We are beyond the halfway mark to one year and time is flying. He’s just getting so big and curious and loves life. He was adorable in his Halloween outfit. Outfits. Boy has two of them.
Austin enjoyed his first Thanksgiving. No solid foods, because I didn’t really want to have him sitting with my extended family while he’s working on this whole food-in-the-mouth gagging thing. We gotta practice a little more before he makes it solid foods debut.
Stats
Nicknames: Little Man, A.J.
Weight: 16 lbs 4 oz
Length: ?
Diaper size: 2
Clothing size: 6-9 months
Eating
Besides for munching on an apple around Halloween, Austin hasn’t really tried much in the way of solid foods. First, I may have been a little more overly cautious with him being able to sit up independently. With Olivia, she started a little after 6 months, but Emelia started later because she couldn’t sit on her own for the longest time. Second, there’s this two-other-kids business and there’s just so much that goes on before and during dinner time and I admit, I probably could have started him earlier but didn’t want to have to deal with the sheer messiness that is baby-led weaning when I have two other children that do a great job causing messes as it is.
But a week ago, we bit the bullet and started. He began with a half banana. We were making quesadillas that night for the rest of us, and so I also gave him a wedge. He was definitely a bigger fan of the quesadilla than the banana. But in the last week, we haven’t really done much since.
He’s still happily nursing throughout the day, albeit his distraction level has reached max. He has the most focus before his naps and bedtime.
Sleeping
At the beginning of November, we moved him to his own room at night. Mainly because he was outgrowing his bassinet and rolling like crazy and it no longer felt safe. But also? After six and a half months of sharing a room with a grunty crying baby, I was ready to have my space back. It was hard like it was with the two girls, but honestly, I don’t regret doing it. The first night he slept until 5:30 am and then the next night it was 6:30 am, which is the longest stretch of sleep he’s done.
He also seemed to do well with his arm out at night, so we transitioned him to the wearable blanket that makes him look like a starfish. He likes those, and it keeps his hands warm.
So I started nursing him to sleep at night in the glider in his room. He isn’t a fan of getting put in his crib and many times, Chris has to come back in and walk him until he falls asleep again. But it was so nice coming up to bed and being able to turn the light on in the bedroom (GASP!) and brush my teeth and change without trying not to make a sound (DOUBLE GASP!).
Naps are going OK. Not great. Sometimes, I have him swaddled on my lap lying on the Boppy pillow while I watch TV, but other times I’m putting him to sleep in his crib in which he tends to not sleep as long.
And I mean this with love, but he’s by far the worst sleeper of my kids. Or it’s just that I’m getting older and freaking need my sleep but oh my god this kid. He’s got to be in his 6 month sleep regression, but my god didn’t we just have the 4 month regression? What is this?
Milestones
This has been a month of milestones for Austin (probably explaining why he sleeps like crap). So let’s see, the first week in November, he was so close to pushing himself up onto his knees in physical therapy. Then, a week ago, hgote did get up onto his hands and knees and boy did we make a big deal about that.
Also, at the beginning of November, he started sitting up for a little while by himself. We still need to be behind him or put the Boppy behind him so he doesn’t crash backward as he loves to do. Or, as Chris calls it, doing his trust fall. He also started backing himself up and we’re working in physical therapy on helping him to pivot on his belly in anticipation of crawling. He’s getting so close. So so close and we keep encouraging it because my god this baby needs to crawl and accomplish that and maybe he’ll start sleeping better.
With all this new movement, I ended up giving away his lay-under mat which made me sad, but he’s just on to bigger and better things and doesn’t have time to lie there and be still.
Personality
He’s still overall a very happy baby. It’s weird because I remember SO WELL Olivia’s cluster feeding and evening witching hours when she was just so fussy. And I know he can have those moments. Evenings are definitely the hardest with him which is why we try to not schedule things in the evening because he’s so unpredictable.
It’s a good thing he’s cute. And loves to smile. And laugh. Olivia’s been big into helping me with him. She loves dressing him and doing the occasional diaper change. Austin’s new favorite thing is sitting propped in the corner of the couch while Chris or I sit with him, just quietly playing with his toys.
Health
Okay, first I have to mention in own health in that my A1C six months postpartum was 5.5 and I’m SO relieved. Gestational diabetes sucked and I was concerned it may not go away this time as it did after I had Emelia.
Two weeks ago, Austin started getting some congestion with a come heugh that would make him gag. Last week, he actually had some scary episodes for three days in the early mornings where he’d cough so much when he was in bed with me he would gag and threw up a few times. I was concerned about his breathing and those episodes, so took him in.
Of course, because our healthcare sucks now, for him to be seen in a clinic, I literally have to try to schedule with any provider in our health system in the Twin Cities. Luckily, the provider I took him to was super nice, and she said he probably has/had RSV and it’s peaked and he should be improving. He’s definitely seemed better the last few days.
Likes
Playing on the floor, practicing his crawling, watching his sisters, being held, nursing, baths with Mama.
Dislikes
Going to bed at night, apparently. Strangers who pay him too much attention and he’s not feeling very confident.
Undecided about
Naps in his crib.
Looking forward to
I mean, definitely Christmas. Christmas is always fun when there’s a new baby.
Your little boy is so, so cute. I can tell from your post that he has a super personality. So nice that Olivia likes to help you with dressing him and diapering sometimes. Hopefully by now, he has this solid food thing down pat. Your children are so cute and seem to have such pleasant personalities. Looking forward to your next post and reading all about the kid’s Christmas. And, your family’s life with three children.