Doing The Potty Dance

We are so excited around here because after a long boycott Austen has finally decided he's ready to poop on the potty once again. It actually feels like the first time all over again. We got really excited for him and took him to Toys R Us and let him pick out whatever toy he wanted. I even got a few extras to encourage him to go tomorrow and the next day too. He insisted on calling Uncle Sean and Grandma Nelson to tell them about his accomplishment.....he even gave Grandma some extra details about it's size.

Hopefully this is our new normal and not just a fluke!

And no, I didn't take pictures.

Time For A Party

This is the last birthday post, I swear.

Austen was super excited to have a birthday party! He had been talking about it for weeks, so when the big day came he was ready.

Turns out I didn't even need to go to all the trouble of a party because he was perfectly happy just hitting this balloon with the wrapping paper tube.

Since Austen was convinced he was turning 7 I did in fact make him blow out 7 candles.

The cake didn't quite turn out striped like it was supposed to, but I'm over it.

He was more into the candy rocks than the cake anyway.

I turned my back for a second and he took the opportunity to get at the ice cream. All his girl cousins thought this was the funniest thing ever.

I just gave him a spoon and let him have at it.

Then we opened presents.

And put them together.

Austen had so much fun at his party! He actually had a little too much fun and didn't go to sleep until midnight! The next morning when I asked him what he wanted for breakfast, he said "something healthy". I guess he had a little too much sugar on his birthday!

It's My Birthday.....The Cake

The cake deserves it's own post! It was such a pain, that next year I will for sure go the store bought route.

First I had to start with cake from scratch because the store bought cakes are not dense enough to do what I wanted to do. So I made a chocolate and vanilla cake, froze them, then cut concentric angled circles, and place them inside each other. I only had one fall apart which is amazing! I'll just say that it turned out alright (not like the one I modeled it after which was amazing). The kids loved it! Luckily my Mom brought a back up cake for the adults that was delish.

The pictures loaded out of order, but this is a pic of it after I put on the frosting. It wasn't looking too promising at this point.

But here's the finished product and it didn't turn out too bad. I'm no Martha Stewart though, that is for sure!


The concentric circles so the inside would be striped.

Austen and his cousins loved it, so I guess it was all worth it......maybe.

It's My Birthday Part 2

I know I've posted plenty of pictures on this blog of Austen at Jungle Jim's, but of all the places to go on his birthday that is what he chose, so you get more pics of Austen on all the rides. I guess he REALLY likes it there.

I love that this kid will climb up anything and then take a flying leap down, but he walks so carefully down these stairs.

It's My Birthday Part 1

Austen was super excited to have a birthday! All he knew was that he was going to have a party with a cake and presents, so he was sold. We just did whatever he wanted all day.....I even let him have candy for breakfast. (We are currently on a sugar fast after yesterday....he was up until midnight!)

Here he is fielding all his early morning birthday calls.

He really wanted to decorate the house, so we went to work. He was so into the decorations that he wanted to wear his birthday hat all day, even when we ventured out to the store.


He picked out this super cute dump truck balloon.

The decorating was just the beginning of our day.....more of the birthday day with lots of pictures tomorrow.

Three Years Ago Today

Three years ago today I was sitting in a hospital bed waiting for what felt like an eternity for my turn in the OR. I was so terrified for what I was about to go through and the ONLY thing that got me through it was knowing that I was finally about to meet my little guy.

Looking back on that day now, I can say I was so clueless. Having a child is like being initiated into a special club. Unless you are in the club, you have absolutely no clue what it's all about. I had no idea that my life would forever be changed for the better.

Austen has taught me the meaning of life, he's taught me what real love is, and he's taught me to be a better person. I can honestly say the person that went into that hospital never came out, in her place came a calmer, more sefless, and fulfilled person. On that day my Son was born, the person I always wanted to be was born too.

Thank you Austen for letting me be your Mommy. I love you times a million!!!

Don't worry, there are a million birthday posts to come with tons of pictures.

Do I Dare??

We are getting ready to celebrate Austen's 3rd birthday. It's hard to believe, but he really is almost three (although, if you ask him, he'll tell you he's going to be 7). I let him pick out his party theme and I was certain it was going to be dinosaurs, but he chose construction vehicles instead.

I found this super cute cake on some very crafty person's blog and was thinking it could be totally cute for Austen's party. I don't know if I dare try it considering I'm not the best at baking and I don't usually have patience for this sort of stuff, so we'll see if I'm feeling brave.....and patient!

Lego Night

I LOVE lego night!!! When I need a break, Daddy pulls out the legos. I go take a bath with a book and they are both entertained for hours! I don't know who likes it more Brian, or Austen (or me).

Sorry Brian, I Couldn't Resist...

I'm sure Brian is going to be less than thrilled that I'm posting this picture on the internet, but it's too cute to resist.
Austen loves to hangout in the bathroom while his Dad gets ready for work. He usually sprays cologne or brushes his teeth, but on this morning he brought in his favorite truck book and started reading it. So stinkin cute!

Salad, Fishing, and Meetings

Austen is currently loving salad. I think this is funny for some reason, but maybe it's just one of those Mom things and no one else will even think anything of it. I guess I just think it's funny that he will choose veggies over chips any day.


On an unrelated note, he loves this fishing game I got him for Christmas, but it's bringing out his competitive side.....he gets so mad if someone else wins!

And....the meetings have started! If you know me, you know that when I was about three I used to hold my sweet Great Grandma hostage for hours during what I dubbed meetings. Everyone thought this was hilarious, but I took them very seriously. Well, Austen has started holding meetings now as well and his favorite target is my Mom. I know my Great Grandma is finding this very funny! (And see Dad.....he must have gotten SOME of my DNA.)

IPAD!!!

The IPad is seriously awesome!!! Even though Brian technically gave it to me it's actually been more of a family present than anything. I have downloaded so many apps for Austen and only a few for myself. The kid apps are so awesome and he is actually learing a lot from them. He loves to sit in his chair and play it.

This is quite possibly the cutest pic ever!

The headphones.....for when I want silence!

It's Cold

It's January and freezing without much snow, so we are pretty bored around here. That is the reason for my lack of posting. I don't really have anything to post. I figured people don't really want to hear about us sitting around playing the ipad, reading stories, and watching the land before time on repeat.

We have basically had endless trips to the library and the aquarium and since you've seen enough of him at the aquarium and I can't take pictures of him at the library because I'm too busy trying to keep him from yelling and running away, there are no pics of what we've been up to lately. I do however have some pics of Austen's eating habits. The first one is what happens when I put whipped cream on his waffles and the second is what he calls the rainbow lunch.

Really???

Austen and I just got back from the grocery store where he asked some random woman on the bread aisle if she was a witch.

We were just inches apart.....there was no escaping the embarrassment.

Back To The Grind

It was a sad sad day around here today.....Brian had to go back to work. I guess I knew he couldn't stay home forever, but having him around for the last two weeks was very nice. He's missed already! Luckily it was warm today, so Austen got to try his new tractor outside. I think we'll make it.

Happy New Year

We had a fun New Year's Eve filled with family, food, and fun games. We let Austen stay up until midnight (I'm totally getting Mother of the Year awards!) and regretted it this morning. We finally had to take him to the playground so he would quit destroying the house. Tired + too much boy energy = crazy parents!

It wasn't super warm, but warm enough and he didn't seem to mind the cold. We let him play with sticks, throw rocks, and run around until he was too tired to run anymore.

Then he came home and took a nap! It was nice to spend the rest of the day being lazy and watching football!