Fun in the Sun (With SPF 50)

Jeff and I are lucky enough to be living in NC this summer. Jeff got an internship in Raleigh (thanks Aunt Debbie!), so we got the chance to get out of Provo for the summer. We are loving it so far. A change is always nice, and who doesn't want to live near the beach during the summer? I spent my first week here with my family at the Outer Banks. Jeff had to work most of the time, but was able to come out over the weekend. We had fun playing at the beach, eating, and trying to turn Austin into a beach bum.

First time at the beach! He'll be a beach bum soon enough

Hanging out by the Sound

Waterfront Dining

Since we got back from OBX, I have been spending my time going back and forth between Raleigh and Beulaville. I love being so close to family, and I'm pretty sure my parents are enjoying having us around - especially Austin! He has grown and changed so much since we have been here - even his hair is growing faster. He is starting to crawl - mostly an army crawl for now, but I can tell it won't be long before he takes off. I can already see I will be one busy mama once he's on the move. Hopefully I will have a video of his army crawl to share soon.

Almost!

I was getting ready to update this lonely blog when I realized I don't have any new pictures to share. Well. . .I have a lot of new pictures to share, but they are on my camera which is currently at my parents' house. So as soon as I go get it, I will update! Coming soon. . .

*We had so much fun at the OBX - Austin's first time at the beach!
*We are loving spending the summer in NC - grandparents are loving it even more I think.
*Austin is 6 months old. So hard to believe.
*He has a new way of getting around.

Rules

Austin's sleeping habits haven't been great since he was born. (He has slept for 8 hours straight for the past 3 nights -what are the odds he will keep it up?!) I have read 2 books and several articles on the internet about baby sleeping habits and how to get them to sleep longer. Here are some of the "rules" I came across:

1. NEVER rock your baby to sleep

2. NEVER nurse your baby to sleep

3. Your baby should ALWAYS sleep in his crib. (Not in your arms or in your bed with you)

4. Don't go to your baby when you're letting him "cry it out."

All of these rules have been beneficial for me in helping Austin to sleep better. However I have learned, more than anything, that every baby is different. That NEVER and ALWAYS are words that don't apply to babies. Sometimes I do rock Austin to sleep. Sometimes I nurse him to sleep. Sometimes I can't stand to listen to him cry anymore so I go in there and give him a hug. Sometimes when Austin wakes up too early, we put him in the bed with us and he sleeps with us for an hour or two. And tonight he took a nap in my arms for an hour and it was Heaven. It seems like his sleeping habits have gotten better since Jeff and I made up our own rules and realized it's ok to break them every once in a while.

Guess How Much I Love You

For Austin's bedtime story tonight, we read Guess How Much I Love You. I love that story. We read it at least once a week. Usually when I read to him, he looks at the book or just looks around the room. As we were reading tonight, he looked at me and smiled the entire time. It was so sweet. That little boy melts my heart sometimes. I remember thinking when he was a newborn that I didn't want him to get any bigger. But as he gets older, I am loving every minute of it. Every new thing he does is so fun and exciting. He is the sweetest little boy.

My Big Boy

Austin has had a busy couple of weeks - hanging out with dad, learning to sit up and taking his first bites of rice cereal. He is growing up way too fast.

Just What I Needed

I got home from work today feeling exhausted and a little stressed. The end of the school year is always crazy and tiring. Later on in the evening, Jeff was showing me the airplane he made in one of his classes. He held onto it and ran across the room and made an airplane noise. Austin starting laughing uncontrollably. So Jeff kept this up for a good ten minutes - running back and forth in the living room with his airplane while Austin just laughed and laughed. We have heard little giggles from him, but nothing like this. It was the best sound ever. I felt so, so happy. I love my little family.