Yes Sir, That's My Baby

Notice any similarities? At least we now know that Aubrey isn't the mailman's kid. (Thanks, Grandaddy, for sending this pic!)

The Weekend Update

The Garner family spent the weekend enjoying the lovely spring weather (and trying to avoid the yellow pollen haze!) Aubrey, as usual, was his happy-go-lucky self, and continues to be a very active little boy! Updates on our Buddy:

1- Aubrey has become very dexterous! He intentionally reaches for objects, grasps them and picks them up. For example, if his pacifer falls out, he will bend over, pick it up and put it back in himself. While this newfound self- sufficiency is very helpful for Mommy and Daddy, it can also be a challenge. This weekend I experienced Aubrey's first nuclear meltdown not related to being hungry, having a wet diaper, or being sleepy... he has discovered the remote control and is determined to hold onto it while we watch tv. (It must be something in that Y chromosome. I seem to know someone else in our household who has the same affliction.) When he wants to play with the remote, I take the batteries out so that he doesn't accidentally order a pay-per-view movie, or re-program our tv with all the button pushing. Apparently, I wasn't doing this fast enough on Saturday, because he totally lost it. Screaming, crying, shaking, flailing, the works. The world was a good place again once he got the remote. We might have a problem on our hands.

2- This dexterity also means that he reaches for grown-up food constantly if it's within reach. (Apparently the apples and carrots just aren't cutting it. He eyes a hamburger with a passion like I have never seen.) Justin was playing with Aubrey yesterday when he spotted a bee flying around in the living room. He had to quickly pass Aubrey off to me, which happened to be while I was finishing off the last of our Easter Peeps. Aubrey spotted his "in" and right when I picked him up, he grabbed my hand and shoved a delicious yellow Peep in his mouth. Talk about opportunistic! The look of accomplishment on his face was priceless... not to mention his yellow tongue and the ring of sugar around his mouth. Again, we might have a problem on our hands.

3- Also, our favorite friend Kinsey came to visit from Atlanta on Saturday. Above are the pics she took of our little family!

I Am The Crab Man

Not because of his disposition, but because of the adorable smocked outfit Aubrey is wearing today! ( He is afterall, not crabby in the least, but rather jovial!) He finally fits into all of the 9-12 month size smocked outfits I bought him for the summer.... thank goodness, since it has been 90 degrees here all week! Doesn't the little blondie look like such a southern gentleman?!

On an entirely different note, The Crab Man's mom has been stuffing her face this morning with authentic New Jersey kosher bagels from Greenfields, courtesy of one of my authentic New Jersey co-workers. By far the BEST bagels I have ever eaten! I am going to have to check them out. Apparently the sign over their door says, "Shalom, ya'll!" Gotta love it.

Hippity-Hop Goes the Easter Buddy

Aubrey celebrates his first Easter in style.

Apparently Feltman Bros. clothes weren't made for little boys with chubby legs (can you see how purple his legs are in this photo -->?) And a nice old Lady in the street complimented Mom on what a beautiful baby girl she had, since the snaps on Aubrey's outfit had popped open causing it to look like a dress.

It's not easy having a fashionable mom!

What I Have Learned From My Son, Part 1

As a parent, it's my job to teach our son everything he needs to know to navigate this crazy life. But who would have thought, that at only 5 1/2 months old, he would already be the one teaching ME how to navigate this crazy life!

My first big lesson from Aubrey: It's always best to start every morning with a huge smile on your face, squealing in pure delight at the first face you see when you wake up.

I know this, because my son starts every day this way, and he is the most joyful soul I know.

Check me out

Updates on Our Buddy

Weeee! Hold on for the ride, Mommy and Daddy!

Life has been hectic lately, to say the least. So unfortunately, we haven't kept up with our blogging as much as we would like to. However, our little buddy has been busy growing like a weed, and learning new tricks every week! Since our last posting, Aubrey has finally rolled over! We motivated him by putting his "jingle pig" toy just far enough out of reach that he had to work to get it. Our strategy worked, and he is now a pro at rolling from his back to his tummy (for some reason, only rolling to his left at this point!) He pulls his legs up high to get some momentum, then rolls to his hip, and then works very hard to get himself the rest of the way up on his elbows. Go buddy, go!



He also loves putting his right foot in his mouth... nothing says "yummy" like a little toe jam. Apparently the right one tastes better than the left! He has also been sampling a variety of solid foods, and loves bananas, carrots, pears, and apples. (Peaches and sweet potatoes, not so much.) And, he has started sitting up by himself regularly. Such a big boy!



He has also discovered that he can make many sounds with his voice... the newest is a high pitched squeal that he is trying out. He is cranking up the volume these days too, testing out how loud he can get. He "talks" almost constantly these days. I can't wait until he is actually using words, because he seems to have a lot to say!



He now loves his jungle "jumperoo" and bounces around like crazy in it. And of course, he loves his Zoey, especially when they share kisses (which freaks out Mommy, because it usually involves Aubrey opening his mouth and Zoey licking it, or Zoey licking his hands and feet.) But he does try to pet her, which is very sweet.


It's hard to believe that our boy is now 5 months old! It's a little scary how fast it is going by, but each day is special, and only seems to be getting better as he gets older. It's also very humbling to see life through his eyes, where something like the dining room light is fascinating. If only we could be so innocent as adults!

Call me butter baby, 'cause I'm on a roll

.... well, not quite yet

but lil Aubrey is getting close. He gets all the way up on his elbows and even gets them tucked under but can't quite gather the momentum yet.

We don't think he's in a real hurry but who would be if they got carried everywhere?

Ladies Love Cool James

...Our occasional nickname for Aubrey James ('90's throwback, for those of us who grew up listening to LL Cool J.) Turns out, our son is Mr. Popular. Not surprising, considering his Dad has always been quite the extrovert himself. (We have Justin's old report cards from elementary school, courtesy of Cathy, which consistently contain comments from his teachers that Justin talked too much in class and distracted the other kids.) Anyway, the ladies at Bob Jones daycare have told us that Aubrey is quite the talker! Which we already knew, because he "talks" a lot at home. In fact, he is so happy and fun that it seems he has become the unofficial greeter at daycare. A lot of days he is the last from his room to be picked up, so they bring him out to the front desk with them, since he is such a happy-go-lucky guy. They all love him!

Today I called to find out if one of the girls from his room is available to babysit in a couple weeks. At the end of the call, I reminded the receptionist that this request was for Aubrey Garner, in Baby Room 1. Her response, " Oh I know, I'm familiar with him, he's such a cutie!" Ladies man...

I mean really, how could you not love this guy:

Justin and his "mini- me"

I suspect we might be in for it during his teenage years. Eddie Haskell anyone?

Mama's Back!

Friends, the day I feared would never come has arrived... and it is glorious! That's right, today I squeezed myself into the last remaining pair of pre-pregnancy jeans that I couldn't get past my hips a couple weeks ago! They were the only hold-outs, a snug-fitting size 2, and seemed to be mocking me from the closet every time I looked at them. Revenge is sweet. Sure, they may be cutting off the circulation to my bottom half as I type this, but I got them on, zipped up, AND buttoned, with only the slightest of muffin-tops. Thank you post-natal pilates! Next up... bikini season.