Austin's new tooth!

Austin cut a tooth...yay for the 7 month mark.

It's been awhile...Kristen's now 2

Well a ton has gone on in the past month. We went to Ohio to visit my dad and Judy and had a great time. Kristen and Austin loved spending time with Grandfather and Gran. We went to water parks, the zoo, hung out with family, and swam in the pool until we were prunes! Kristen remembered a ton from her swimming lessons..we were so proud. Austin went into the pool for the first time and loved it! We really had a wonderful time!

Kristen turned 2 on July 11th. Auntie Stacy came out for a few days and both Kristen and Austin loved having her here (and me too of course!). For Kristen's birthday we went to the park and ate some packed dinners..and then Kristen played her heart out..she and her Daddy flew kites, and Auntie Stacy went down the slide with her many times. When we got home we opened some presents and ate cake..good times. Kristen really enjoyed opening presents..she gets it now!

We had her birthday party on July 14th and we celebrated Winnie the Pooh style. The tables were covered with red gingham table clothes and blue honey pots that Daddy painted. We had tons of balloons..that Kristen loved...a few streamers..and a big cling on thingy that had Pooh and friends that said "Happy Birthday!". We had hamburgers, salad, watermelon, baked beans, and good o'le cake. Kristen loved opening all her presents and has enjoyed playing with everything. She was so cute when we sang Happy Birthday, her face looked like, "Really, for me, my birthday, wow!"

Kristen also got her Big Girl Bed..which as of now is box springs and a mattress..with super cute bedding! She loves it...although she has had a hard time sleeping at night...tonight was the first night that she fell asleep within an hour..usually it has been a 2-3 hour battle...let's not talk about it..it gives me the shivers thinking about it!

Two is a good age! We are excited about this year to come!

Cereal then Pears

A few days ago I gave Austin cereal for the first time and he loved it so much that he didn't want to stop eating. We started him on Oatmeal cereal and he just can't get enough...then we tried pears.

Tomorrow it will be a week since we started cereal..so I thought today would be a good day to try a new food, pears. Well I am not really sure how well it went..because at first it looked like Austin really liked the pears, but then he started shuddering every time I gave him a bite, and then he just started to cry..so as of now I am not sure if he had had enough food or if he just doesn't really care for pears...we will see.

Tomorrow we will try again.

Laughter

Recently Kristen has been making Austin laugh with the silly things she does. (They are 22 months and 5 months) All I have to say is when this happens I usually stop, drop what I am doing and just watch and smile...it is the best thing to me right now...

Sprinklers

Today we were suppose to have swim lessons for Kristen, but since it is Memorial day they were cancelled..so we had Kristen all ready to go swimming and needless to say, she was really bummed she wasn't going to get in the pool. So Paul and I thought fast and we thought of running through the sprinklers! Let's just say that Kristen had the best time running through the sprinklers with her Daddy..Austin and Mommy just watched and took pictures! It was pretty cold out, but Kristen just kept on running back and forth, back and forth. She really loves water.

SD Zoo

Two weeks ago we went to the zoo and Kristen, and Austin too, saw an elephant in real life. Kristen is very into elephants...I should say all animals and of course what sounds they make (22 months). It was so fun to see her reaction to the huge beast just walking around...she was pretty amazed.

The love that Kristen shows to Austin is exactly the love that I want them to show to each other the rest of their lives. Austin always smiles at her with sweet adoration.

Tonight we were rocking in the rocking chair, reading a book, when Kristen just started to gently rub Austin's head just the way he likes it. His heavy eyes blinked slowly and began to shut, but of course Kristen moved on and was ready to go to bed herself.

This is the love I pray for daily. This sibling love. I want it so bad for them. I want them to be two peas in a pod, always looking out for each other, and always reaching out a hand when one is in need, hugging each other with a kiss on the cheek. Sibling love.

Tonight

Before I lay Kristen in her bed I pray with her. Tonight I closed the door and as I was about to walk away I heard her start praying again..boy it made me proud.

Earth worms...

Two weeks ago, Kristen and I were working in the front yard. We were pulling weeds and moving dirt around. All of a sudden I came across an earth worm and as I pulled it out of the dirt and I showed it to Kristen. At first she just stared at it, and I explained to her what it was. Then the worm started moving and she did a deep excited sound that goes something like this, "hunh, hunh, hunh, hunhhhh". She was so excited and couldn't believe that the worm was moving. After looking at the worm for a few minutes I explained to her that worms live in the dirt so we would have to throw him back in the flower bed. So we did..and she went over to where she thought the worm landed and said, "Where'd go?". About an hour later I found another worm. Kristen was filling her buckets with dirt when, "plop", I dropped a worm in her bucket. She couldn't believe there was another worm. She played with the worm for a little bit and then told me, "back, back", which means "We need to throw him back". So we did just that. I love that my girl is into earth worms...

Kristen's words

The other day Kristen bonked Austin on his head with her head and said, "Sorry Austi, head ow". It was so great to see almost a total 5 word sentence!

Austin's cool moves..

On April 17, 2007 Austin rolled over!! He also can get his pacie to his mouth with no help..hallelujah! (4 months) He is very interested in toys and loves to reach out and grab them when you hold them above him. We love him here in the A-Team house!

Gymnastics

Kristen started gymnastics last Thursday, March 29, and had a blast. She jumped on the spring floor the entire time of her class. She loves to jump, and amazingly she can get both feet off the ground.

Dancing Feet

Sunday, April 1st, we went to a wedding for our good friend Lisa. This was the first wedding that Kristen could really enjoy..and boy did she. Once the dancing started it was all over. Kristen sat with Marmee and watched all the people dancing for about an hour. She swayed back and forth and finally Marmee asked her (for about the fourth time) if she wanted to go out and dance. She was ready and her feet hit the dance floor. It was all over from there. She danced with Marmee and me for at least an hour. Her feet didn't stop moving. She had the best time out there...she's got beat for sure. I wish everyone could have seen her shakin' her tush..it was so fun to watch.

Rollie Pollie

I love when Austin is on his back and curls up by grabbing his feet...he loves his feet..but the best part of it is he looks like a rollie pollie. He is so adorable.

Praying for Pooh

Tonight on the way home, Kristen reached her hand out from her car seat and said, "Pray". This means lets all bow our heads while Kristen says a prayer. Well tonight she went through and prayed for Daddy, Mommy, baby (Austin), Uncle Joe, Marmee, Raleigh, her food, and then she went on to pray for Pooh, honey, Rabbit, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, and Pluto. It was so dang cute to listen to her innocently pray for those who are makebelieve.

Lumpy...

In the movie, Pooh's Heffalump movie, there is a character named Lumpy. Lumpy is suppose to be a heffalump, also known as an elephant. Well Lumpy is small and he wants to make a trumpeting sound like his mother, but he can't. All he can do is a "Pflpbt" sound. (Put your lips together tightly and blow out and you will know the sound I am going for here.)

Well Kristen really likes Lumpy. Today I put her down for a nap and about 15 minutes later I hear, "Pflpbt, Pflpbt, ha ha ha ha ha". She was making the sounds of Lumpy and then laughing really hard. I went upstairs to peek in her room and she was sitting in the corner of her crib spitting out her pacie's, making Lumpy sounds and laughing. It was so hard for me not to burst into laughter while peeking through her door, but of course I bit my tongue so she wouldn't hear me...oh these are the moments that make you keep going.

Toys

Today 3.22.07 Austin brought a toy to his mouth...he found his feet a couple days ago..he thinks they are neat.

Weight Gain...

Austin is having the hardest time gaining weight..I have to say that while breastfeeding every child should gain weight appropriately and have no problems..sometimes I don't understand why there is so much stress with breastfeeding when all I am doing is using the two sacs for their sole purpose-to feed a baby-At 3 months he weighs 9 lbs. 14 oz.

On a side note..we got a Bumbo seat for Austin and he loves it..he sits up in it even though he can't sit up on his own (This is the purpose of the seat) and smiles like he is having the best time..

Markers

The other day..I let Kristen draw with her washable markers that she loves. I usually watch her with a pretty close eye..but this day in particular I was dealing with our accountant on the phone and lost track of time...looked over and Kristen and noticed that her face was colored with marker..I went over to her and she said, "uh oh Mommy"...while holding up a marker with the end (marker end) up in the air...that had been totally bitten off!!!! She had bitten all the marker ends off...good times with a 20 month old!

Good Times...

The best feeling is when your child shows you that they love you..with a hug that isn't asked for, or a smile that isn't prompted. It can make you feel like you are the best mom in the world.

Austin has been laughing a ton when mommy tickles his tummy or behind his ears. He is growing to be so long..he is almost out of the infant carrier at 3 months old! I have really been enjoying moments with him throughout the day. I love to cuddle with him, and tell him I love him and watch him smile. He is mesmerized by the TV..I think he likes to watch the movement. I am pretty sure he cant' see that far, nor in color yet. I can say now that I am enjoying breastfeeding so much more. It is so nice to have a baby that desires to nurse...I am learning to treasure the breastfeeding moments.

Kristen and I really played together today. Some days I feel like I don't get down on the floor much with her and play. So today that is all I did, while the dishes piled up and everyting else I needed to get done. But I have to say I feel so much more accomplished by spending quality time with her more so than getting the dishes done. We built blocks, played chase and just had a good time!

Being a mom is so rewarding...