Future Architect?

Austen got some hand me down Lincoln Logs and absolutely loves them!  He spent two whole days building this awesome mansion with Daddy.  Austen even put the roof on all by himself.  He was so proud!

And this one because he can't just be normal!  He is such a boy!

In other news I'm still super pregnant and starting to feel like I'm going to explode.  I know people are going to think I'm crazy because everyone tells me how huge I look, but I really don't think this baby is going to be as big as Austen was.  We'll see.....maybe I'm just in denial.

Austen has spring break next week which means I'm going to have to conjure up some energy and keep him busy and entertained.

Missing Daddy

Brian left for a few days to go on a much deserved golfing excursion.  He'll be back tonight and Austen is really excited!  He's been missing his daddy like crazy.  Probably because Dad is the fun one around here and I can't do anything without bringing on contractions.  Austen has just quit asking me to sit and play with him on the floor because he knows it's not possible anymore.  Austen was lucky enough to go swimming with his Aunt, Grandma, and cousins yesterday.  That really helped get out some of his energy, but

Dad can't get here soon enough for some wild time with the little guy!

Austen loves to attack Brian while Brian tries to do his daily back exercises.

Austen's New Favorite Place

We tried somewhere new for our latest family adventure......a trampoline arena. We did it on a weekday instead of a Saturday because I was too sick last Saturday to move and even though I'm still fighting off this stupid bug I have, I braved an evening out with my boys.  I wasn't too sure if Austen would like it, but he loved it and told me that about 100 times while we where there.  They have foam pits, trampoline floors, trampoline walls, and rope swings over foam pits.  Austen had so much fun!  Here are the pictures even though not one of them turned out.....they are all blurry.  He moves fast!

He was trying to jump on two at once.

Doing his toe touches.

He buried himself in the foam pit several times.....when we got home I put him in the tub and when he blew his nose, foam pieces came out!

Daddy getting ready to launch Austen into the pit.

 Blast off

Pure happiness!

Rope swing

 and one last launch picture.

It was the perfect place for family time.  There are comfy benches to sit on so I still felt like I was part of the action, Brian got to throw Austen around, and Austen loved every second.  He's already asking me when we can go back.

I'm so in love with my awesome family!

Baby 2.0 Update

I had my bi-weekly checkup today and I am happy to say that I am no longer measuring three weeks ahead.  I have now reached a more acceptable measurement of one week ahead.  I might just get a normal sized baby after all........unless he has another growth spurt in the next few weeks.  I guess I won't get my hopes up.

I have washed all of Austen's 0-3 month baby clothes and cleared a place in the closet for them.  I am pretty much all ready for baby to make his entrance.  Now we just have to wait and wait and wait for what feels like forever.  I'm trying to enjoy these last few weeks of just me and my little side-kick, so we've been doing lots of fun stuff together.  As long as it doesn't involve too much walking, I'm in.  We had a really fun family night out last night, I'll post about it tomorrow. 

Playing Catch Up Christmas Edition

This last week has been rough.....I got the sickness Austen had and I've been down for the count!  Thank goodness for my Mom and Sister who took Austen for a day so I could sleep.  I'm still recovering, but feeling much better.  Needless to say, we didn't do much this week except read a lot of books, so this post is all about Christmas.

Austen seriously loves books!

 Austen was of course very excited for Christmas.  He got way too many presents, but he really loves this remote control helicopter that Aunt Sharlet gave him.

 On Christmas eve he opened up the customary pajamas, but he refused to wear them because I hadn't washed them first......have I totally warped him or what?

 Since the pj's didn't go over so well, we let him open one toy.  He opened his guitar and immediately put on a show for Brian and I.  He will stand in the office and insist on being introduced.  Then he walks very solemnly into the family room and starts to sing and play.  He takes it all very seriously and it is super cute!

Our Weekend And Still Playing Catch Up

We had a pretty lazy weekend which we all needed.  Austen is still recovering from the super cold he got last week and I'm 8 months pregnant, so I'm always tired.  My super sweet husband stayed with Austen while I went to the spa for a few hours on Saturday. He got me a gift certificate last valentine's day that I hadn't used; I finally went and it was amazing!  Pregnancy massages are pretty much the best thing ever.  I spent Sunday cleaning out our giant pantry.  It has so much room in there that I never need to clean it out and it also ends up being the place we stick everything we don't know what to do with.  It was a big undertaking, but I finished it.  I don't even want to tell you how many bags of garbage went out during the process.....good thing today is garbage day!  I would post before and after pictures, but the before is too embarrassing to post on the internet.

Now for the catch up part.  These pics are from Halloween when Brian's work had a little Halloween party.  Austen dressed up as a swat guy and had so much fun!  Brian let him use his headset and his computer which Austen thought was very cool.  Austen also got loads of candy and his favorite....office supplies!

 On the way home......I think he had a little too much fun!

Another Family Day Activity

I try to make Saturday family day and come up with something fun to do as a family.  It gets hard to come up with new things, but last family day I actually did think of something new.

Ice skating.

Austen has seen people ice skate at an outdoor rink they have by our house and he wanted to try it, so off we went.  I found one indoors so I wouldn't freeze to death while watching.

It was actually pretty fun and Austen wasn't too bad after a few laps and some coaching by Brian.

Here they are getting on all their gear.

 Isn't Brian such a good sport......I swear he is up for anything.

Another Year Older

I started off the day with a Dr. appt.  I found out while I was there that my blood pressure is still ridiculously low (expected) and that I'm measuring three weeks big (unexpected).  Bring on the 10 lb baby.

That's all good news, but the really good news is that it is now February!  Since my Dr is thinking of scheduling my c section on March 29th I can officially say that I'm having this baby next month!  I have been waiting for what feels like forever to say that!

After my appt, I met up with my Mom and Sisters and Brother for an awesome breakfast.  It was so fun to laugh and chat with them.  Austen is really sick with a cough, congestion, and fever, so I've kept him home from school.  Brian was nice enough to go in late to work so that I could still go out for my birthday breakfast.  Never one to disappoint, I came home to lit candles on a super cute cake all while being sung happy birthday to by my sweet little man.

Although turning 31 isn't that great, I've sure had a great day thanks to the amazing people in my life!

Here's a belly shot so you can all see how giant I am.  Pic courtesy of Austen.

My awesome birthday cake that I came home to.....seriously, how sweet is Brian?

Playing Catch Up: Zoo Lights

Happy Monday!  Hope you enjoyed the amazing Super Bowl game from yesterday, I know we sure did!

I'm still playing catch up from all the months I took off from blogging.  Here are some pics from when we visited Zoo Lights in December.  It was pretty cold, but so much fun!  I think it's our new Christmas time tradition.

They have lights everywhere.....the pictures don't really do it justice.

 They even have tons of moving light up animals which Austen thought were awesome.

 They also had these cute elephant heads hanging in the trees above the elephant exhibit.

 Old Fashioned carolers for some ambiance.

 This bridge was completely covered in lights that changed colors......it was probably my favorite part.

 And then, because Brian never does anything half way, he somehow got this news reporter to have Austen and Brian on the live show.  They asked Austen his name and his favorite part of Zoo Lights.  It was really cute and Austen was super excited that he got to be on the news.  He even told all of his little preschool friends about it the next day.

 This dragon that had fire was Austen's favorite.

 Looking at some creepy crawlies.

 And of course climbing on the gorilla.

We had so much fun seeing all the lights and the animals at night.  We even got to see the tiger being really active and growling.  We are for sure going again next year!

Austen's Four Year Old Favorites

I asked Austen a few questions about some of his favorite things and here are his answers.

Favorite color: Green and White

Favorite Movie: Ice Age Christmas

Favorite Show: Peppa Pig

Favorite thing to play: construction

Favorite fruit: canteloupe

Favorite vegetable: Broccoli, asparagus, and artichoke

Favorite book to read: Go Dinos Go and No Such Things

He also loves doing anything art related and he loves to tease and trick his mommy.

Here we are doing some painting which he loved!

In Honor Of The Month Of Love

I'm doing a cheesy post about my amazing husband!

I woke up to this posted on my Facebook wall for everyone to see:

Dear cari, too often do the most important people in our lives get overlooked. I hope you always know how much you mean to me and how much I appreciate your sacrifices and hard work you put into being the best mom and partner you can be! I am excited for the new addition to our family to get here and I know you are especially excited as well. You are a great mom, an awesome partner, and just an all around wonderful person. You didn't win the spouse lottery sweetie..... I DID!!!! I love you very much and I am always here for you throughout life's little challenges and obstacles. We are the indestructible, battle tested, highly fortified, juggernauts of all married couples and we shall maintain supremacy until our last breath!! ( or something very, very close to that). I SURE LOVE YOU CARI. THANKS FOR BEING YOU!!!

 It made me cry (which isn't hard to do these days with all of my crazy pregnancy hormones).  I just have to say that I am truly blessed to have such an amazing man by my side through this journey.  I would not be the person or mother I am today without his influence, support, and unconditional love!  We have had a difficult couple of years that would have put a strain on most relationships, but I can honestly say that these last two years have made us stronger and more in love.  Brian always steps up to pick up the slack whether I'm having a mental breakdown, dealing with the loss of my beloved Dad, or trying to make it through a difficult pregnancy.  He steps in without complaining and always reassures me that he's happy to do it.  He is hands down the best team mate ever and I know there is no one else that I could do this with.  Brian always puts his family first and dedicates every spare second to Austen and I.  He is present and fun and patient.......and a big kid, which makes the best kind of Dad.  I am so grateful for him and appreciative of the person he is and I love him more today than I did yesterday!

 

Surpirse.....I Can Read And A Snow Day

The other day Austen and I were in his room doing "paperwork" (this is by far Austen's favorite pastime...he basically does coloring and stickers and stamps on a paper and then sticks it in one of his boxes that he loves to collect and says we are going to mail the whole box to Santa) when I mistakenly discovered that Austen can sound out words and read them!  I was shocked and beyond proud of course!  We started with some easy two letter words like NO and GO and ME and then moved up to three letter words like CAT and MAP and JET.  It was one of those moments I hope I never forget.

On another note, it has been snowing here....A.LOT!  We decided to make the best of it and bundle up and head outside.  Austen loves to shovel the driveway which is really cute, but the best part is that he talks to all the neighbors while he's shoveling.  He'll walk out and say "Hey Ron" to our next door neighbor just as if he is one of the grownups.

 Shoveling got old, so he ran and jumped in.

 How cute is that?!?!