him! We are planning on taking them swimming again on Thursday when the pool reopens. It closes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, probably to give the lifeguards days off. I was glad to see that they have lifeguards on duty, I wasn't sure if there were going to be any or not. We also went to the library last night to get some books. Austin liked all the books but he really wanted to eat them! We found out that the library has story times and there isn't an age limit. Anyone from ages 0 to 6 can attend so we are planning on taking them one day when the story time resumes again. It starts again on Sept. 7 and the librarian said that people bring their babies all the time. I'm really excited to meet other mom's and hopefully find out more things to do around the area with Austin. I was kind-of disappointed because the library is not very big. There are two locations for the library and the librarian said that we were at the one more aimed at youths. I guess it will have to do, I wish it were more like the Comstock library with the whole basement being just Children's books. I plan on checking out the library on post too to see what it is like!

Austin is now pulling himself up to standing on things. I caught him this morning standing up in his bed. I lowered it but I need to lower it again just for piece of mind! Right now he is jumping in his jumperoo, hopefully warring himself out so he can take a nap! He gets so cranky when he's tired but he just doesn't seem to want to give up! I've been trying to keep him up more during the day so he goes to bed at a decent time. The last few nights he hasn't wanted to go to bed until after 10. Sunday night it was 10:45 before he finally gave up. That is way to late! I need my time to myself to wind down before I go to bed!

That's about it, we are looking forward to Michael coming home. Hopefully he will be home Thursday or Friday. He said they are scheduled to work on Thursday but as soon as the plane pulls out they are out of there! He is kind-of bored, no wait, he is really bored!!!!

I hope everyone is having a good week! Did school start on Monday Aunt Jan? If so, how are things going? Talk to everyone soon!

Love Andi

Watching a baby einstein movie! He's so happy! 

Here's Austin jumping in his Jumperoo! He's starting to jump so high he gets his feet off the ground! He's so funny! 

I love that he can crawl to his toy basket and get whatever toys he wants now! As you can see, he has plenty to choose from! 

Hanging out in his bathrobe after a bath!  

Good Morning...

We've been just hanging out the past few days. I feel like such a retard! All this time I thought that Jamie and Shawn's baby's name was Devon, but it is actually Devlin! OOPS! So now I have it straight, but I feel bad because we have been calling him Devon! Oh well, now we know! Jamie has been coming over in the morning and we've been taking walks with the babies. We are trying to find somewhere to take them during the day. Austin's doctor told me about a program at the community center so we are going to check that out. I guess it's a group that gets together and they play music and you get to exercise with your baby. I'll let you know more details when we check it out!

Austin is definitely on the move! I still can not keep him away from the vcr and dvd player! I keep telling him no and pulling him away from it but he continues to go right back for it. When do they learn the concept of no? Is he still too young to understand it? If anyone knows let me know!

Well, we have to get dressed for our walk! I will probably call everyone this weekend sometime! Gotta love those free weekend minutes!

Lots of love

Andi

Hanging out in his jammies, climbing the couch to get the no no's on the table! Anything he can't have he wants! 

Austin & Devlin playing. Austin loves to touch him! Sometimes he's a big bully and I have to tell him to be nice!

Drinking juice! 

The Doctor is in...

Austin went to the doctor today for his 6 month check-up and immunizations! He did really good. He weighs 19 lbs 5 oz and is 27 inches long! He is in the 50th percentile for height, weight, and head circumference, which means that he is average size for a baby his age! He got 3 shots and he did really good for them. He cried when the nurse gave them to him but then was fine after I picked him up! I think the initial poke scared him the most! The doctor also said that his next teeth to come in are his front top teeth. She said that his gums were swollen so they are on their way! Hopefully they will come in at the same time like his bottom teeth so the crankiness doesn't last for a long time. He is constantly chewing on stuff, things he shouldn't have most of the time! But I am very lucky because he is such a good baby! I guess he is going to follow in Jackson's footsteps and get his teeth the same way!

Austin is officially on the go now! He is starting to put one hand in front of the other and move his legs at the same time. He crawled half way cross the living room floor when we got home from the doctor's office. Now I really have to be on my feet constantly! I can't believe it! He will be 7 months old in a week! Time is flying!

I sent everyone their pictures today! Austin was a great helper at the post office and helped me put the stamps on some of the envelopes. Of course he wanted to eat the stamps but I guess that's helping. Isn't it? Like I said, he chews on everything! The man at the post office thought it was funny that all the packages were going to Michigan. He was surprised when Ben and Angie's came up because it was going to Kentucky! I swear, everyone is so amused that we are from Michigan. The doctor thought that Kalamazoo was by the UP. She said that our winters are like Michigan's summers. Isn't that great!

Austin got both packages from Grandma & Grandpa's, Thank You! He is going to love watching his new movies. I'll have to put a list of his movies on the website so the Grandma's don't get him the same ones!

Well, we're getting ready to eat dinner and make banana bread for the first time! I hope it's as good as my mom's because it has really sounded good lately!

Lots of love!

Andi & Austin

Hello again

Austin and I got out of the house yesterday! We went shopping at the mall with Jamie and Devon. It was fun to get out with another adult and begin to build a friendship! I also picked up Austin's pictures and I am planning on getting to the post office today to mail them out to everyone! They turned out so good!

Jamie and Devon are on their way over to take a walk. We decided that we want to start walking almost every day. It won't replace the walks I used to take with Libby but it's great way to get outside for some fresh air along with some exercise!!! Michael left yesterday so Austin and I have the house to ourselves for the week. We're not sure how long he has to be gone but we will be happy when he gets home! I think the little guy knows when his Daddy is gone. It's so cute! Well I better wrap it up, time to get ready to take our walk!

Lots of love to everyone!

Andi

Naughty boy! I know some of you don't want to believe it but Austin is starting to be naughty! He is now pulling himself up on things and getting into things he shouldn't be (the vcr & dvd player)! We have really been emphasizing the word NO lately!  

Isn't he cute! 

Lazy Weekend

We've had a pretty lazy weekend! Michael had yesterday and today off so we have just been hanging out at home! We did go to a birthday party on Saturday for a guy in Michael's platoons little boy. He turned two so he had a theme of Spongebob! It was fun but we didn't stay long because we had to get home for the fantasy football draft!

Austin continues to get too big for his own good. He can now get back into the sitting position from laying on his belly. This morning when I went to get him from his crib he was sitting up! The first thing he did when he saw me was grin from ear to ear because he somehow knew what he had done! He must have rolled over on his belly then pushed himself up! He's so funny! He has been sleeping on his side more so he must have just pushed himself the rest of the way over! He is really starting to navigate himself around too. Yesterday he crawled for a brief second then resorted back to scooting around on his belly! He'll figure it out one of these days!

The only thing we have planned for today is mowing the backyard and fixing the gate on our fence. We have to go to Lowe's to get a saw and a weed whacker! I've learned that we need to start accumulating tools now that we have our own place that we need to do things to (and we're too far away from anyone to borrow them)! I needed a drill for some of the things I had to hang on the wall but had to substitute a hammer and nail for the same effect! Oh well, there are a lot of things we still need to get! We'll get them as time goes by!

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Andi

Hello

Hello everyone! Austin's second tooth has finally popped through the skin. He's been in such a better mood since it has come through! He rolled over again last night so I guess it wasn't a fluke the other day when he did. He is achieving all of his milestones within a month. It is so hard to believe, as I've said many many times before.

Michael had the day off yesterday so we hung out at home for most of the day. He and Austin ran on post together and then Austin and I went to the grocery store. It was nice to just lay on the couch and watch TV while they were gone and not have to worry about anything. Although it did feel like I should be doing something instead of just laying there.

The neighbors are getting ready to move out. The packers came yesterday and the movers are coming to pick up their stuff today. They are looking forward to heading out of town on Monday and not looking back! They are so nice! I'm bummed that they are moving so quickly after we got here. Yesterday he was trying to run all of the gas out of his lawn mower and weed whacker. Not only did he mow his yard, he mowed ours too! It was unnecessary but something that I appreciate!

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Andi

Aren't they cute together!!! 

Hanging out in his jammies! 

Two teeth!!!

Hello everyone! Austin now has two teeth!!! The first one is growing rapidly and the second one is just about ready to poke through the skin. I'm guessing that it will be today or tomorrow when it finally makes it way through! It's so exciting!

Not much else is going on. Michael has been working everyday so he has been really busy. Austin and I just hang out at home while he is at work. He takes the car to work most of the days. I don't mind taking him to work but I don't like the fact that we have to pick him up around 1 am when he gets out! The last couple of times we've taken him to work he has gotten a ride home with another guy who lives off post near us so that has been really nice.

I can't believe the summer's almost over. Of course with the weather here it feels like it's just beginning! It is still in the high 90's low 100's most of the days! Needless to say, Austin and I stay inside most of the day! Although Austin has managed to get a farmer's tan on his little legs and arms! It doesn't take much I guess!

I almost have the garage cleared out! I just have to bring in some more stuff and put it where it goes and we will be able to pull the car in! We have a little attic in the garage so I stored some stuff up there. It doesn't hold much, there is only one piece of plywood up there but I got most of the outgrown baby stuff up there!

Hope everyone has a good day!

Andi

He's getting there! He is starting to get the motions down with his legs but not his arms yet! He finally rolled over yesterday too! It was on purpose but we'll see how many more times he does it! 

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!!! Love your little guy! 

Happy Birthday Uncle Ben!!! 

He tried to pull himself up on his toy so we helped him a little! He likes to stand up against everything! 

Breaking through...

Hello everyone! Michael had the day off yesterday so we spent the whole day together running around. We went shopping for some sunglasses and a Tigers hat for Michael. We went to Temple which is the next biggest city over, but it wasn't worth the trip. Their mall sucks just as bad as ours does. Actually I think ours is better but it isn't very good! Oh well, we are planning on going to the mall in Waco one weekend when Michael has the day off. Waco is about an hour and a half a way. Waco has a zoo too that we want to take Austin to.

We can now feel Austin's first tooth, and it sure is sharp. It finally broke through the skin during the night on Wednesday. He and I had the talk this morning about biting! I don't think it will be long before the tooth next to it pops through either. It looks exactly like his new one did at the beginning of the week. We'll see, that means that he will get his two bottom front teeth first! It won't be long until he's on the go either! He is continuously trying to pull himself up on things. And forget about him playing with the toys in front of him, he wants the ones out of his reach! He is getting a lot better about trying to push himself up on his hands and knees now too! He now gets into the push-up position then gets his legs under him. He only stays up for a couple of seconds but he is getting better and better! He travels backwards more than he does forward but he will learn! Look out after that, I won't be able to catch up with him!

Well, I better get some work done while he's sleeping! Hope everyone had a good week!

Andi

Remember when...

As I was putting new pictures in Austin's photo album this morning I couldn't help but look through them. I can't believe it's been more than six months since the day Austin was born. The next thing you know he'll be 18 and getting ready to move out and go to college. The time has flown by but I've loved every minute of it!

Not much is going on today, I'm planning on getting some more stuff unpacked in the garage. My goal is to have it at least organized enough so that we can pull the car in this weekend. We have too much stuff! As if everyone didn't already know that! But I'm finally finding room for everything!

Michael was back off to work this morning. He didn't get home until 1:00 in the morning last night and had to be back again at noon today. He has to work today until about the same time he did last night. We got to see him for a couple of hours this morning which was nice. He and Austin spent some quality time by themselves while I ran to the UPS store and to the post office to send Ben and Bill their birthday presents. I hope they get there in time!

I hope everyone is having a good week!

Andi

Libby-you will have to call or e-mail me and tell me how your weekend went!

I will remember this day forever!

Austin loves to take baths in the big tub now! He loves to play with all of his toys in the tub too, even though the only thing he does with them is try to eat them! Imagine that!