Week 28

We have a fancy camera. We have the fancy camera lenses. Our photographer (me) is not so fancy. I need some help. I love photographs, I love taking them, I just don't know how. I would love to learn, nothing fancy, just the basics. I would also love to learn how to fix pictures. Make the greens a little greener, the blues a little bluer, make mommies muffin top disappear. I'm thinking for my next present (I plan presents months & years in advance) I might take some beginner photography classes and get the latest addition of Photo-shop. Or maybe I'll just watch the instructional DVD that came with our fancy camera. In the meantime I'm just going to keep taking pictures, lots of pictures. Out of 1,000 we always manage to get a few cute ones.

Little man... he got his first set of wheels this week. A Jeep Liberty. It's a baby walker, a super cute one! We test drove all the cars at the baby store. The mustang made him scream ( I think it was the leather seats,) the Elmo ride didn't move well, but the Jeep was just right. Instant smile. Sold! Our whole downstairs is an open floor plan, with hardwoods, making it the perfect racetrack. He uses both feet (well his whole body actually) racing from room to room. He explores everything in his tracks, the refrigerator, the kitchen table, the basket on the steps, the faux plant on the floor...just about everything. I thought about taking him outside to drive, but I'm afraid he would hit the open road. For now we'll keep the driving indoors. Vroom....

7 months young!

We're over the half way hump. We're officially closer to a year old then a newborn. You know what that means, time to start planning the party of the century. T-Minus 5 months and counting. (Has anyone ever sent out save the dates for a 1st birthday?!?)

I said it last month, I'm saying it this month, and I'll say it again next month...I can't believe how quickly your growing little man. It's actaully getting a bit ridiculous. Here's what your up to these days...

• You can SIT! You were so sick of laying all day everyday. Your a new baby now that you can see the world from another angle. You love sitting and look so grown-up!


• Mommy and Daddy had their first (and last) trip away from you. We left you with MomMom and PopPop while we went to Oklahoma for a long weekend.


• You take all you naps in your crib now, no more swing. (tear)


• You wear big-boy PJ's to bed now, instead of a onesie and sleepsack. Let me tell you...a baby in baby Gap Pj's is just delicious, so cute!


• You've said baba, Mom, hi, and hello!


• Your favorite toys are a school bus that scoots, your talking Elmo and your spatula.


• You own your first car. A jeep. You whiz around the house as fast as you can. Forward, backward, and into walls. You get your driving lessons from Mommy.


• We're going 7 months strong with nursing! In fact, you call it your 'Ba.' When I'm laying you down on your Boppy you get super excited. You start dancing, smiling, and saying "Babababa." (Better then saying "tittytittytitty.")


• Your becoming a big boy sleeper. You go to bed at 7, wake up once around 1:30 and then your up for the day at 5:00. Rise and Shine everyone!


• Your squeezing into your 3-6 month clothes, and comfortably wearing 6-12. Your still in size 2 diapees!


• You love to stand on the second floor and look down the balcony at everyone. We put your hands in the air and say "I'm the biggest baby in the world."


• Mommy calls you from work everyday during lunch. You "talk" to me while blowing raspberries into the phone, and trying to eat it all at once.


• You love cups. You love when we fill a cup with water. You start to 'cough' when we do. You "need" a sip of water. (And by sip, I mean you put your lips to the cups rim, and blow a few raspberries.)


• You can sit in the big boy shopping carts and restraunt highchairs! (With an adorable cover to keep all those grimey germs away oh course!)


• Teeth...you have 7. We're still waiting on the other bottom, side tooth. Any day now...


• You not crawling but your preparing. Your learning how to lunge yourself forward, pull your knees in, and scoot with your arms.


• You went to your first KinderMusic class with MomMom and Daddy. You sang, and danced and had a ball with all the other babies

Oh how we love you little man. Your sweet, smiling face makes getting up at 5:00 so easy (most days.) You just keep getting cuter, and cuter, and...

Week 28

We have a sitter. He's been sitting for a few weeks now. A little wobbly at first, but now he's a sitting machine. It's so nice to be able to sit him down and not have to lay him down. Just another one of the many things happening to my baby, or should I say, my little man. sigh.

There's something so heartbreaking about Nolen growing up so fast. It's the one comment you hear over and over again and don't listen too. "Enjoy him, they grow so fast." Whatever you think, I was pregnant for a decade so how fast could this baby possibly grow? Well, fast, super fast, blink your eyes and he's got 8 teeth fast.

I teared up packing up his teeny, tiny newborn clothes. I cried putting away his 0-3 months. I sobbed adding in his 3-6 months. As if clothes weren't enough... he's outgrowing hats, shoes, toys, ugh, even his SWING! He's been a swing napper from day one, but not any more. My big boy is a tummy sleeper and the swing doesn't allow for that. So he's now a crib napping, tummy sleeping, blankie holding little man.

I would say I don't want him to grow for awhile, but I have to admit, the more he grows the more fun he becomes. So I guess I'll stop my complaining and just enjoy the ride. (And maybe I'll just say a little prayer that he grows *a tad bit slower.*)

Week 27

We're home from Oklahoma. I survived a whole 3 days away from little man. It was nice and terrible all wrapped into one. (We won't even talk about the football game, yikes!)

I had forgotten what it was like to be Megan, not Mommy, for a few days. I could actually carry a purse instead of a diaper bag. I could have a drink (or 10) and not have to worry about nursing. I could sleep through the night (although I didn't.) I could get a shower without playing pee-a-boo and singing the wheels on the bus. I could put on make-up and eat meals with 2 hands. It brought me back to the ol' days. Days that I am happy to hand over for our 'new days.'

Thankfully we had a pregnant one in tow, a partner in crime to talk everything baby. Our group thought nothing of me hiding behind my hooter hider, pumping as we drove around town. I pumped the milk, Ryan threw it out the window. Team work. Great weekend, fun times, glad to be home snuggling.

Check out the baby belly on the right, Love!

Week 26

Another tooth has arrived, this makes 7. Our goal is to have a full set by 7 months. It's a bit ridiculous, but I guess if we're going to be teething we might as well jump in with both feet. It brings nursing to a whole new level. It's like playing Russian Roulette every time Nolen eats. I just cross my fingers, and whip out the milk factory.

With 7 teeth this boy needs some food. I've been busy mixing up deliciousness in my Beaba babycook. I make everyone test my creations (I may or may not have mentioned that my creations all contain breast milk.) So far we've made butternut squash with pear, banana with avocado, sweet potato with apple, and blueberry, pear, oatmeal. Yum! I like to believe he loves his homemade goodness, his facial expressions prove otherwise. Sigh, he might have inherited his mommies taste buds, next I'll need to puree Cheesecake and Starbucks.

Peek-a-boo with MomMom

3 generations of Astor men!