First meal with a spoon















This was more challenging than I thought. Of course I was very sure that Austin would take to it right away, but we are still practiceing everyday!

Wow, how we have grown!!!
Austin went to the Dr. yesterday and he has a lot to show for the last month and a half.
Height 25in. 50th%
Weight 17lbs 10 oz 94th%
Head Circ 43cm 75th%

During our visit Austin got 4 vaccination boosters, he handled it very well. Still cried but recovered good. He has been grumpy and sore today and had a big bruise today on this thigh.

We also started on rice cereal today! It was fun to start feeding him with a spoon. Most of it came out rather than in his mouth. He will catch on soon enough! In the mean time we are giving him some in this bottle to get used to the taste and trying the spoon once or twice a day.

Here we go on another adventure!!

Austin has finally decided it was time to hold his head up (I think he knows he is going to the Dr. and we have to give a progress report of what he can do!)

Meeting Great Grandma and Great Grandpa for the first time!

Four Generation Picture

John and Carol have made sure that Austin is ready for backwoods Missouri. (See camoflage onee!)

Well we have had a full summer, we were in St. Charles from July 14-July 23. We enjoyed seeing everyone. Austin got to meet his Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Weible and many, many more good friends and family.

We had a great time visiting everyone that came to the Open House in Austin's name, it was great for all of you to meet Austin. You are all so generous! We were just happy to see you, you didn't haveto come bearing gifts. However, Austin now has an extensive Cardinals woredrobe! I can't thank you enough!

While were were there we also had a great photographer take pictures of Austin, our family, and our little Mimms/Strange clan as well. Jonalee did a great job, please take a look at some of the pictures she took. If your looking for a great photographer let me know! Click HERE to view the pics.

"I can't believe the things they make me put up with!"

We have a new puppy!

Well not really, it's Annie! She got a really short haircut yesterday! She looks so cute! She is even acting like a new puppy. Who would tell she is over 8 years old! She has been jumping around the house and with all that hair gone, Tony and I are more likely to pet her! She is in high heaven!

Max and Annie sporting their summer look!

Shaved!

(or close to it in Annie's case).

I love my fingers....

Yes I do, I love my fingers

how 'bout you?

Austin is 3mths old!

Austin turned 3 mths this week. We took him to get his picture taken on his birthday, our friend Jonalee is going to take his picture when we get to St. Louis but I have this thing about taking his picture on his actual birthday. He is growing so fast and it will be the 24th before Jonalee takes his picture. Here he his showing off standing up on Tony's lap. He loves to do this and he is always happy when he is standing up. Austin has become more aware of his surroundings. He enjoys his bouncy seat and the toys attached to it. He bangs on the toys like he is playing the drums! He also likes his rocker up stairs that has rattle farm animals hanging down and he swats at those. He has become entranced by the dogs too! He listens intently to Max talk and loves to watch Annie when she gets real close. Austin gets this huge smile on his face, it is so cute.

We are still working on tummy time. Austin is not a fan, and he would rather sit or stand then lay on his belly. (Good for us, to get him to sleep on his back). We go for a walk every night as part of our getting 'Austin to stay up' campaign- since he gets tired before bedtime. (He goes to bed between 9-10pm, so he gets up around 3am to eat.) Talk to you soon!

Austin's First Cardinal's Game
(yea, Technically we are at a Braves game.)

Austin did great at the 7:35 pm game at Turner Stadium.

Tony, Tom, Austin and I . Austin wore his Cards outfit that his Aunt Kim bought him. It started to sprinkle but we were spared a rain-out/delay.


Austin was out at the 4th inning along with the Cardinals. We were hoping to see a win, but they just didn't have it in them. The Braves won in a blowout 14-4.

Happy 4th of July!

We spent 4th of July with Justin, Luanne, & Madelyn.

Madelyn loved Austin around and kept saying 'baby' but she is adjusting to not being the center of attention. She would want me to hold her when I was holding Austin and would get mad when I couldn't. For this picture she wasn't ready for Austin to sit in her lap yet. Here Austin is amazed by Madelyn and she would make him laugh.

Austin survived!

Austin survived his 2nd month check-up which included 4 vaccinations! Two in each leg. He cried a lot, but Tony and I agree, we think he took it better than his 1st vaccination. He is very tired today and has slept a lot. Don't mind that at all!!

So here are his new stats:

Weight-14.4 lbs (75%)

Heights 23 inches (50%)

Head Circ-41 cm (50%)

Now remember that he actually over 2 1/2 months. He doesn't have to go back until his 4 mth check up which is Aug 11th. The bad news is we have to do it all again for the last of the series. We won't tell Austin that though.

We can wait to see everyone in Missouri next month. Stay safe this summer and have fun!

Austin is wearing a shirt that Carol made for Tony over 30 years ago out of a handkerchief!

It looks great on him.

His big belly was hanging out so I put a Onsie on underneath.

Austin is sleeping in his crib now! We are very excited that we don't have to buy so many batteries for the swing now! Every chance we get he takes a nap in his crib and he only wakes up once between 11pm and 5:30 am. We are attempting to give him a bedtime and Tony is brave enough (or he picked the short straw) to sit up with him when he cries and is having a rough night. He eventually goes to sleep by 11pm and we both get to go to bed together for the first time since Austin arrived. I am actually able to make this post because he is sleeping! The last 2 days he has started to find a schedule that fits for him. His crankiness is starting to limit itself to the evening. We hope the end of the mood swings are coming to a close (at least for now, knock on wood). We need a serious break! Gretchen has even offered to watch Austin so I can clean my house, now how sad is that!

But with all the craziness, each time he smiles and laughs he make up for a weeks screaming and fussing :).

Today is Austin's 2mth check up (even though he is over 2 1/2 mths old) and he has to have 4 vaccinations today. So pray for him! We will tell you how it goes next time

Talk to you soon!

If you haven't checked out the Castrucciopalooza blog, you should. It's run by a couple friends of ours from back in St. Charles, Mo. They've recently changed the look of the site and I think it looks really nice. Also, Joni takes great pictures and she is always posting some up for everyone to see. Looking forward to seeing James, Joni, and the kids again on our visit back to Mo. in July.

My sister told me that she never received an email to let her know about our last post. I checked into it and it looks like there was a problem with the notification service I had set up. I'm pretty sure I've got it fixed. We'll find out with this latest post I guess! ;-)

Austin is 2 months old!

A lot has happened since the last post. So bare with me and then we will get to the pictures!

OK, Austin and I just got back from Hampton, VA. It was an interesting ride to my Mom's. I had my first "bad mommy" experience when I locked Austin in the car! I had unlocked the back door to feed Austin and since it was getting hot I was going to keep the car running while I sat in the back but didn't want the driver door open so I manually locked only to find out after I shut the door that it locked all the doors again and I was locked out! Thanks to the 5 police officers of Hillsboro NC one hour later a very hungry Austin was fed.

Friday Jessica graduated with her Associates from Tidewater Medical Institute. We are excited for her!

We had a great time in Hampton and everyone loved Austin. Thursday Austin started to put all weight on his legs for a couple seconds and even lifted his head up 45 degrees when laying on his belly. (he doesn't like to be on his belly very much). He will now spontaneously laugh and even laughs in his sleep. He smiles a lot too! He doesn't have a schedule down yet and is still pretty fussy some days. But he will sleep 4-4 1/2 hours at night now!!!

I will try to write more later, don't want to put you to sleep until after you get to the pictures!!
There are a lot of pictures but there were a lot of people to meet in such a short time!

Austin is 2 months old!

First trip to the beach!
Austin with his feet in the sand

30 something and babies!
Debra with Jacob, Shari with Caleb, and Jennifer with Austin
What a busy year!

Donovan and Wendy

Debra and Jacob. Jacob is 8mths old

Aunt Mary Lou with Austin

Great Grandpa Harold and Austin

Nicole and Albert with Austin

Cousins!
Jennifer and Debra
Jacob and Austin

Meeting Dylan and Lara

Were here! We got there!
Aunt Jessica and cousins Lara and Dylan

Great Grandma Jenkins

A very interesting exhibit at the Living Museum
What a photo opportunity!

Aunt Kim came to visit!!

Austin took to Kim very quickly (not that he had a choice) :)

We had a great time and Kim helped with diaper changes and

some bottle feedings and even a couple crying fits.

His bottom never hit his chair, if she had anything to do with it.

He even went to the GAP with us and didn't even complain.

(good boy!)

He loves his Aunt Kim the best

(Well, thats what Kim says he told her)

We'll See!

We took Austin to the pool for the first time this past Saturday.

Austin Swimming
Just Chillin'
Swimming is hard work!

Austin loves the pool, he first pulled up his legs when he was first put in the water, but soon got acclimated and settled down and soon fell asleep. At one point his arms were stretched out in the water and he was sound asleep.