May 8: Austin is growing quickly and now weighs in at 20 pounds. He is loving the warm weather outdoors and we spend lots of time sitting in the garden and going for walks. The tulips that Nana gave him in the fall (planted by a very tired mommy in September!) have bloomed. They are called "Purple Prince!" Austin is moving around quite a bit and proficient at going from sitting to laying and rolling. Mostly he likes standing and he likes to try to stand up in his crib now. Bath time is still amazing! He splashes and squeals, and also tries to stand up in his little tub. He now knows how to sip his sippy cup (instead of chewing it) and will be able to hold it by himself soon. He is making lots of noises, mostly "da-da-da-da-da" when he is playing and "k-k-k" when he is trying to stand. We also think he is trying to say "kitty" because he makes a two syllable k-sound when he sees Casey. He is still eating well, and likes to have chunky food now. His top left tooth showed itself this morning! We have discovered that there are a few foods that trigger his excema - strawberries, bananas, and watermelon. The "regimen" is working out well and you will see a big difference in his skin in these pictures compared to those from a few months ago. Bella has been feeding him when we go over, so she has been key in getting him to eat foods that mommy wouldn't dare give him - like WHOLE triscuits. We are not sure if Bella thinks of Austin as a baby, or just the best toy ever. When we see her, she brings him toys (in exchange for taking his) and food, and even brings over a diaper when I'm changing him. One time when he was crying she even brought him a Tedward (I say "a" Tedward, because she has 6 of them (this is a little pink bear), kind of like the dogs that played the role of The Littlest Hobo). As Austin gets older he has been more interactive with her, for instance he now will reach for her toys and soother. It is so fun to watch the two of them together and we are so excited for the cottage this summer! We have been going to the Early Years' Centre for play time, and we've met some other nice mommies and babies. There is a standing bar with a mirror behind it, which is Austin's favourite part. He looks in the mirror and squeals at himself. He also seems inspired by the other babies and how they move around - and the cushiony floor is a great place for him to practice moving around. May 30th: One day while mommy was folding laundry and Austin was playing in his crib he showed her how he can stand up, holding onto the rail. We knew it was time to lower his crib another level. We weren't that surprised because for the week before that he had been trying hard to stand up holding onto the side of his tub. Now he's pulling himself into a standing position all the time. Right around the middle of the month Austin started crawling. At first he was just pulling himself around the living room. But he soon figured out how much easier it is when he uses his legs as well. Austin loves playing with other kids at the Early Years Center. He and mommy go there at least once a week and he has a blast every time. He really likes all the different toys there too. In fact, he plays with more of his own toys now too. He's recently acquired some new trucks and he enjoys spinning their wheels. He plays well with other kids and also can entertain himself for good stretches of time. Banging stuff together is one of Austin's daily rituals. He's always happy when he's clapping, banging on his highchair or even just on the floor. He loves to hold daddy's hands and make Daddy clap too. He really likes music, often making it himself on his xylophone that he got from uncle Ryan. Austin went to the cottage for the first time, for a rainy and cold May 24 weekend. Nana and Papa were troopers, having 2 babies and 6 adults in 600 square feet of living space. Nana and Papa even had to sleep in the boat. One of the nights there was a big storm and they pretended they were going to be lost at sea. Austin and Bella had fun looking down from the loft, and Rachel and Stephanie remembered all the hours they spent doing this when they were little girls.
At the cottage, May 24 Long Weekend (actually May 15)
Bella has Austin's eyes
