Lucky #7!

Our boy turns 7 months tomorrow!! I know I say this every month, but time is just going by so fast. Pretty sure he's right at 20 lbs. now, and getting chunkier each day. He has two teeth on the bottom and scoots around on the floor pretty good, but no crawling yet. Thank goodness, because we haven't exactly baby-proofed the house yet. He loves to be outside, has gone swimming a few times at CiCi's pool. He seems to like it alot and splashes around and stuff. He has a little car, which he just seems interested in chewing on the steering wheel.
He's also discovered the fish tank at CiCi's house and is just absolutely mesmerized by it. I think I'm going to have to get a small fish tank to put in the jungle playroom at our house.

We've started going out to eat more frequently lately, and Austin seems pretty content playing with his toys or reading the menu. And we've quit using the baby tub, and he sits in the big boy tub for bath time.

I think he has tried every fruit and vegetable that Gerber makes and just gobbles them up. Last week I let him nibble/suck on an apple slice and he loved it! We'll probably start trying to give him some mushed up regular food in the upcoming weeks. And he's also tried some juice out of a sippy cup, which he has been really good at. My goodness, he's just growing up too fast!!

Well, I survived!!

I write this as I sit stranded in the Chicago airport. I skipped out of my training a little early today, so I could try to catch an earlier flight back to Dallas to see my monkey before he goes to sleep tonight. Well, due to the bad weather in Dallas last night and this morning, the majority of the flights are cancelled or delayed. I have been in the airport for three hours now, and I think it will probably be another three, at least. Too many people stranded + a lack of planes = pissed off travelers. I hate airports and just want to get home!!!! Some of my co-workers who went home last night didn't get in until 4am, so I guess it could be worse.

So, I haven't seen proof myself, but it seems Jordan and Austin made it through the past few days without Mommy. :( I think it was great bonding time for the two of them, but I'm sure he will welcome my extra set of hands when I get home. I have missed them so much. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed being able to have drinks with friends, sleeping in a little in the morning, not washing bottles/clothes, but I miss my motherly duties. I hate having to go out of town, but know that it often comes with my job. But the job pays the bills. :)

Off to the Windy City!

Well, I am officially a part of the management team at KPMG. Well, as of July 1st I will be. They actually promoted me. I was pretty nervous there for awhile. Between to the tough economic times, layoffs at the firm over the past 6 months, and my taking a 5 month hiatus during the craziest busy season of all, I wasn't sure if it was going to happen or not. But I'm very thankful to my managers and partners that fought for my promotion; now, the pressure is on! It's going to probably be the toughest year of my career, but I know I have a great support system at home and at work to help me through it. My first challenge: heading to Chicago for 3 1/2 days of training.

Ugghh, I miss my little boy already, and I haven't even gotten on the damn plane yet! :( I'm hesitant to leave him for just one night with one of our parents, and now I have to leave him for 3 nights?! How will we ever survive?! Well, I'm pretty sure Jordan is fully capable of taking care of Austin all by himself, it's me I'm worried about. How will I go without seeing that beautiful smile of my precious little turkey everyday? He is my world. Good thing I have my own hotel room, because I have a feeling I may be a little sad and lonely at night. I threatened Jordan that I better get at least one video and a few pics daily while I'm gone. And I'm pretty thankful that I have a wonderful husband who is fully capable of taking care of our son by himself for a few days. Not all hubbies are like that. Now, if he takes him to Hooters while I'm gone or cuts his hair, then that's a different story! I am just going to miss him terribly, and can't wait til I get back. :(

Austin will be 7 months old next week, so I'll have an update on all that fun stuff, and some pics, in the next few days!

Austin's 6 Month Pics

Here are some of Austin's 6 month pics. He didn't necessarily want to cooperate the whole time; he's been a little fussy from teething. But we still got some good ones.......

Happy 1/2 Birthday Austin!!!

Half a year, already?!?! Where has the time gone? This kid will be going off to kindergarten before I know it, at this rate. :( We took Austin to his 6 month checkup this morning. He weighed in at 18lbs. 9oz. (70th percentile) and measured 26 1/2 inches long (50th percentile). The doc said he looked great! We got four vaccines today, which is never fun, but he took 'em like a pro. I decided to work from home today, so we went to have lunch with Jordan after he went back to work. This was Austin's second time sitting in the highchair at the restaurant, rather than in his carseat. He absolutely loves people watching and is pretty content playing with his toys. He's been eating like a champ, too, and I don't think there's anything that this kid won't like! We've had sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, green beans, peas, and peaches. Still no teeth yet, but I hope it's soon. He drools like crazy and everything goes in the mouth. And if you stick your finger in his mouth, he just bites down so hard, poor thing.

I'm so ready for the weather to stay nice and warm, so I can get him out to the pool. I've bought him a couple pairs of the cutest swim trunks and matching rash-guard shirts. And of course, we have a hat, sunglasses, and super-cute sandals. We're going camping (well, in a camper) at the lake over Memorial Day weekend with some friends, so that should be interesting. Work has been pretty steady over the past few weeks, and I've had to bring work home nearly every night. But if it gets me home in time to spend time with my boy in the evening, that's the sacrifice I'll make.



Well, I guess that's it for now. :)

Thanks Mom!

To my Momma,

Happy Mother's Day!!! Just wanted to say thank you for being a great mom to me for nearly 27 years. You have been incredible. We may not have had much money when we were growing up, having to do homework by candlelight at one time, but you always made sure we had the most important thing......a great bond and lots of love. It wasn't always easy as a single mom, but I think me and Kat turned out pretty good. The three of us have always stuck together, no matter what.

Now, that I'm a mom myself, I hope to try to pass on all the wisdom and good values that you taught me. Don't get me wrong; we definitely had our fair share of arguments and meltdowns when I was growing up. But it was just part of the learning process, to understand each other and make you my best friend today. And I kinda think we have a stronger bond now that I'm a mom, too. You're always the first one I call for advice or just to talk when I've had a rough day. Anyways, thanks for everything and I can't express how grateful I am to have you in my life!!! LOVE YOU!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I can't believe it! A day to celebrate......me, as a mom. Finally, I'm a mom this year. I think back to how depressing it was all those other Mother's Days, when I wanted to have a baby in my arms so badly. Then last year I was one step closer, with a baby in my belly. Now, this year, I have my sweet Austin by my side to celebrate with me. I am truly thankful to be a mom; it's the best job ever! I feel that I have a whole new purpose in life now that he is here. When he's not with me, I'm constantly thinking about him and wondering what he's doing. I've gotten better and more comfortable with letting family babysit him and stay overnight, but I still miss him terribly every second that he is away. I just want to cherish every moment I can. Especially now that I have gone back to work, we have a limited amount of time together during the week, so the weekends are our special time. Maybe I'm just being selfish. But the past 6 months have been completely amazing being a mom, and I already have the itch for baby #2.


Austin sent me some beautiful pink tulips to work on Friday. He did so good, remembering they were my favorite flower. And then two other surprises. On Friday, my audit team got me a First Mother's Day card and had it waiting for me when I got to work. It was so sweet! Then today, I got a delivery at home. It was a beautiful orchid plant from my Godfather Jeff in Kansas City, to celebrat my first Mother's Day. I feel so loved!! Tomorrow, I'm just hoping to relax and enjoy my day at home. Nothing special, but hopefully some breakfast in bed. (Hint, hint!!) Anyways, Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!