Month pictures

Months 1-6.  Look how much he has grown!

6 Months

Austin and his 6 month pictures. (We have been taking his picture every month on this blanket). He weighed 16.5 lbs (30-35%), 26 inches long (45%), and head was 50% (can't remember measurement). Our pediatrician said he is doing great.

The first picture taken.

He immediately tore the 6 =)

Taped back together.

He's perfect!

Jumperoo video

Austin LOVES his jumperoo

for Uncle Jack and Aunt Deborah

I am so happy to be wearing my fun turtle onesie my Aunt and Uncle gave me. It's finally warm enough to wear short sleeves.

eating and laughing

Austin was enjoying his dinner of mixed peas and oatmeal (gross I know but he loves it). He just laughed away. It is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.

Uncle Willie

Our friend William came over on Sunday afternoon and spent time with Austin. He laughed so hard at the funny faces and noises William was making. It was the cutest thing.

Austin, Texas

Some of our good friends who moved to Austin a couple years ago sent this onesie to Austin. Doesn't he look precious?

my sweet Forrest

I miss Forrest more than words can ever express. I still think about him everyday, many times a day. I long to see him, touch him, kiss him, hold him. I would give everything I own to hold my baby boy one more time. I long for Heaven where I will be reunited with him again. I cherish every moment I have with Austin and I love seeing him learn and be curious about the world but it also brings tremendous heartache. I know now what I missed with Forrest. Every time Austin learns something new, I think about Forrest and if that is what he would have done. If he would have laughed when I sang twinkle, twinkle little star. If he would have smiled when I lifted him over my head like an airplane. Would he have loved oatmeal and hated avocados? Would he giggle when Sadie came near? I have a greater appreciation for life and definitely for Austin. Forrest's life changed me...it changed me in so many ways. I am different today than I was 18 months ago. My passions are different. My soul is different. My life is different. Forrest left the largest impact on my life. When he left us over 16 months ago, he took a part of me that I will never get back. As I said once before on CaringBridge, when Forrest went to Heaven its like my leg was amputated. I will never be the same again but I have learned to live with one less leg. I am learning to live without him in my life but everyday is hard. The only way I am making it is through the power of the Lord. He sustains me when I am weak and when I am sad. He brings joy and happiness to my life. We give praise to Him even on the loneliest of days. He sustained us in the darkest times of our life and he continues to sustain us now. We are blessed. We are blessed to be His children. We are blessed to have a wonderful marriage. We are blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby boy. We are blessed with good jobs (I love mine =) and with a wonderful extended family. We are blessed with wonderful friends and a great church. In the darkest of times it's hard to see the light but God is there...He is just waiting for us to call out to Him.

Gonzaga???

I know what you're thinking...Gonzaga? What about Memphis? Well...we don't have a Memphis Tigers shirt for little man and we do have a Gonzaga shirt that friends from Washington sent us so I decided to put him in it. I thought he looked really cute in it. We are pulling for the Tigers (and UT) but I thought the shirt looked precious on him (just what his daddy wants me to say, that he looks precious). He had pants on too but when I got him up from his nap, they were a little wet. We are currently in between sizes in the diapers

look at that smile, it lights up my life

he's starting to notice Sadie now 

a little unsure when she gets so close

talk about being close 

Preppy

Some good friends in Hendersonville gave Austin this Ralph Lauren sweatshirt and I thought he looked precious in it. He looked like a preppy little boy and not baby.

just chilling...

hey Sadie!

big brown eyes 

the most beautiful sound...his laughter

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Grandma and Austin

My grandma is one of the most amazing women I have ever met. She was married to my grandpa (who passed away in 2007 and who Forrest (Robert Forrest) was named after) for 64 years. They had a wonderful marriage and loved each other deeply. She is a true example of a great wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, and woman. We were blessed to spend a week with her. It meant the world to me to have Austin meet the woman who has left the largest impression on my life.

Austin Allen is also named after Grandma. Allen is a family name on my Grandma's side and has been passed down through many generations.

He loved being rocked by her

She would kiss and love on him and he loved it.

2 very special people

He would laugh and smile at her. 

So blessed!

Utah

David, Austin, and I flew out west to Utah last week to see my grandma, aunt, uncle, and many cousins. We had a wonderful time in Salt Lake City. We spent lots of time with family and even got in 2 days of skiing, just the 2 of us. The skiing was the best we have ever experienced. Tons of snow (snowed a foot the night before). The slopes were awesome and barely anyone on them. We felt like we had the mountain to ourself. Austin was a trooper and did great on the airplane and in Utah. He went with the flow and was the happiest little baby.

David and I on the slopes

The beautiful slopes

The skiing was incredible

12 inches of snow the night before

The view from my Grandma's house
Austin at Grandma's house
Austin with one of his second cousins

grandparents

Austin is blessed with an amazing extended family. David's parents live close by so they are a tremendous help to us. They love to come over and play with the little man. He lights up when he sees his grandma and granddad.

Jumperoo

Austin loves his jumperoo. He loves to bounce in it and hit the buttons so they play music. Whenever you are holding him, he will bounce up and down like he does in his jumperoo. He gets the biggest smile on his face when he is jumping.

future Dr. Spence?

Austin is wearing a shirt that a friend gave me before he was born. Future Dr. Spence. David thought it was pretty funny.