15 Mos and Counting!

I always find it amazing that these months pass by so fast and I am able to keep any memory at all given the speed that they go by.  Yep, the young chap is now 15 months!  

We are having a blast with the early warmer temperatures and have sprung into Spring with full force.  Austin really enjoys going to the park and observing the other kids, playing on the slides and spinning anything that "spins".  He has learned to go up the corresponding steps to reach the slide, will wait for someone to take their turn and often does the splits as he goes down the slide.  I just cringe with the thought of my body doing that.  Limber little guy!

His night "shooooeeeesss" and brace

He really has done a number on his crib with his night time shoes and brace.  Austin just tosses and turns and slams his brace and shoes on the sides of the crib each time.  He has thankfully, however, slept very well with them and has been wearing them for a year now.

Ready to enter the workforce

Austin really enjoys playing ball with the dogs.  Although Maggie is a great retriever, she hoards the ball and I am sure Austin has picked up "Maggie, drop!".  When she does, Austin puts the ball in his right hand and we help him throw it to the dogs.  It's a treat for all parties.

Prickly Alberta Spruce

Monster Feet!

We are lucky to get so many of Austin's clothes from a friend in Austin, TX (hmmmm).  Torin is about 1.5 years older and although they were born on opposite ends of the seasons, Austin seems to be about 6 mos ahead on clothing size, so the hand me downs are just perfect!

"Maggie, drop the ball!"

Pals

My dream of my child loving a dog is coming true.  Austin loves his furry friends and I think they kinda like him too.

13th and 14th months

Yep, January and February was so crazy around here that I simply could not get to posting anything about Austin's 13th and 14th months.  Besides that, ALL the pictures I took had been erased when I had to unexpectedly reformat my memory card for my phone.  So upset!

Luckily, I post some pictures to Facebook and was able to retrieve a few photos, specifically his first haircut! He did exceptionally well and was just curious about everything going on around him.  He already needs another one, though.

"My Mommy is paying, okay?"

It has been an exceptionally mild winter in the Atlanta area.  Except for at night, the temps may have gotten down to below 50 degrees twice.  Otherwise we have been enjoying high 50's to high 60's with at least two or three days of rain each week.  Austin has been able to experience almost daily walks in his stroller (or "personal escort vehicle", as we like to call it) and also sliding down the slides at the local park.

Baptism Family: Godparents: Salim and Meredith

Austin was baptized at McEachern United Methodist Church on February 12th.  Austin's Aunt Meredith and our dear friend Salim were gracious enough to accept the role of godparents and Reverend Cindy Blocksidge (whom married us) was able to assist, adding a special touch.

Some slide action

Yogurt is great for the skin we hear

The first two months of 2012 were filled with a lot of "firsts" for Austin including his first word (other than Mama and Dada), "shoe".  He will grab his shoes from the shoe rack and brings them to us to put on.  He also fancies the word "two" and does "da" for dogs, "shhh" for shirt, "ca" for car and "tra" for truck.  Quite a few words for someone that was just babbling when he turned one.  By the end of February, he had become quite confident in his walking abilities.  Austin also is mastering "stacking" and "sorting" with some of his toys.  He has an insatiable desire to "get it right", which is just so wonderful.  Shows he has a desire to learn and a will to keep trying.  So proud of him.

We hope this is not the last time he is this excited about helping Mama vacuum!

He loves the book, Good Night, Gorilla and will mimic my "uh oh!" when we get to a blacked out page showing just the pair of surprised eyes belonging to zookeeper's wife upon realizing that there are zoo animals in her bedroom.

Caught!

We hired a dear lady to watch Austin while I worked.  Her name is Katie and Austin just adores her.  They bonded right away and he even is taking on some of her gestures and laughing style (shrugging shoulders).  Austin LOVES to laugh, make noises and copy people that he sees often.  Perhaps we have a budding actor/comedian trying out his "routine" on his adoring audience.

Wearing the bare essentials with his Crocs!

Bean bag lounging for a few seconds

His monster knit hat in UGA colors.  Could not resist!

Amazing personality young boy!  We finally get to hear what you are thinking...what a treat!

Austin is ONE!

As I mentioned in my last post, I was checked into the hospital on Thursday, December 16 to be monitored until Austin was past the 37th week and just in case there was an issue of a placental abruption, a complication from high blood pressure. This is where the placenta detaches from the uterus thereby cutting off nourishment and blood to the baby and Austin would have to be delivered immediately.

Getting ready for c-section.  Boy was I feeling sick.

Monday was the target day to start and Sunday night, the induction process started.  Unfortunately by Tuesday afternoon, and after a second round of inducement drugs, it was evident that little Austin was not coming out willingly.  He was just as happy as could be but with my blood pressure remaining high and the little chance that we would progess at all the following day, we decided to go ahead and do the cesarean that day.  The next thing I knew, they were wheeling me into the operating room about 45 minutes later!  Man, did I all of sudden get nervous about parenthood.  It hit me quick that "this little guy was coming out now and voila, we were going to be parents!"

Matt was absolutely fascinated about the procedure and watched with the watchful eye of a surgical intern in residency.   I, on the other hand, did not want to hear a thing about it.  I asked about some pulling and pressure but other than that, spare me the details.  At 2:34 pm, Austin was born and I could hear his scream.  I immediately teared up and took a deep breath, relieved that Austin was finally here.  

Precious boy.  Minutes old.

Bonding

Austin was born the Tuesday before Christmas, December 21, 2010, the winter solstice and the first lunar eclipse on a Northern Winter Solstice since 1638.  What a special day indeed.

Daddy's "mini-me "

Our first family picture!

Austin, my dear son.  You are an amazing little boy.  This past year has been filled with so many moments of joy, growth, learning, excitement and wonder for all of us.  You are such a happy boy. We are so blessed to have you enter our lives and to be your parents, your teachers, your students and two of many, many admirers.  It really is a miracle that someone so perfect has come from two imperfect people.  How did we get so lucky?

Happy birthday Austin Jacob.  You are now ONE YEAR OLD!

Cake Fun

BALLOONS!

P.S.  You took your first step this past Monday, December 19th.  Here we go!

In Another Month, Austin Will Be One!

This time last year, we were hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our house.  I was about 32 weeks pregnant and just HUGE!  I was a waddler, I must admit.  We had my folks and brother over and Matt had his parents over, so it was the seven of us.  My Dad did most of the meal preparation, which he is very good at and Chris and Kirby brought pies and macaroni cheese (my request, yum!). 

Hello Austin! Thanksgiving 2010

Not sure if it was the excitement of it all but I ended up developing pregnancy hypertension and thus begun the watching and mandatory resting to make sure both you and I were safe and that you could stay in my belly for as long as possible.  The magic week to reach was week 38, if my blood pressure didn't go back down and allow Austin to stay in for a full 40 weeks.  

Well, we fell a little short.  I went in for my now bi-weekly checkup where my blood pressure was high and I was a little swollen in the face so they asked me to go ahead and check myself into the hospital.  That was Thursday,  December 16th.  Boy, I was nervous!  To be continued....

This last month, we did one of things that I had been looking forward to since you were born and that was to go to a pumpkin patch and a corn maze.  We went to Uncle Shucks Corn Maze in Dahlonega, GA and it was lots of fun.

The Maze

You really enjoy this vantage point!

It was hot this day!  In November!

Mommy, is this corn GMO?

We also visited with your cousins, Liann and Ellie @ Imagine It, Children's Museum.  It is more like a large play room but it has great props, like a John Deer tractor and a large, ball moving assembly for older children.  You mostly slid down slides and followed Daddy through a mole maze.  It was enough to tire you out!

Austin and Liann before the "smooch"!

We also dressed you up as one of the characters, "Sulley" of the movie, Monster's Inc.  You were very precious. "Sulley" didn't technically have one eye, but I didn't expect Old Navy to get it exactly right.  Nevertheless, it was a perfect costume for you, I must say.

Old Navy's version of "Sulley"

At eleven months, you are now walking behind objects as you push them around.  We have a large bucket that is the right height and you just push that around the living room.  You really love getting around that way and you look to us to make sure we are watching this amazing trick.  I created a "fort" in the living room for you to hide, play peek-a-boo or just crawl in and out of.  We often get on all four's with you and crawl in and out as well.  It is a great game and it delights you so.

The Fort

We are heading to California for Thanksgiving week to see your great-grandparents (Black side) and your grand parents (my folks) as well as some of our cousins.  Plane trip! By now you are a pro as this will be your third leg across the country!

Love, Mommy.

For Austin's Sake

When coming up with the name of this blog, I was really stuck on trying to come up with something spunky, catchy or all encompassing.  I had pondered for days.  Had things I wanted to post but as any blogger knows, you have to create the name first before you begin writing when it comes to a blog otherwise you are "out there" with "Iamnotcreative.blogspot.com" or "whoamIkidding.wordpress.com" (wait a minute, I like that one!).  Anyways, the purpose of this blog was to create an avenue that I can document Austin's first year or so for the "benefit of him" and then just simply said, "I am doing this for Austin's sake" and voila!

The very meaning has taken on a much deeper goal however, as now my purpose for almost everything I do is "for Austin's sake".  Not just this blog, but so many more important things.  Having Austin has changed the world for me: who I am, what I am willing to do, priorities, my interests, how I see world, how I view the environment, etc. 

For instance, I now cook.  Hated cooking before him.  Absolutely loathed it.  Would try and figure out a way to get my sustenance out of a bag, box, or someone ELSE is doing the cooking for me.  When my husband looked into my bare cabinets and fridge and saw cereal, milk and condiments, he knew right away what he was getting into.  The transformation didn't change right away for me but when I started understanding that I not only had a hard time carrying my ever-growing baby boy at 4 months and I also felt like I was hit by a mack truck every single day although he was sleeping better; it was clear something needed to change.  So I began my journey towards cleaner eating based on my research of hormone imbalances, fatique and stubborn toxic weight.  And if you are going to eat clean, you HAVE to cook unless you want to eat everything in its raw form.  Plus I didn't think it was fair to my husband to demand for him to change his cooking style to complement my new found directive.  Nope, this was a project of mine.

Secondly, I buy organic, as much as I can.  It is better for him and is also better for us.  Check!

Third, I am exercising again.  Now, I say again because I used be a fitness fanatic.  Running, Spinning, weight lifting (I was boning up to compete at one point).  I was about 50lbs less than I am now and not one part of my body hurt.  Now, I am not going to go down that road again, but I have a purpose that keeps me on track.  It is "for Austin's sake" that I feels better, my body doesn't ache so I can keep up with him, and that I stay healthy for the rest of my lifetime.

Lastly, I am more aware of the world around us.  I am paying attention to the government, the environment, the economy, etc.  What is happening now will affect his future.  I think it is our responsibility as parents to be cognizant of the world around us and be stewards to our children's futures. 

So, "for Austin's sake" is my purpose and I now have faith that I am no longer a mission impossible!

~J

10 mos! Oh My!

It certainly has been an amazing month.  You have graduated from crawling to standing up while supported by something and you do it every chance you get.  You have even "let go" and stood up for a few seconds before falling on your rump.  Daddy has lowered the crib so you when you stand up, at least your chest is somewhat below the top portion and can't climb over....yet, anyways!  It really cracks me up when I find you standing in the crib waiting for me to come get you from your daily naps.  Big smile, as always.

I am absolutely crazy with video taking and you as the main star.  You with Maggie and Jazzy, you crawling, laughing or standing.  In awe at your daily development and I cannot get enough!  I am positive you will be absolutely bored with all the video's taken of you but I have this obsession with letting people see you as I see you every time I can.  Not sure it is possible to convey such a thing but I can't stop!

You are my workout partner at my stroller workouts and training runs each week.  You just hang back in your stroller (more appropriately nicknamed "personal escort vehicle") and get a view of the sites as we run along and are just as content as ever.  Crossing your legs at the ankle is your signature position.  

Did I mention that you are getting into everything????  Your curiosity is boundless!

Does this hat make me look cute?

Maggie and Jazzy time

So, is this a permanent thing?

Hi Mommy!

Hmmm...something in your mouth again?

The reality that you will be one year old in a couple months is hitting me with both sadness and elation.  You are getting so big, so quickly, and I am longing to pull back and just cuddle with you as often as I can.  But I also know that seeing you grow and explore is just going to get better and better and I cannot wait to explore with you!

Love, your Mom.

Nicknames

I am the king of nicknames.  I create one for just about everyone because it is my little way of expressing an endearment to that person. My brother Peter, is "Pedro", Matt is "bubby", his Dad, Kirby, is "the Kirbmeister", my Mom, "mommy dearest", and Austin is no different!

Let me list them:

1. Pooper Scooper:  Lets not ask why I came up with this name, but those that know me, know.  To me it means "cutie" and when Austin is "being cute", he is "scoopin poop"!
2. Austa Luego
3. A-Man
4. Oostin

I know I have more, but the above are the common ones!

Hasta Luego!