Getting Big

Yummmm!  

Getting ready for a bike ride with his new helmet. 

New summer hat. 

Trip to the Zoo

We took our first family trip to the zoo today. Austin was groggy from his map in the car, but quickly woke up when he discovered fish in the aquarium. He was fascinated (or so it seamed) by all the passageways on the indoor exhibits, moving animals and other children his size that where there to enjoy all the animals. He pointed at monkeys and giraffes and wanted to get closer to the African forest animals. We took a picnic lunch and enjoyed the cool breeze under the shade near the kangaroos. We clearly exhausted ourselves from all the fun, coming home and taking a two and a half hour nap! Daddy made homemade pizza, and we all had an indoor picnic in the living room. A little more play time then off to bed. Praise the Lord for beautiful days and for a living family to enjoy it with.

Stroll on the Pier

Today Austin and I took a walk on the pier with Grandma and Aunt Lisa. We dipped our feet into the water, icy cold, and enjoyed the warm sun.

First Camp Out...Kind of

Austin wasn't feeling well, so we came home early from church...just in time for the big storm.  Just after noon the dark clouds rolled in and it began to down pour (well more like a sideways waterfall). The lights flickered then went out.  Austin had just started lunch, but was quickly interrupted as we decided it was best we head to the first floor bathroom to hide out.  The wide blew the trees sideways and the hail came in with the rain.  Though the storm was loud, Austin seemed content in the flashlight lit room.  After the storm, the entire neighborhood was outside assessing the damage.  Though our street was a mess, with some trees losing half their limbs, we weren't the worse.  Two cars were damaged with trees toppling on them, trees down blocking doors, no more shade on a half a road.  Soon it was sirens, emergency vehicles quickly helping those in distress, a few hours later it was the trucks and chain saws.  We met a lot more of our neighbors and Austin tried out his raincoat.

With the power out, it quickly heated up in the house, yet much more cooler than outside.  So we borrowed our wonderful neighbor's pump and blew up an air mattress, set up the pack n play and had a camp out in the basement.  Mommy & Austin spent the day running errands, while Daddy took his computer and work to the hospital where he could enjoy the AC and free Wi Fi.  After running errands, Austin got tired and while playing on the blow up bed, grabbed one of his favorite books of nursery songs handed it to me and snuggled in next to me, indicating he wanted me to sing to him.  I sang a song as he lied his head down and fell asleep.  I too lied my head down and took a 2 1/2 hour nap.  When Austin woke up he looked around in confusion, wondering where he was, the found me and smiled :-)  

We had dinner out tonight.  Bath time in the dark, and just after putting Austin down for the night, the power turned on!  We are praising the Lord for cool showers, AC, and a running refrigerator.  Most of all, though hot as it has been, we are happy to do it together.  

Since summer has started our son seems to have taken off as a baby genius...though I may be biased.  He has learned to clap, high five, wave, turn pages in a book, open and close doors (this become amusing as he traps himself in his own bedroom and has to maneuver his way out. He stands up, falls gently, and side-steps along furniture.  He can "toss" the ball and "roll" the cars on the kitchen floor.  He can grab his water cup and give it back when finished (this doesn't always happen, as it sometimes ends up on the floor).  He loves finger foods, being outdoors, and taking rides (stroller, car, or bike).  He knows bath time and races down the hallway to the bathroom as soon as the water starts.  He's precious, a gift from God that demonstrates his everlasting miracles...and I get to see them everyday!  For this I praise the Lord.

Summer Play Time

Now that school is out for the summer everyone is asking me what I'll be doing this summer. To me it's a no brainier...playing with my kid and hanging out with my hubby.

Life, Schedules & Memories

Austin used to have a bed time routine. Then life hit.  We spent a week in MI for Christmas.  Austin got sick...twice.  Then he had an ear infection. He got better, we were just about on track for bedtime routine, then Mommy and Austin took a quick trip to MI.  We went on Spring Break.  Celebrated Easter with Daddy's family.  Then Grandma Dunlap passed away (Austin got to play with Grandma one last time a few weeks prior.  See picture.)  Then Austin started teething, began crawling and eating like a teenager.  Now he's gotten smart (well he was always smart.) We have gone back to our normal bedtime routine, but  Austin has figured it out.  No longer does he go to the bedroom, knowing it's bedtime, calm and quietly got to bed.  He still knows it's bedtime, now he is working us.  Though he's fussy in the living room, rubbing his eyes and clinging to one of us, once we're in the bedroom, he starts laughing, jumping around and squirming out of our arms.  He knows that this could cause Mommy & Daddy to let him stay up.  He's training us.  Well it's time to change that.  With patience and tender words, I was able to get him down tonight.  Even amidst the a thunderstorm, Austin calmly went down, ready for sleep, with God's angels watching over him.

In Loving Memory of Grandma Janet Dunlap