Coming Soon....

With five days left on my Christmas vacation, I am going to attempt to update my very neglected little blog.  I have been harassed by family and friends and feel somewhat guilty on my lack of blogging.  Yes, I am busy and yes there are other things that need to be done, but I know I also need to spend some serious screen time in the next few days in order to get back on track and not leave out any memories!  So, step one was a new template...what do you think??  Cute, right?!  Well, I think so. 

Anyway, enough blabbing about blogging.  I'll be back with a real post hopefully later tonight!  It's New Year's Eve and we are hunkered down at home tonight.  I'm too old for partying until midnight, spending too much money on an average meal and going out just to go out.  Instead we will cook at home, play with Austin's new Christmas toys, watch some TV and sip some red wine from the comfort of our cozy living room.  Happy New Year!!

how i begin my day in october...

snooze the alarm clock at least once
shower and get myself ready, air drying my hair and always searching for an outfit
get austin ready, smile because he is easy in the mornings and super happy before 630am
make lunches that i forgot to make the night before
walk past the coffee pot because im too late to make any, ill get some at work
drive to mckinney in the dark with the music up, turn the music up louder if austin is not with me
drop off austin if tayt is not, kiss him, hand him to the sitter and pray they have a good day
thank God my baby is safe and happy at a place with a woman we trust
count the minutes until im back with him and tayt
marvel at the beautiful texas sky at 7am
get to work with a few minutes to spare or show up a few minutes late (usually late right now)
get coffee
begin my day.........

october is historically one of the busiest months of the school year. ask any teacher and you'll hear the same thing.........

so blogging is on the back--back--back burner right now...until then, God bless.

Back in the Saddle

Our family is "back in the saddle" again!  Tayt is back in nursing school, I'm back to teaching and Austin is at his new sitter during the day.  Last week was the first week and it was an overall good week!  Tayt made a 100% on 2 out of 3 tests he took.  (Yes, 3 tests in the first week!!  Welcome back, haha!)  I met my new class and can say after one week that I think I will have an easier year than last year.  My kids seem very sweet, ready to learn new things and excited about 2nd grade.  Austin had a good week with his new sitter and we are feeling confident that we found another perfect placement for him.  He is happy and enjoys playing with his new "friends".  So here's to continuing the semester like it has started out!

Mama and Austin on his first day of "school"!!! (with Rowdy too of course)

 

First Haircut

I finally gave in and decided it really was time for Austin to have his first haircut.  So at 18 months we said good bye to the sweet, baby curls and hello to his first big boy haircut.  He immediately looked older and very cute but I felt like we closed a chapter on our baby days which made me a little sad.  But, he was such a big boy and was happy as can be eating his sucker.

 BEFORE

 

DURING. 

 

 

 

 

AFTER

 

 

18 Months

I'm not going to do a full update but I want to record the stats from Austin's 18 month appointment and post the picture of him with "Big Blue" the birthday bear! 

Weight: 22 lbs 15 oz (33%), Height: 32 1/2 in (54%), Head: 18.3in (25%)

Physical Exam: Great

Development: A+

His physical and cognitive development are constantly changing at this point so if I were to post about something it would change the next week.  He is active, vocal, sweet, rambunctious, always on the go, sleeping good, getting more teeth and learning new things every day!  I'm sad summer is almost over because I have loved helping him explore, develop and learn these last few months.  I did finally get his hair cut this month and it looks much better.  It was hard to part with the sweet baby curls but they were a little out of control and it was time.  (I'll post those pictures when I download them to the computer!) 

Popsicles, Playing and Cutting Down The Tree

Random yes, but here are a few pictures I wanted to share....

Austin LOVES popsicles just like his Daddy and many summer nights have been spent playing in the backyard, eating popsicles.

My parents bought him the Little People Amusement Park for Christmas and at the beginning of the summer I went to Once Upon A Child for the first time and scored some awesome Little People toys.  They have been a huge hit and he is constantly playing with them.  My grandparents had so many of these toys and I remember spending hours in their playroom as a child playing with the people, animals, cars, houses etc. so I'm glad he is enjoying them too.

Our big Bradford Pear tree died this summer and we had to have it cut down.  :(  It was sad for me and this marks the third big tree that has died at our house due to a disease.  Ummm...not sure what that says about us.  Maybe it is just coincidence.  We did have fun watching it come down though.

Hope Park

I've blogged about our favorite park before and you can read about it here, but recently the playground got a pretty cool make over.  The city, along with many businesses, volunteers and sponsors, created a playground called Hope Park.  Here is the description from the website...

     "Imagine a playground built to suit the needs of all children, at any age, with a focused consideration for children with special needs – an inclusive play adventure that brings children together and helps them build self-confidence, make friends and play as equals.  Hope Park’s design will be interactive, evoking a sensory play experience that engages children at many developmental levels." 

You can click on the website to learn even more, but in my opinion it is pretty cool and after our first visit a few months ago, the whole family agrees that this addition only makes our favorite park even better!  There are swings, slides, tunnels, stairs, ramps, storefronts of places in the city, cute signs and quotes, musical instruments, games, hidden objects to find and much more.  The original wooden playground is all still there and still very fun, but this new part was perfect for our toddler that loves to explore, climb and touch but who falls often and likes to eat the wood chips on the older side.  Hope Park is divided into two sides, one for younger kids and one for older kids.  My pictures are mostly from the younger side and hopefully soon we will go back and take some of the other side as well.  (It is HOT in Texas right now so the playground has not been on our to do list.) 

The city also updated the splash pad at the park and it is currently the only splash pad turned on in our city.  The night we went it was CROWDED and Tayt and I made a rookie parenting mistake by letting Austin play in it.  He loved it but there were kids running everywhere and he got knocked down twice.  The second time he was knocked clear off his feet by a big boy that was running full speed.  He hit his head hard and was DONE after that and so were we.  We'll give that another shot when he is a little older.

Anyway, I would highly recommend this playground and park but I would suggest you wait until it cools down some because plastic slides in the Texas heat are no fun for anyone.  See you in the fall!!

Hangin' At Home

We've been spending a lot of time at home this summer.  We love our little house and have lived here for three years now.  Here a few pictures from June.

He loves playing in his room and will go back there and play alone for a few minutes at a time.  Don't worry, I can hear him on the monitor and his room is just off the living room.

Eating dirt....again!!

Relaxing and watching cartoons!

Learning to eat with a fork and spoon!  It's MESSY!

Filling up the pool!

I love this sweet smile!  He is all about being outside.

Fun in the Sun!  Yep, the pool is big enough for Mama too!

Wee!

Sweet Summertime

It's SUMMER!!!!!!!!!  Summer is and always has been my favorite season.  Yes, I may complain occasionally in late August when it is HOT down here in Texas, but I would take 100+ temperatures over cold, snowy days or dreary, rainy days any day! 

I guess I always loved summer because it has always been a time of relaxation and fun for me.  As a child we always spent the summer swimming, playing outside, going on family vacations to the beach, grilling, eating popsicles and just enjoying the company of loved ones.  We spent almost every 4th of July at Lake Tawakoni in east Texas and the boys and I always spent time at my grandparents in Lindale, TX.  Through college I took a few summer classes and worked waiting tables but any other free time I had was spent with friends at the pool, traveling with the band, going to see concerts and probably, ok definitely, drinking too much beer. Now that I am a teacher I can still enjoy the summer.  I usually spend the first part of summer trying to clear my head of the previous school year...teachers need a break in the summer and a chance to hit the reset button, if you didn't already know that!! By mid July, I'm usually ready to start planning for my next set of kiddos and getting re energized by thoughts of a new school year.  That doesn't mean I start working like a crazy person, but I do plan a little here and there...in between the pool, lunch out, shopping, watching TV, playing and napping! 

I'm in week three of my summer vacation and my top priority this summer is Austin.  We are having too much fun and settling into a great summer schedule filled with play dates and pool time, eating and napping, watching Tayt play softball and cooking out.  Not having a set schedule and no real responsibilities right now is Heaven in my book and I'm enjoying every second.  I am living in a bathing suit, shorts and flip flops.  I rarely dry my hair in the summer so I have some out of control wavy beach hair...I need to look into some product that might help me tame it before I throw it up into a pony tail for the day.  I think I have worn make up twice in the last few weeks.  That might be my favorite thing right now! 

Tayt and I are going to the horse races at Lone Star Park Friday!  Wade Bowen and Kyle Park are playing after the races and I am super excited for a date night on a summer night with my hubby!  (I guess I will be putting on make up and real clothes on Friday!!)  HAPPY SUMMER to you all!!

Summer pics coming soon...

Daddy Cam

Tayt took some good pictures of Austin this week playing in the backyard, his favorite place! I just love him and I'll definitely be printing some of these!  Thanks babe!  He also took a few videos that sum up his personality at 16 months.  I'll post those soon too.

 

 

 

I'm obsessed with his cute blonde curls!  :)  :)

By the way, I've missed blogging and hope to post more this summer when I have time!