Milam County Nature Festival, Nacogdoches & Some Firsts

We made plans with both sides of our families to meet up in Cameron at the 2011 Milam County Nature Festival. Auggie was able to meet all his cousins on Tim's side. I know they had been really looking forward to meeting him. All the times they saw him were through the window or TV when we got on XBOX Live. Drake, Cole, Lindsay and my mom were able to come from my side. Tim is the advisor from Texas Park & Wildlife for the organization who organized the festival- The El Camino Real Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist. The members have kept up with how Auggie has been doing so they were all happy they were able to meet him. Auggie was also able to meet a pair of Tim's landowners- Molly & Ray. They're so sweet and both times that I've met them, I feel like I'm part of their family! One of these days we're going to make a trip out to their place- Auggie has lots of fishing to do!

The festival is was fun! Auggie fell asleep after he ate. He was nice and comfy in the Snugli carrier once he was facing towards me.

Photo by Corey
April 9

Photo by Molly & Ray
April 9

Gramma trying to get comfy with Auggie
April 9

After his lunch, he fell asleep
April 9

Drake touching an alligator
April 9

We spent Thursday & Friday in Nacogdoches. Auggie was able to meet Chris, Liz, Kati, Stephanie, Erica, Kate, Leah and whole bunch of people from SFA Campus Rec! He was such a ladies man! Tim & I were both nervous about him not having good days since he's been crying a lot at night but as soon as he was out of that car seat and meeting new people, he was so happy and smiley! Of course, I brought my camera and what happens?? I took one picture! I'm so mad at myself for only taking one picture!! :( But at least I got the one picture.. Plus, Auggie made history and let Kate hold him! YAY Kate!

Kate, Erica & Kent
April 8

I don't know if I should say this or if I'm jinxing myself... but I guess I'll say it any way.. Auggie has been sleeping better the past few nights. Thank goodness! It is still harder to put him to bed and keep him there and asleep than before but it is a heck of a lot better than him screaming every 45 minutes.

We've been helping Auggie practice sitting up on his own. I think it is going well and he'll be sitting up on his own in no time! He always wants to be sitting straight up.

5 months old
April 10

Monday he really held his bottle well! I was actually able to get a few pictures. He was hungry so he leaned to the bottle and grabbed it and put it in his mouth. So happy!

Holding his bottle
April 11

Leaning forward
April 11

Exhausted!

So sorry I didn't post on Tuesday!

Auggie's terrible sleep habits have finally caught up to us. I dont know how they hadn't caught up to Tim before this week! Tuesday and Wednesday nights offered some relief but the days were more stressful than others. Auggie has been screaming at night before he even opens his eyes. At times it was so bad we just had to lay him down, close his door and our door and walk away. We could still here him scream through both doors! Hopefully we're coming to an end of this phase. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

We've got a lot planned in the next few days so Tuesday's post should be full of pictures and some more of Auggie's firsts! I am really excited about this weekend.

Playing in his PJ's
March 22

He rolled over to play with his snail
March 28

He was even facing the opposite way before I turned my back!
March 28

Bath time with Gramma! He liked playing with the toy
March 29

Happy baby after bath time!
March 29

He loves to have his hair washed especially how Gramma does it!
March 19

Sitting up with a little support from his Bumbo
March 30

Leaning a bit forward.. he likes to grab for toys!
March 29

Daddy playing with his tummy
March 29

Toys!!
March 29

Catch up

You know, I never did tell you that little something I knew that you didn't know! It got overshadowed by what Dr. K told us March 21... But... Nathan will have a little sister! That's right, Jamie & Zach are going to have the first girl on our side of the family! I am totally jealous! She's going to be one spoiled rotten little girl! I've already got so many things lined up to buy for her. I'll just use the excuse that it's for my photography props!

Friday, I met up with Jamie, Nathan and my mom. I wanted to go to a consignment sale organized by Just Between Friends and they were driving up to Krum so we met on the West side of Houston. This sale was a bit more expensive than the one in Denton last Fall. There also wasn't much as far as boy clothes. I was disappointed about that. In Denton, I was able to buy 40 pieces of clothing (sleepers, onesies and pants) for under $100. I didn't get anywhere near that much this time but Jamie realized she had all of Nathan's clothes she didn't need. YAY for new (to us) clothes!

Saturday, Tim, Auggie & I went to Huntsville State Park. It was gorgeous day! We took the stroller along so we didn't have to pack Auggie on our hikes. Yea... big mistake there. We should have just brought the carrier Jessica let us borrow. Of course, we thought of the carrier after we got to the park! We'll definitely use it the next time we do something like that.

Mom stopped by on her way home from Jamie's on Monday. She stayed until Wednesday afternoon. It was so nice to have her around- and not just because she took care of the nighttime feedings!

Auggie's speech therapy appointment went great today. Mandy was happy with how vocal he was. I was just glad he was awake and his usual self around her! We had a rough night last night... well, Tim & I did.. Auggie just liked to scream. Mandy said he's pretty much hitting all his milestones that he should be hitting- cooing, good head control, rolling over, reaching for toys, following people with his eyes, etc.  He's starting to get in that really fun age!

We're supposed to be going to a wedding this weekend. I'm really hoping we're still going. It'll be nice to see Emma & Brian get married and we'll also see Emily, Rachel & Shea all prettied up as bridesmaids!

Trying to watch TV

All the clothes Jamie gave us

Playing with the snail

Taking a nap after a lonnnng night!

Huntsville State Park Weekend

Tim & Auggie during Auggie's lunch
March 26

Heading up the trail
March 26

Sitting down for beanies and weenies for lunch
March 26

Auggie with some bluebonnets
March 25

Nathan & Drake
March 21

Auggie trying to eat a bluebonnet
March 25

Nathan peeking in at Auggie
March 25

Auggie after chruch
March 27

Looking up at the fan
March 28

Finding his toes
March 28

Eating on a blanket
March 28

Chewing on his fingers
March 28

Auggie didn't want to be put down! So we tried out the carrier
March 28

There will be a little more text on Thursday! My mom is here so pictures will do for now :)

First Play Date!

Wednesday was an early day for me and Auggie...  I was up at 6:30 and couldn't fall back asleep. We were headed out the door  by 9:30 so I had plenty of time to get everything together and get ready for our first day meeting people.

We went to a local Baptist church that holds a weekly music class called Mainly Music. We met up with part of the Mom & Tots group. There were about 5-7 of us from the group. Plus, Kristy's neighbor and a friend were there. Everyone was really nice and the kids looked like they all had a great time.

We had fun. Auggie slept through quite a bit of it but I think he really enjoyed watching all the kids run around while he was awake. I sang (err, hummed, I didn't know the words...) to the music close to his head so he could hear it. At least, I thought he could hear it from me. He kind of sat still when I hummed for him. We'll definitely be going back!

After Mainly Music, we went to Tanglewood Park. It was just down the road from the church. It had 2 playgrounds and a nice walkway that went around. There were a couple more moms at the park. We would have stayed longer but I forgot Auggie's hat and sunglasses! Grrr. That was the whole point in me buying them at Target the other day. Luckily, JoAnna (another one of the moms) offered her son's hat. He was sleeping in her sling at the time. He and Auggie are only 9 days apart! It'll be really nice to have another little one around Auggie's age to hang out with occasionally.

The only bad thing about Wednesday?? Auggie took 3 less than 20 minute naps and that was it. He fought sleep the whole day. He was mostly happy but there were times when the sleepiness showed. It didn't help I was tired, too. I feel like I should be used to going out everyday with him now that he's 4.5 months old. I mean, being tired from actually getting up and doing something and forgetting must-have items sounds like a mom with a newborn... not a 4.5 month old. I guess, I just need to keep getting out and I'll get better at staying awake and remembering things.

wearing camo for the first time.. Daddy dressed him :)
March 22

Sunglasses!
March 22

Sleeping through Mainly Music
March 23

Auggie's first swing!
March 23

It took so much effort to keep that giraffe in his mouth
March 23

Not sleeping!!
March 23

Tim and I both got out "me" time in this week. I went out to eat with Kristy Tuesday night. We ate a sushi place called Atami. It was alright. Haiku was definitely better but I can't complain since we were both able to hang out. I've really enjoyed her company the couple times we've hung out. Tim started rugby practice during the week now. They meet Sundays and Wednesdays now- The Brazos Valley Blues, that is. I know both of us getting out on our own has been great us. I think this weekend we'll be going to Huntsville State Park for a family outing and picnic. I'm excited to see some nature! I've been really missing the Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest and Tucker Woods lately.

We heard those magic words!

If you don't have Facebook, then you missed a very big announcement yesterday!
We get to see healthy people!!


YAY! Dr. K said we can see everyone in a couple months. I was very excited! Dr. K said Auggie looked great and he was happy to see he's doing so well. He said as long as he continues to be healthy, Auggie may not have to have his jaw lengthened until he's a teenager. He said even by then they may have combined the two surgeries he'd have now into one- the first one lengthens the jaw and the second one rotates it.

We'll still take some precautions when we visit especially when there's going to be a lot of people/kids around. So that means, for right now, we're going to see our families for Easter but if anyone who will be there is sick, we won't go. For right now, I am really looking forward to Easter and having everyone on Tim's side meet Auggie!

I would say my side would meet Auggie, too, but we actually went to La Porte Sunday evening. Aunt Karen & Uncle Mike were making their way from Pennsylvania to Santa Fe and stopped by my parents' house for a day. It was their first time to see my parents in Texas since they moved down here! It was really nice being able to hang out with my family with Auggie around!

Monday night we had Auggie try rice cereal. He didn't like it.... at all! We'll try tonight and see how it goes. He ate it well once we put it in a bottle, though. I'm sure it had to do with sitting in his high chair and eating it off of a spoon.

Hope you enjoy the pictures! You can click on any picture to see it larger.

Drake and Cole hugging on their Daddy

There's the birthday boy!

Grandpa with his Great Grandsons- Nathan & Drake

Cole playing with Drake & Nathan

Uncle Mike & Aunt Karen from Pennsylvania

Midday Bath!

Rice cereal wasn't for Auggie!