Some Noteworthy Items

I haven't written in a while and Austin continues to say and do funny and cool things. Here are a few things I don't want to forget.
Who can forget yesterday's playgroup? Austin was in rare form. When Sophie, Kylie, and their moms came over yesterday Austin got a little shy, for about 2 seconds. Then he started goofing off and was all over the place, laughing hysterically. He showed Kylie & Sophie how much fun it was hiding in the blinds, playing in the closet with the vacuum, and playing swords in his room. He had an infectious laugh and a penchant for getting reactions out of the girls. Of course, one hour after going to bed he was up crying out "Mom!" I brought him to bed with me and he passed out right away. In the middle of the night, I awoke to him laughing in his sleep. So cute.

He likes to hear baby stories. These are stories I tell him about when he was a baby. He really likes to hear about how when he was a baby he didn't eat food, just drank milk. And when I ask him where the milk came from he says "Mama's boob!" really loudly. Although I have told him where the milk came from, I certainly never told him to shout it. Very funny. Also, I tell him that when he was a baby he didn't brush him teeth, because he didn't have any teeth. Only gums. He got a little confused the other day and when I said he didn't have any teeth, he said "Only lips" (which he pronounces 'ips').

The morning of my birthday a few weeks ago, we started a few new things. I started letting him play on the computer, on an open spreadsheet. It helps him with his letters and numbers and engages him for a long time. That day while working on his spreadsheet he went and got his calculator for maximum calculating ability. I swelled with pride. Just like mom, he loves to calculate. We also started dancing that morning. Until now, we couldn't really listen to music in the family room, because he would mess with the stereo and/or CD player, making it impossible to listen to music. Now we listen to music & dance all the time now. He's got the moves! I'm not sure who told him to scrunch up his face while dancing, but that's his trademark dance look. On my birthday, we calculated and danced at the same time. What a perfect birthday. I finally got the inspiration to began to rebuild my Itunes library. I got all emotional because while listening to music I also started looking at the pictures on my phone and I realized how many cool things have happened to me in the past couple years. Not just with Austin & Brian, but with my friends too.


Usually at preschool he is very clingy, just as he often is anywhere but at home with just us. But last Friday he took baby steps toward being more independent. He goofed off with some other kids, being silly like he likes to be. Then he was upset because I wasn't right by his side watching him play, but I had a job to do. I was art sorter. His teacher was able to coax him over to the art table and he became interested in dumping glitter on glue. At first he wanted to wash his hands every time he got paint on his hands, but after a while realized that it was OK to have dirty hands. So, two small victories there. I will probably frame that particular painting. Then, when it was time to go outside & play, he took off without me and didn't even care that I wasn't right behind him. His desire to play trumped his separation anxiety. Baby steps! As I prepare to enroll him in a drop off class for fall, I feel optimistic that it may be OK. If he can be brave, so can I.

We're Going to Disneyland!

Yay! We're so excited. It's like the Disneyland commercial where the kids can't sleep the night before their trip and then they pan over to the parents room and they can't sleep either. I am super bummed that It's a Small World is closed for renovation though. I think Austin would really like that ride. Pirates of the Caribbean? Too scary?? I think so. We'll see.

Jon & Kate Plus 8

When I first starting watching Jon & Kate Plus 8, I had a hard time with it. It stressed me out. The last thing I wanted to watch during my precious free time was a show about stressed out parents. I gradually came around and began to enjoy it as a show that I could identify with (even though I have just 1). Now that Austin's a little older, I let him watch it with me and he loves it. It's the only show that we watch together. As I watch Jon & Kate's little ones grow up and my little one is growing up I get all warm & fuzzy inside. It has been so much fun sharing what we like with him as he gets old enough to appreciate new things. I think these stages were a direct reflection of what I was going through. At first I was overwhelmed, no doubt about it. Then, I regained a little spare time. And now I thoroughly enjoy sharing what I like to do with Austin.
When Austin was a newborn, a friend of mine with an 8 year old, said "Now's when it gets fun. You can do things with them" and I was thinking 'I'm having fun now!'. But you probably enjoy your kid at every age and think that every moment is special.

Austin Goes to the Movies!

So it's been snowing for what - a month straight? Although the idea of a white Christmas sounds good, it actually has been somewhat of a pain. I've been excited to enjoy this holiday season with Austin now that he's 2 and is super fun, but we haven't been able to do all the things we've wanted to do because of the weather. Today we were going to go to The Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach (rescheduled from a different snowed-in weekend) but the snow was still on the ground so we decided to go to the movies with Austin for the first time, which is very exciting for us. I got nervous beforehand because I thought of all the ways it could go wrong. However, we had two free passes and Austin was free so we really didn't have anything to lose. Once we got there I realized that I had nothing to worry about. I underestimated Austin's love of watching TV. He sat in my and Brian's lap almost the whole time, captivated by the movies (mostly the dogs and babies). We saw Marley & Me. He loves watching dogs on TV so that was a better bet than a cartoon, and more fun for Brian and me anyway. He did great, better than we could have hoped. When a scene would fade out, in the seconds before a new scene would begin, Austin would say "More?", scared that the movie had ended. He got up and walked around during the last 15 minutes of the movie, but that's fair for a 2 year old. When we left the movies, it was snowing big flakes once again!

Some Cool Things

I'm almost too tired to write, but I feel like I need to document all the cool things that Austin has been doing:

• Making this Christmas the best I've had since I was a kid by enjoying all the fun things we've been doing like cutting down a X-mas tree, decorating, looking at X-mas lights, etc.
• He's saying a lot more words now. So many that I have officially stopped writing every single one down. I am thrilled that I can no longer keep track.
• Here's a big one - he no longer finds getting his shampoo rinsed out traumatic. He is FINALLY over it, at 2 1/2. In the shower, Brian showed him how he rinses his own hair and how even though water gets in his eyes it's OK. Now when I talk to Austin about taking a bath he smiles and says "eyes".
• Today we danced together. Hand in hand, we danced to several X-mas songs. It was very fun.
• Today he played in the snow for the first time. Although, he has no boots or gloves that fit him. And to my dismay the huge selection of sleds at Fred Meyer was picked completely clean. I am mad at myself for not buying one when I saw them there a couple weeks ago. Oh well.
• He's super helpful, which he has been ever since he could be. But now he can do some small chores all by himself and when I ask him to do something, he usually does it. OK, "usually" might be a stretch, but many times even if he complains about it, he'll eventually do what I ask of him.

Thanksgiving Week

This week Brian's brother and his family came to visit. We had a great time hanging out with them. Austin was especially excited to have his two cousins staying with us for a week.

On Thanksgiving, Austin sat and watched his first full movie: Back to the Future, one of our favoite movies. He was most interested in Einstein, the dog, who really only had a bit part, but he kept hoping he would reappear. I must say, that was my favorite part of Thanksgiving, the part that sticks out in my mind the most. Thank goodness the Seahawks were losing, or we would never have had that moment. Here is a photo of the movie watching.



Today we went to the zoo and had a great time, even though it was raining and cold. I've never been to the zoo when it wasn't summer. Austin especially enjoyed the au-taurs (otters).

Not Much

Not much going on. Weekend was fun. Mom's Night Out on Friday night. Had yummy flight of untraditional but exotic wine - loved the rose. Brian worked on Saturday. Austin & I stopped by and had lunch with him, which was a big treat for him, and us too. Austin & I went to the outlet mall today to return some clothes and buy some new ones. He did great. A lot easier to shop with him now than compared to just a few months ago. He's a good boy. New philosophy on buying clothes - stop buying such cheap clothes and start buying clothes that fit me and that I love. I had to return two pants and one shirt that I just didn't like. In exchange I bought two pairs of pants that fit me well. I tried on several other pants that I kind of liked, but then I put them back and felt relieved. All those hours I've spent watching What Not to Wear is paying off. We then skipped nap and went to Grandma & Grampa's house, which was fun. Austin began to get quite loopy by 2:30. I paid for it when, during dinner, Austin had a meltdown because he wanted an apple and that wasn't what I was serving for dinner. He threw his grilled cheese sandwich, which resulted in a time out. He cried "apple, apple, apple!" in the other room for about 15 minutes, which was really funny. Once he was done, he came back and ate every single thing on his plate and even asked for more tofu & red pepper strips, to my delight. I gave him an apple slice for dessert :)