News...

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of emotion, for a variety of reasons. With the state's budget in peril, education has taken a big hit, statewide. Weskan has had to eliminate a couple teaching positions, mine included. I'll be employed through the summer and then we'll see what happens. I know I'll miss the relationships and interractions I have with the amazing girls at work. Its been rough to think about not going back to Weskan in the fall, but we also know that God doesn't close one door without opening another one, or a window. :)

Adam and I found out just before Christmas that we are expecting a new member into our family. Baby #2 is due to arrive the end of August. We are tremendously excited that God has blessed us with another child and a possible opportunity to stay home with both of our kiddos. I'm not sure that Austin is quite aware of our situation yet, but I'm sure he will be as we begin making plans for his brother or sister. We have pointed at my belly and said "Baby," but we're starting to wonder if Austin thinks baby is a new word for belly. :)

Who Knew ???

Austin has turned into quite the little "water baby!" His love of the bath and shower has changed dramatcally. For the longest time, Austin was thrilled to take a shower with Daddy. That love of the water has matriculated into his love of bath time. Each evening, after dinner, we ask Austin if it's bath time. Sure enough, he takes off running for his bathroom at full speed. Sometimes he is even trying to climb into the bath tub before we can get his clothes off. Other nights, he is helping get the clothes off so that he can get into the warm, wet, suds!

His new favorite hobby in the bathtub is to play with caps...any kind of caps. Shower gel caps, harispray caps, you name it. Lately, he has enjoyed putting them on his feet to cover his toes and putting them on the shower knobs. What a joy it is to watch him play, laugh, and discover life!!!

Its been a while!!!

There are a few of you who have been houding me to update this - and I feel like a horrible mom for not having done it sooner! Here goes. Austin is now 19 months old and just a big, big helper around the house. He loves helping mommy load the washer and the dryer and feeding the doggie. Trapper waits patiently at the backdoor for Austin to give him his doggie treats! He is such a good "kid" dog.

Austin's doggie love isn't just limited to his doggie...over Christmas, we spent some time with Aunt Kim and Cousins Kayla & Ethan. They have a little dog named Prince, who Austin was just fascinated with. Must be something about little men and their best friends!

9 Months Old!!!

It hardly seems possible, but Austin is now 9 months old! Where does the time go? We had a 9 month check-up on Tuesday and he weighed in at a healthy 20 lbs. and has grown to a length of 28 inches. He is turning into 1 big boy!

Austin is almost walking...we're just not quite there yet. He's still cruising around any piece of furniture he can reach and is now taking 3-4 steps from Daddy to Mommy and back again. He has been shaking his head (as if to say no), but last week he started doing it when someone else does it. And, to add to that - this week he hit yet another milestone. Austin will now wave "bye-bye!" Our little guy is turning into 1 very grown up little guy!

The Clothes in the Dryer Go Round and Round...

Austin had a ton of fun last night. He crawled over to the dryer, climbed up, and watched as the clothes tumbled around inside. Daddy laughed and said, "Like mother, like son" and I had to correct him. I told him that I only did that when they were brand new - kinda like getting a new toy. Austin has done that several times and even likes sitting in the dryer (of course, with the door open) while it has warm clothes inside. What a kiddo!

A Special Message from Austin...

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*You can't tell from this (the computer took out the spaces), but he really likes the spacebar!

Rub a dub, dub...three duckies in a tub.

Wait, make that 2 rubber duckies and one, very happy, splashin' little boy! All this time, Austin has been much more fond of taking showers with Daddy than taking baths and splashing. That all changed last week. Adam was gone for County Commissioner Training and Austin and I spent three days and two nights at home without him.

It was nearing bath -n- bed time Wednesday evening, when I got him in the tub to begin his nightly wind-down routine. Usually, he'll raise his arms to be picked up (this happens fairly frequently), but not this time. I attempted to pick him up several times, but he was much more interested in playing with his duckies than he was at getting out of the bath tub, dried off, and into some cozy jammies. What a little quacker! He was finally done splashin around about 10 minutes later.