Project 857- November 22

This Saturday was pretty laid back..

Neal was out of town at the coast with a group of friends for The Annual.. this is a yearly trip to the coast in November with the same group of friends. There are teams, and competitive games, and a trophy, and usually plenty of drama.

I went once and haven't been back. I don't think me sitting alone reading would go over well, and if I was away for the weekend, that's how I'd want to spend my time..

So I went down to my Mom's because I didn't feel brave enough to handle both kids alone for the weekend.

Austin is in a phase where he really wants to eat other people's food and not necessarily his own. I had peanut butter toast for breakfast and he ate most of it.. telling me "we can ALL share it!!"

Or you could just eat it all kid, same difference, right??

Then we got ready to head out to run some errands and someone was SO excited!!

Our first stop was a holiday fair where my sweet friend Jenny (who does my hair) was selling crafts. We wandered around and Jenny got some Owen snuggles..

Then we ran to Target and Austin had so much fun pushing around the little kid cart that he had a total melt-down when we had to leave the store and he was told he couldn't take it home.

Then off to Fred Meyer to look for some boots for my Mom and I looked down and realized suddenly I had two children. How did that happen??? I'm a Mom?????? Gah. It's such a weird thought sometimes still.

Back at my Mom's, Indiana Jones came back from an adventure and went and got me Subway for lunch...

Seriously. my Dad dresses like this all the time. It cracks me up.. the hat, the camo, the glasses to add just a dash of sophistication..

Austin laid down for a nap (because my Mom is amazing and can get that kid to do anything and everything... )

and while he napped, me and Indiana Jones escaped to our version of heaven..

Ahhhh.... used book stores.

I'm one of those weirdos that would stick her face in the shelves if I could and just take big deep breaths in of that paper goodness...

Later on, Austin entertained us all, which he excels at..

That kid. He's just awesome..

When Daddy is Away.. I Make Grandma Come Stay!!!

Last weekend Neal had his annual long weekend golf trip so I invited my Mom up to help wrangle my kid hang out with us.

She got here Thursday night and we went out to Mexican for dinner. Eating out is not my favorite thing with Austin. 1) because he is still a picky eater and doesn't want what is offered to him and gets antsy in his chair and 2) gets so curious about where we are, all he wants is down so he can explore.

Of course he was on his best behavior for "Gama" and sat in his chair the whole time, AND ate (most) of what we gave him to eat.

The next day Gama stayed home with the little booger while I went to work. I tell ya.. driving the 25 mins to work in a QUIET car has become a luxury. I may or may not have driven a bit slower to and from work. Ha.

My Mom had to give Austin a time out that day, because he hit her 3 times. Of course he started to cry when she put him in the time out spot and acted sorry.. while when Neal and I do the same exact thing he laughs and runs out of the spot like its a game. Sigh.

Later that night we put him to work doing dishes:

Saturday we were up early and off to one of Austin's fav spots- the zoo! Getting there early is the key... way less people, and the animals are usually pretty active:

I think we were at the lions half the time, he loves these statues!

Just like his Mama- loves the penguins!

Zoo train!!!!!! 

I feel like this before I've had my morning coffee too, Ms. Lion.

We saw EVERYTHING at the zoo and had lunch and Austin got a little lion to take home. He had a blast and fell promptly asleep in the car on the way home.

After the zoo I left the napper at home with my Mom and did my weekly grocery run (ugh) and came home to a hyper kid who woke up way too soon from his nap. I guess he didn't want to miss out on too much Gama time.

Sadly, Gama had to go home Saturday afternoon. If only she would move in with us. How awesome would that be??

Thanks for spending the weekend with us Gama! We love you!

Adventures at Grandma's

I love going down to my parent's house.

Austin gets spoiled, I get some "me" time to sit quietly and read while my Mom entertains Austin, and we both just have fun..

Thank God for my Mom. Seriously.

Here are some fun moments from our trip last weekend!

**not pictured: the epic puke Austin had in the cart at Wal-Mart. I know, Wal-Mart makes me want to puke too... totally my fault... the good ol' finger-sweep-to-get-a-tag-out-of-the-kids-mouth resulted in me hitting his gag reflex... so I had that one coming.**

There was reading with Grandma's glasses

Playing 1-2-3 JUMP!!! with the Grandma's at lunch

Cruising the neighborhood

Getting strawberries at the farm and feeding the donkey

Playing in the sprinkler

Sliding naked. Naturally

Parks and Rec

Some aspects of having a toddler are ridiculously fun.

Like introducing them to new experiences and watching them be so happy and fascinated by what they are learning and feeling.

Other things, like attitudes and tantrums are not so fun... but that's a story for another day.

I was so excited to take Austin to a park for the very first time! We went on one of our visits down to Grandma and Grandpa's house, and Austin (and Grandma) had the best time!

Slides are the best!

He just wanted to go again and again

"Oh. There's other stuff too??"

Climbing the stairs onto the play structure!

Walking over to see the dogs at the neighboring dog park

"Hi Doggies! What's happening?"

Swinging good time!

"Hi Mama!"

Grandma giving him a good push!

"I'm swinging so big, Grandma!"

Having a blast

And... we're done. 

And after we got home.. he took an epic nap.

Parks- kids have fun and wear themselves out. They are a wonderful thing. :-)

The World's Best Baby Holder...

My Mom!

My Mom came up from Springfield and stayed with us a few weeks ago for 3 days because she was on her Spring Break.

Spring Break = New Mommy Break.

It was awesome. I laid around, cleaned the house, took long showers, slept in, made dinners, went grocery shopping... (I know, my life is super exciting isn't it??) all while my Mom worked her magic on Austin.

Why are our moms so fantastic with babies/kids? Experience? Age? Mystical wisdom they are graced with from the powers that be?

My biggest problem right now is trying to get Austin to sleep on his own.. as in, not in someone's arms. Everytime I try and put him down he wakes up the minute his body makes contact with the surface and immediately starts to cry.

What does my Mom accomplish in the few days she was here?

Yep, you guessed it. Got Austin down, AWAKE even, soothed, and asleep on his own.

Ok, I inherited every other quality of mine from the woman.. why did I not inherit this Baby Sleeping Magic Touch???

I begged her not to go back home.. but I don't think my Dad could live on sandwiches alone, so she had to leave us.

What am I going to do now the next time I want to go shopping? Who is going to walk Austin around in his stroller while I fight with my post-baby belly in dressing rooms?

I wish I lived closer to my Mom, but I know it could be worse than a 2-hour drive. I can't wait for her to come up this summer and spend time with us again... spoiling her grandson with love and snuggles and spoiling me with a few hours' extra sleep and the freedom to use the restroom at my leisure.

Bliss.... for me and for baby!!!

Don't laugh. If you have a baby you understand that using the restroom when you actually have to go becomes a total luxury. Sometimes I wandered in there just because I could. My bladder has never been so empty.