22 weeks

Ok, so I got a little lazy...or maybe busy...and forgot to take belly pics for weeks 20 and 21.  We went to the doctor for our 20 week sonogram, and baby #2 is healthy and measuring about 14oz, which is right about on schedule.  Austin enjoyed hearing the heartrate as usual, but did not like having to see Mommy being the patient.

When we got back into the exam room with the doctor, she walked in, and Kristopher greeted her rather enthusiastically (as we had been waiting for our sonogram for over an hour...with Austin).  She then sat down and said, "So, another boy, huh?"  We just looked at her with blank stares?!?!?  "Oh, wait, did you find out what you were having," she said.  We told her we hadn't, and she then explained that she thought by something Kris had said when he greeted her that he was saying we were having another boy.  She assured us, and showed us all the pictures and paperwork that she received from the sonogram, that she had no clue what baby #2 was.  At the end of the visit, Kristopher told her just to come clean if she really did know something, but she swore that she really just misunderstood what he had said.  We saw everything the sonogram tech did, so I really don't think they got any clear pictures of anything to be able to tell.  We will see...

We cannot wait for Christmas!  Austin seems to be getting excited, and says that he wants Santa to bring him a "Lego Table".   Here are some pictures from lately...

 22 week belly bump

 Austin "washing dishes"

 He really likes to help!

19 weeks

I am now (as of last Saturday) 19 weeks along.  We can all feel the baby moving now...kicking like crazy - usually about an hour after I eat.  So that tells me that this baby is probably like his/her big brother and likes to eat!  We go next Wednesday for our sonogram to see that our little bean is healthy and well.

Austin is his usual silly self.  He is learning so many things so fast.  It's hard to keep up with him.  He is constantly keeping us entertained.  We have been putting up Christmas decorations, little by little.  We helped Austin paint a Christmas tree using his hand prints, and it's hanging above the mantle.  He was very proud.

Here are a few pictures...

Haircut...among other things

CHEESE!

 Checking out the clippers

Almost finished...

Happy Halloween...from Elmo

Breakfast date!

Playing with shredded paper...oh boy!

Reading in his playroom

 Austin and his best buddy

Austin got his first "real" haircut last week.  I have been trimming it at home, but we finally took him for a "big boy" cut.  We went to Cool Cuts for Kids, which I have heard lots of great things about.  Well, let me tell you, I was not impressed.  Talk about sensory overload.  My child normally sits (relatively) still while I cut his hair at home, so I didn't foresee this being a difficult task.

So, it's our turn (don't ask me why we made an appointment because they made us wait just as long as if we were a walk-in).  The stylist (if that's what you call them there) took him to the back and let him choose between a taxi chair and a firetruck - of course he chose firetruck.  Ok, so she sits him in there and lets him "drive" for about 3 seconds before asking him what his favorite video is...Elmo, Mickey, etc.  I tell her Elmo will be fine (videos don't keep his attention very long these days anyway).  She pops in the Elmo video on his own personal tv right in his face at an obnoxious volume.  She then starts blowing bubbles in his face.  Now, Austin has yet to show any signs of distress, so I don't know why all these antics were necessary.  However, after all of this stimulation, he starts to look a little concerned.  She then whips out the clippers and starts waving them in his face..."Ooooh, touch the clippers...see the clippers...aren't they cool".  This is when the panic starts to set in.  He starts to call for me, and she then gives him two combs to use as drum sticks, immediately followed by a sucker.  This poor child has no idea what's happening or why he's being "entertained" so extensively - AND we haven't even begun the haircut!!!  Wow...I was irritated and I'm a grown up.  Could they not have just sat him in the firetruck in front of the mirror and started cutting??  Well, anyway, he cried, but he sat still while he cried so she could cut his hair.  And he is, of course, very handsome.  And then we paid for our overpriced haircut "experience" and went on our merry way.

On another note, I'm starting to wonder what questions I should be asking.  We discovered (by accident) last month that Austin can count by himself...to at least 20.  We were leaving a building and walking down the stairs, and I said, "let's count the stairs".  When I said "one" he said "two"...then he proceeded to say all the rest of the numbers to 10.  I thought it might be a coincidence.  Then later that night, he counted all 10 of his cars for Kristopher.  A couple of days later, he had counted to 10 then said "eleven".  So when I said "twelve" he said "thirteen"...and so on to 20.  Who knew.   Then 2 days ago, I sing the alphabet to him and then say, "your turn".  He proceeds to sing his entire alphabet, A to Z (lacking a little in the enunciation department, but he was clearly singing the alphabet).  So now I'm starting to wonder what else he has stored up in that brain of his that I just haven't asked him to share.

I have posted a few recent pictures above...

18months and Baby #2

I know it's been forever since I've posted, but it turns out having a 1-year-old can keep one very busy!  Austin is really blossoming.  His personality is really coming out.  He's very funny, and so smart (if I do say so myself).  I'm still working on my tech-savviness so eventually I'll figure out how to post videos of him.
In the meantime, Austin turned 18 months old last month.  It's crazy how time is just flying by.  I've posted some of his pictures done by his Daddy, of course.  We took him to the air show and the pumpkin patch.  It was our first cold snap of the year, and it was soooo cold!  But he LOVED seeing all the airplanes up close and the helicopters too!
Also, we are expecting baby #2 in the Spring!  My due date is April 13th, but I think they will schedule a c-section somewhere around the 8th depending on how things progress.  If this baby is anything like its big brother, then he/she will come on their own time I'm sure.  We are again going to wait to find out the gender when the baby arrives.  I know that drives some people nuts, but it's fun for us.  Here is my latest "belly pic" at 14 weeks (a couple weeks ago).  We will make 16 weeks this coming Saturday.

Beach Trip

We went to Destin for 4th of July week.  Austin had a blast!!  He LOVES the water and the sand.  He just loves being outside.  He was so much fun to watch.  We enjoyed the beach, and we went to some splash pads as well.  Here are just a few of the many pictures.

1 YEAR OLD!

I can't believe we made it an entire year already! What a quick year! Austin is such an amazing blessing in our lives. We are so happy to be his parents. He is funny, smart, handsome...the list goes on and on (if I can brag a bit). He had a great party - thanks to all who came out. And here are some pictures from the party and his one year pictures as well. We are looking forward to many, many more years full of lots of fun adventures!

Cleaned out my phone

Eating an orange with the peel!

climbing...his favorite thing to do

mischief!

So, if it seems my posts are always here and there and my words are rushed, it's usually because I'm trying to post while Austin naps...along with doing the laundry, picking up toys, cleaning up the table from the last meal. Not that I'm complaining, but he is one BUSY little boy.

Anyway, I finally had to unload the 1000+ pics on my phone, so here are a few from lately. Austin is running everywhere (literally). I think he walked for 3 days, then started running. I bough him some shoes and he's doing great. He only wants to wear them if we go outside though. He'll say "shoes" and start trying to put them on when he wants to go out. He is also saying so much - I think last count was 53+++. My favorites lately are "tight tight" which is what he says when he gives snuggles, and flag. I think flag sounds more like bag, but he LOVES them. He also tweets at the birds he sees.