Vote on the name

Less than 2 months left until our new baby makes her entrance. We've decided on the name but haven't decided for sure on how to spell it. So for all you blog readers--what do you think? Cast your vote?

Mikayla or Makayla

?????

Austin's Favorite Summer Activities

It has been a pretty fun summer so far. Here are some of the things Austin has enjoyed the most!!

1. Having Fun at the Kiddie Park (one of the best things Bartlesville has to offer for kids). We can never get enough of this place and an extra bonus is that it is cheap too!!













2. Going to the Zoo. We went a couple times at the beginning of the summer but it is just too hot now. Well have to go back in the fall when it cools off.











3. Discovering New Things: like a turtle in our front yard or riding a horse












4. Playing Outside. Austin loves to play in the water and on the playground. Such a silly boy.











5. Having fun at Papa Dave's for the Fourth of July









Quite the little swimmer!!!

Temper Tantrum

Monday July 28th
So today Austin decided to throw his first major trantrum. Now in his defense his nap was only about an hour today and we were pretty busy running errands and swimming so by the evening he was getting pretty tired. First he got upset because Craig left for softball games and he didn't get to go. But I quickly distracted him with toys. Well he decided that he wanted to put on my flip flops. After making an attempt and failing he got mad and threw them and then proceeded to fling his head toward the ground. However, he banged his head into one of his toys which left a nice impression on his forehead. So then screaming began. At first I tried to comfort him and distract him. I tried another toy, taking him outside, getting him a drink but nothing was working. He kept pointing back at my flip flops but when I tried to help put them on he just kept getting more mad and upset---kicking and screaming. After about a half hour I was out of ideas so I decided to grab the camera--might as well capture this moment right?

Austin's New Room and Big Boy Bed

Monday July 28th

So this last weekend we were busy switching Austin from his "baby" room to his new "big boy room". After looking at a few stores I found a sports bedding that I thought was cute. Craig on the other hand thought that would be boring and had his heart set on Superman bedding (cause Austin would really like that according to him). So we went to the last store in Bartlesville and luckily their was no Superman bedding but their was Spiderman bedding that caught Craig's eye.

So.....Sports or Spiderman?

We decided to compromise---and went with the Disney Cars bedding. Actually it probably fits Austin's personality the best since he loves playing with his toy cars.

This is the border we put around his room. Thought it went up pretty easy but a few hours later it started falling off the wall. Not even a little scotch tape held it up either. So right now it is being held up by push pins till we go back and staple gun it to the wall. Who knew a border would be so difficulty?

With Austin's new room it also meant attempting to break him of his crib and try to get him into a "big boy bed". Now this little guy loves his crib. If he is really tired he will walk up to his crib and raise his hands up in the air and beg to be put in. And most of the time he doesn't let me rock him but just wiggles until I put him in his crib and then he is still and goes to sleep. So last night I layed down next to him and sang him primary songs until he shut his eyes. Then I went to bed hoping for the best. Everything went good until about 3 o'clock in the morning when I heard a "thud" followed by a "whaa". Went into his room and he was laying belly down on the floor with his head raised up crying. His bed is only about a foot or two from the ground so the crying was more from the shock of falling off the bed then actually getting hurt. So I got back to sleep in his bed and he did great until morning. Good job Austin....hopefully this won't be as difficult as I thought. We'll see......

How can a 18 month old be so stubborn?

A few months ago when it started getting warm outside I figured it would be nice for Austin to get a pair of sandles to wear. I couldn't get him to try them on at the store which should of been my first clue that this might be an uphill battle. But really---what kid would want to wear socks and tennis shoes all summer long...especially in the humid Oklahoma heat? So after a few attempts of trying to put the sandles on a kicking and screaming kid, I decided that this battle would not be won. How could I expect him to put on new shoes when he has learned that "go get your shoes" and "lets put on your shoes" means getting out the blue and white tennis shoes. So I returned the sandles and bought the same tennis shoes he has been wearing the last 6 months but in a bigger size. As you can see by the picture this story does have a happy ending. Austin loves to play with his cousins Connor and Klayton including watching and emulating them. Now Connor and Klayton wear sandles. So Andrea brought down a pair of sandles that her kids don't wear for Austin to try. So I pulled out the shoes and purposely said "look, do you want to wear Klayton's shoes"......"let's put on Klayton's shoes".......haha....it worked like a charm!!!

Growing up Fast

Am I really the mother of an 18 month old?

It seems like he was born just yesterday.

A "not so quick" rundown on my sweet baby boy:

Austin loves animals. He loves playing with our dogs although I think the dogs would call it "torture". He smiles and squeals whenever he sees them. He loves to look for Kitty whenever we are over at my mom's house. And if left alone with Kitty for too long he inevitably with end up with a scratch or bite mark brought on from pulling a tail or playing too rough. Yet he'll go back the next day for more.

Austin is a busy little guy--always looking for a new mess to make or a new household item to turn into a toy. I can barely keep up with the little guy (of course being 6 months pregnant may also have something to do with it). I have also concluded that he gets all his energy from his dad. He loves to open up the tin cans full of puzzle pieces and dump them out all over the house. Now I should take some of the blame since I am the one who gives them to him. But when he gets so excited and it entertains him then I tell myself "why not?" He loves to play with his remote control cars we got him last Christmas and push his trucks, toys, and lawn mower around the house. He thinks he is pretty big stuff when he helps dad mow the lawn outside with his own play mower. His crazy factuation is with coins. If he sees one he has to have it and will hold it in his hands for hours if you let him (this has taught me the "distract & take away" trick). His other favorites are playing in the water whether it be in his bathtub or outside. Next would come dirt and rocks--just a typical boy I suppose. And if you mix the water and the dirt together then you get a even happier Austin (and a mess for mommy).

Austin is a picky eater but has a few daily favorites. First being bananas (hey, at least it's healthy). Next is chips--he will eat any kind of chip. Tip: don't let him see the Pringles can unless you want to share. Third and perhaps the most favorite are his fruit snacks. He goes nuts when you mention that word. Some of that could be attributed to his aunt Kristi who likes to bribe him with them.

He is starting to "jabber" more and more in his own baby language. But he does say mama, dada, bye bye, thank you, and nye-nye. Recently he even figured out he can sing which he usually does while we are driving in the car. We think he is singing "Twinkle Twinkle" or "Happy Family" which are two songs I sing to him often.

Being Austin's mom makes me so happy. I love watching him laugh, play, and discover new things. He has taught me so much about myself and my purpose in life. I pray that Heavenly Father will direct me as I try to teach him.