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

Grass?!?

Since birth Austin has been fascinated by everything.  Today we witnessed one of the very few moments when he was less than pleased with something. (The 5 minute lemon tasting was probably one of the best moments...see picture.)  I was pulling weeds and Daddy and Austin came out to play on the lawn.  Wes put a blanket down and placed Austin on it.  Austin of course crawled to the edge, but beyond the edge was something he was unsure of...grass.  He would put one hand down, lift it, hesitate, then put the other down, lift it, hesitate. He didn't like having them both in the grass.  Admittedly, our grass is tough, not the soft plush that some grasses are.  He finally smiled when Daddy picked him up off that dreadful green stuff.

Commando

It was close to bed time yesterday. Austin was extra squirmy, so I decided to change his diaper and clothes on the floor.  He thought this was a great game as he tossed and turned, laughing the entire time.  He finally got away.  With no diaper (or clothes) on, going full speed (I'm pretty sure this was the fastest he's ever crawled), and looking back at me while he laughed, he crawled around the room, butt naked, until I caught him.  It took two hands and one foot to keep him pinned down in order for me to get that diaper on, but I finally prevailed. I let him have a little more fun on the floor with just his diaper.  This appeared to make him feel like he won too!

To New Heights

Austin went down for bed...or so we thought.  Daddy hopped in the shower.  Mommy grabbed a night time bowl of cereal.  After I got comfortable, I turned on the monitor to find Austin smiling from ear to ear, standing up on the side of the crib. This is our happy, tall man!

Deciding he had used the bumper as a help to get himself up, I removed the bumper, while he played on the floor then rocked him before putting him back to bed.  Clearly taking the bumper off helped! (note of sarcasm)

After quite a bit of fussing he finally went down.  It was a late night, but he slept well.  Daddy went to get him in the morning after Austin had spent some time playing in the crib.  He found Austin sitting up waiting happily for someone to come get him.

 Austin is growing quickly.  Though we have not yet seen him pull himself up again, I did hear a thump the last night...followed, of course, by a cry.  He is moving faster and faster these days, following Mommy and Daddy around wherever we are.  He grabs at things in high places and tries to pull himself up on furniture.

Blessing from God

Every night we tuck in our little guy.  We typically play together on the floor, then he gets tired and wants to sit with us.  We read the Bible together (he's too little to understand, but he knows it's the time to sit with Mom and Dad as we all listen to God's word), then we go to the nursery.  He'll eat, and sit on Mommy's lap while we pray.  He hugs us both and goes into his crib while we pray the Lord's Prayer.  He will toss and turn a bit (and sometimes cry because he doesn't want to sleep yet) then he'll nestle himself into the corner of the crib where he'll sleep.  He sleeps like his mama, who moves all night long.  Sometimes he'll get up in the night, eat, be changed, either cry or laugh as he's on the changing table, then I'll rock him to sleep.  He used to fall asleep in my arms, now he's bigger, will rest his little (which seems so big now) head on my shoulder and get to that point before sleep when he's comfortable, at peace and content to fall asleep.  Some people say rocking your child to sleep is coddling them, and maybe I'm in for  a world of clingy child, but I like clingy.  I enjoy the moments when Austin crawls my way, batting at my toes with a coy smile on his face, my heart melts when he reaches his arms back like he's about to fly through the air, getting ready for me to pick him up, then his sigh after I've lifted him and he's settled on my hip. And when he wakes, my smile widens as big as his when our eyes meet in his crib.  The Lord has created amazing things.  I gaze upon the trees, flowers, the sky at night, in awe, but there is nothing more amazing than the life anew He creates within us, a child, so innocent, so small, and filled with His unconditional love.  I praise the Lord who has given my husband and I the joy and honor to raise this little man.