He's Growing Up So Quickly!

Auggie turned 7 months Friday, June 10.

I can't believe 7 months ago, we were in Austin with him! It seems so long ago. I've been reminded a lot of our time in Austin lately. Tim's cousin had her daughter on Friday. Little Maddie was born with a cleft palate. She's in the NICU. I've thought about them quite often. That's not a surprise any new parent wants to have. I know our surprise is always on my mind even though I try not to dwell on it. But enough of that... Please say a prayer for Little Maddie, Mallory and Jarrod as they go through this tough time. 


Another baby was brought into the family on Tuesday! Baby Joe Cole was born to Kalen and Joseph Tuesday morning! I am happy the new family is doing well!

Hopefully it won't be too long until Auggie can meet his 2nd (?) cousins!

and speaking of Auggie... He's been inch worming up a storm lately! He works his legs and feet really quickly but his arms haven't caught up yet. He'll watch our feet in the dining room while he's in the living room and eventually make his way to the dividing "wall." One of us usually catches up to him before he makes the move to climb into the dining room.

We've discovered he has an affinity for paper! I guess he is my son after all! :) While Laura (the AI sub for Melinda) was here for a visit on Monday, Auggie cried until he was able to play with a lime green sheet of paper. I kept moving it around the floor and he'd crawl to it pretty quickly. I kind of noticed it last week but this time he actually cried when I took it away! We've also noticed he has begun to cry when a toy is taken away. When Drake was here visiting Tuesday, he took away his Kitty and Auggie cried. Drake didn't want Auggie playing with his toy but Auggie really wanted to play with it!

He is definitely adding more character to his personality! He's also adding more hours to his time sleeping at night! It is amazing!! I feel so rested... well, sort of. I'm sure my body is wondering if I'm trying to play a trick on it.

Tim's 27th birthday was pretty low key. He took Darren to rugby practice and then we went to McDonald's with Darren and Kayla (our new neighbors!!). Happy Birthday, Tim!  lol It wasn't anything special but he got his Father's Day present early and an awesome card made by me. I mean, come on, who wouldn't want one of my cards??

We heard back from the insurance company about how much we'll owe for Auggie's BAHA. About damn time! Auggie's doctor originally said he'd more than likely have his BAHA by July. Well, it's the middle of June and we just now heard how much we'll have to pay. Now, we're just waiting to see if we should wait for the newest model to come out in July or if the current model is sufficient enough for Auggie's needs. AHH! Get on it already!

Well, I guess I'll leave you with some pictures and video. I feel like I'm forgetting to say something but I'm sure I'll remember it eventually. If not, then I'm sure it wasn't too important!

Getting up on his knees

Playing with a new toy

He's a cool dude

Playing with his new neighbor (aka Tim's Cousin), Darren!

mmm.. Maple syrup puffs

Gotta have those pacifiers handy... or footy

Peas were a no go. It was his first time to eat them.. or attempt to

Auggie was reacting to Tim singing the other night



Lunchtime with Auggie. He was being picky!






Auggie playing with Tim

A Few Videos

I don't have much for you today. I'm trying to get some cards done and in the mail in between laundry, keeping Auggie entertained and getting things ready for our upcoming trip!

I do have a few videos for those that aren't on Facebook.
On our way to La Porte last Friday, I got Auggie to play peek-a-boo with me really well.



Monday afternoon, I had pretzels and peanut butter as a snack while I was laying on the floor with Auggie. He wanted a pretzel so bad. He kept leaning to my bowl so I gave him one.



Auggie has been working really hard on his hand-eye coordination. In the video below, he's trying to eat a little star puff.



And last but certainly, not the least of the videos! Auggie is beginning to crawl! I know, we're in trouble as soon as he gets it down but he's doing so well! This video was taken Wednesday and he's even progressed since then! I'm glad he's getting it and he can actually go forward with it. He gets frustrated if he sits for too long because he usually wants to go somewhere or stand up.



Hope everyone has a great weekend! Until Tuesday!

Getting Up and Going!

Auggie has been a little mover lately! He is all about wanting to pull up on me or Tim or anyone/anything that will let him. He wants to get going but he doesn't know he can't. I feel bad for him sometimes because he wants to stand up but he usually doesn't hold onto anything so ends up falling. Luckily, he's only had a few close calls because someone is always there to catch him!

Auggie’s doing so good with all his milestones and everything. He was weighed twice last week- first time fully clothed, he was 16.01 pounds and then the second time naked, he was 15.8 pounds. So I guess, he’s between 15.5 and 16 pounds!  Every scale is different so I’m sure we’ll never know exactly how much he weighs.

We had an appointment with Toni (Dietician) and Melinda (AI) on Tuesday and then we saw Mandy (Speech) on Wednesday. 

His dietician appointments are getting more spread out now. Toni was very happy with how well he’s eating and how well he’s taken to eating solids. She said we could give him anything on our plate now that he no longer screams during meal time. We won’t see her again until late July/early August.

Melinda sees him every Monday over the summers. She’s with AI- Auditory something-or-other. I still can’t remember what that means. But she’s with the Brazos Valley Regional Day School Program for the Deaf.

Mandy sees him once a month, for now. She has really helped us with getting him to eat and she’ll start with helping how to get him to babble and talk properly when the time comes.

Last Thursday, Jessica, Rick & Ben came for a visit. We went to Adamson Lagoon just down the road from us. They have 4 slides (2 for little kids and 2 for the kids at heart), a lily pad run, a kiddy pool, a deep end and a semi-shallow end. It's a very nice pool and its only $6 to get in! It'll be a lot of fun for our other nieces and nephews when they come for a visit.

At Adamson Lagoon Thursday June 2

Ben about to go down the slide
At Adamson Lagoon Thursday June 2

Ben sliding
At Adamson Lagoon Thursday June 2

Jessica, Ben, Auggie & I
At Adamson Lagoon Thursday June 2

Mom, Lindsay and I hosted a "sprinkle" for Jamie & Zach in La Porte over the weekend. It was a great day to have people over! I hope Jamie and Zach enjoyed it!

The Diaper Cake

Jamie & Zach's "Sprinkle" for Zoe
Saturday June 4

The Scrapbook I made for Zoe along with the diaper cake I made and the "Woobie" from Ruby Dean Designs
Jamie & Zach's "Sprinkle" for Zoe
Saturday June 4

 One of the moms (Jen) I met through the Moms & Tots group on MeetUp.com makes paci clips, blankets, wet bags, slings and nursing covers. We were able to get a few paci clips for the Soothie brand pacifiers! YAY! That was one of the reasons why I didn't like those pacifiers was because nothing attaches to them! Jen's are really cute and come in all sorts of fabric choices! She has a Facebook Page called Ruby Dean Designs. She also made the "Woobie" in the picture above (the little blanket with the ribbon under the diaper cake).

Auggie chewing on the paci clip from my friend Jen @ Ruby Dean Design
Sunday, June 5

 Auggie has been sleeping longer and when we check on him in the morning, he usually has his butt in the air. I just love the picture below. His feet are crossed and he just looks so comfy!

Sleeping with his butt in the air! Love it!

 Friday, I took Auggie back to his pediatrician for her to look at his rash. She walked in and even before she closed the door, she knew it was eczema! He's had some form of it since he was 3 months old and she just now told us what it was. We're a little peeved at that but she gave us a steroid cream to use twice a day. Today is the 6/7 time to use it and all those red spots are gone! I'm so glad its gone! I just hope it stays away.

Auggie's mysterious rash on Friday, June 3

Playing with a balloon
Saturday June 4

Playing with Scout
Sunday June 5

Playing with a new toy
Monday June6

New Toy!
Monday June 6

Chewing on some paper before his AI appointment
Monday June 6

Mmmm.. Paper!
Monday June 6

Watching Baby Signs
Monday June 6

The morning after he SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!
Tuesday June 7

Bright eyed after 9.5 hours of sleep
Tuesday June 7

Hello, Thursday! You snuck up on me!

I can't believe it is already the last Thursday in May! The months have flown by!

Auggie started pulling up on Tuesday. He pulled up onto the laundry basket and then promptly fell. He's a trooper, though, when he hits the ground. He usually cries just when he's tired. But of course, this "pulling up" stage is accompanied by the "I wanna be up all the time" stage. You know how he sat there and had his arms out? He looked like he wanted to fly? Well, now his arms are out because he wants to start to pick him up and then he wants to use your hands to pull himself up!

I was worried about him crawling soon... Now I have to worry about him trying to pull up on everything!



I only have the video for you today. Sorry. I haven't taken very many pictures the past couple of days. I have it in my mind, we will leave for Atlanta in June with a clean house. So we can come back home and just relax and not have to put up laundry or do the dishes (I wouldn't leave dishes that long anyway)... but yea... I want a clean house... Why is it so hard to keep a clean house? Oh, yea, that's right because we have too much stuff!

I will tell you what I was going to post last week though...

Auggie and I met Sydelle for lunch while we were in La Porte 2 weekends ago. While we were there, a lady came up and interrupted our conversation. She apologized for interrupting us but just had to ask me a question about my "daughter." Auggie was wearing his hearing aid at the time and I've had plenty of people reference him as a girl so it wasn't a big deal. I just threw in a few "he's" and "him's" and she realized. (lol) She asked if he had a chromosomal disorder because his face shape look just like her sister's. I just explained to her that he had Treacher-Collins Syndrome. She went on to say she always hated it when people would stare or even just obviously notice her sister's disorder (she had Trisomy 13) and not ever say anything about it. She always wanted people to just ask.

It was so nice of her to share that with me. She went out of her way to ask a question and she was very polite about it. She was on her way out of Chipotle but wanted to stop anyway-she had waited while we were in line ordering, while she ordered and then towards the end of our lunch.

I guess, those educated questions help a lot.. even those people who don't ask and just compliment Auggie's gorgeous blue eyes, his cute open mouthed smile and even his dimples (which he shouldn't have). The people who play with him and coo at him just like he's anyone else. Or even those little kids who ask their parent a question about his hearing aid but are nice enough to ask me...

They help me :)

So if you've asked questions, thank you.. and if you haven't but want to, we're listening!

Photo Contest and New Developments

Click the HERE to be taken to the Parents Cover Contest website

Auggie is in a photo contest through Parents Magazine. If he wins this week, we'll win $250, plus have a chance to be one of the 10 finalists chosen to travel to New York City for the Parents Cover Contest photo shoot. 

As of Tuesday morning, he was #610. We've got a ways to go but I know through family and friends we can do it! You can vote once a day all this week. There's no registration required... all you have to do is click the link above, click "Vote for me" under Auggie's photo and then enter the CAPTCHA phrase. It's that easy!

And now I'll stop bugging you about the contest!

Auggie has been pretty fussy today. I thought I saw a little bump on his gums yesterday but he won't keep his mouth open long enough for me to really check it out. It could be a tooth but it might not be!

He is so ready to just go... go.... GO... GOOOOOOO! I'm sure he'll be walking before he even thinks about crawling! HAhah... We'll be in big trouble then! This morning he was sitting while Tim was laying on his side. Auggie leaned towards Tim, held his shirt and pulled himself UP! He's been wanting to stand all day today! 

I think the days of me putting Auggie on his mat and doing the dishes or something are long over. He also likes to roll over and over and over. He has even started to get up on his knees a little bit more. We'll see how this week goes with all that! Hopefully it'll tire him out some more!

Eating has been going so much better! It was just like tummy time- one day it all the sudden clicked! We tried out sweet potatoes Monday. It was a new flavor so I'm sure that's why it didn't go so well. We'll try again when he wakes up! Tim & I just need to make sure we remember to put a bib on him... That orange probably doesn't come out of clothes too well! 

Sleeping in Mommy & Daddy's bed before his speech appointment
May 23

Sleeping in Mommy & Daddy's bed before his speech appointment
May 23

Watching the duckies at Brother's Pond Park
May 23

Taking a nap after church
May 22

Checking out the other baby
May 21

Playing with Uncle Dustin
May 21

Smiling for Mommy
May 21

Smiling for Mommy
May 21

Smiling for Mommy
May 21

Smiling for Mommy
May 21

Watching those ducks
May 22

Trying a biscuit after lunch
May 20

Falling asleep in the bouncer
May 20

Playing with toys
May 20

He still enjoys playing with the birdies
May 19

An out of focus but still pretty Lemon Mint in the front yard

One of the Black Eyed Susans in the front flower bed

Are there ever TWO stay-at-home parents?

I love the days when Tim is able to come home early. I enjoy the time the three of us get to spend together. The weekends just don't seem to cut it.

Is it because we're usually going somewhere or have something planned? Probably.

Of course, with Tim staying home I never get anything done! Hence the tardiness in this post!

The past couple of days have gone well. Auggie took a big step during meal time Wednesday night- We got through the whole bowl of pears without a single tear or any screaming. He even opened his mouth a little bit for the spoon! I hope (oh so much!!) that was the beginning of him eating well.

Zoomed in on the action
May 18

Doing a lot better with the spoon
May 18

Playing with the rings from Sydelle
May 18

Sitting up SO well!
May 18

And here are more of Auggie's 6 month photos... I'll be ordering 4x6's this afternoon so I'll hopefully have them to mail out to everyone next week! YAY! 

I'll have more to say later... I figured I'll just post this for now. I have a little experience to share with you.