Spring break

Since Austin goes to a school that is part the public school system, he had spring break. The grandmothers stepped up to help out. Mimi took care if Austin on Monday and DiDi kept on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday he got to go the Houston rodeo livestock show petting zoo. Aunt ricki, great aunt Carrie, and cousins Lisa and Mary from Austin went to the rodeo too. They sent me a few pictures from the outing. Apparently Austin did not like the real pony ride.

Great grandmother BB also came in town with Lisa and Mary. Carrie had us over for dinner on wednesday. Austin quickly learned to say BB and repeatedly said Bee-bee and would run up to her and reach for her hand to walk with him. So cute!

On Thursday we headed to Austin with daddy and DiDi. We stopped at Amanda's to see baby Paige who is now 1 month old. She is so little and precious. It is crazy that Austin was never that little. Austin was not too happy when I held her- he was jealous of the "bay-bee".

We drove out to horseshoe bay at lake LBJ after that. This was Austin's third time at the lake but his first time while walking. They got a new fence around the pool and steps down to the lake so that we can feel more comfortable playing with him on the porch. We didn't go on the boat this time because the water is not quite warm enough and the pool was too cold but next time we definitely will. We went on lots of walks and did a lot of looking at boats, airplanes, ducks, flags, and of course trucks. They are building a new house next door so the construction equipment served as entertainment for our boy. We even went to coopers BBQ in llano on Saturday night. Austin ate none of the meat. He wouldn't even try it- oh well he proceeded to eat lots of veggies that i brought. We had a visit from Tom and Carolyn Spurgeon and Austin liked sitting in Tim's lap and playing with his shapes. Austin loved taking walks with grandad. He even learned how to throw rocks- hopefully this is a safe activity. :) On the way back we stopped to see Meredith and Matt and baby Caroline. She was born in December and I hadn't seen her yet. We were at a restaurant and I didn't even get a picture. It was a fun week - tomorrow is back to reality.

Austin learns about goats from cousin Lisa

Petting (or stomping on) the goat with Aunt Ricki

Fascinated by the little yellow chicks

Not sure what these are...maybe guinea pigs?

Taking a walk with BB and cousin Mary

Swinging with BB and Mary - Austin loves his BEE-BEE.  Ha, it was so cute how he pronounced her name.

Story and song time with BB

DiDi and baby Paige

Curious about this "Bay-Bee", Paige.  

I snuck one picture while Austin was distracted

Just a boy watching for boats

Porch reading with DiDi

Catching some rays while enjoying some yogurt.  Too bad he has mommy's fair skin.    He is going to know hats, sunscreen and t-shirts well. 

HI boats!

BYE boats

Playing with Mr. Tom.  He asked to sit in his lap right after he met him. 

Snacking on some popcorn with Grandad

Watching for trucks while in line at Coopers' BBQ

Sweetie pie

Spotting the faint moon.  He finds it even when it is a sliver in a light sky.

Hanging with Daddy

Mommy's boy.  

Enjoying winter while it lasts

After living in Denver for 4 1/2 years, I became accustomed to cooler weather.  I had forgotten how mild the winters are here in Houston and how this is the time to be outside and enjoy comfortable temperatures.  So we have been getting out and enjoying before the heat and mosquitoes arrive.  We are also enjoying Austin's animal noises recently.  He has learned to say "mmmmm" when asked what a cow says, "Baaaaaaaaa" when asked what a sheep says, "naw" when asked what a horse says, "ak ak ak" in a very high pitched squeal when asked what a duck says, and when asked what a pig says.  According to Austin, a duck and a pig speak the same language.  He also says "choo-choo" for train and "vrrrmm" for truck and airplane.  He finds the moon in the sky, even when it is faint at 7:15am on the way into his school.  He points up to the "yites" when I turn them on and off.  He asks for "wa-wa" in a cup and is really into saying "Hi" right now.  Also, when we sing a song (barney song, wheels on the bus, if you are happy and you know it, etc) he claps when I am finished singing and says "yay!".  And, of course, "Trrruucks" are still his favorite!

Slide at our neighborhood park (about 7 min walk away)!

Valentine's Day!

What a cheese-ball

Precious angel (most of the time)

Watching cousin Trey pitch..first baseball game!

Walking the bleacher ramp...over and over and over

A real, live...."Truck", as Austin calls it even though we told him it's a school bus.  He'll get there.

First trip to Lupe Tortilla...we played with the statues while we waited because mom did not want to get in the sandbox or let my 18-month old get trampled by the big kids.

What is this thing?

Practice egg-hunt

The swing in our front yard is finally up and running!

Rodeo parade at school- don't you love the "rope" used to keep them in line.  They walk to playground every day with this and it takes them like 20 minutes to walk 100 yards...ha!  He saw me taking a picture and started crying and broke loose from the rope....oops!

 

Trying to get a picture with my cowboy

He did NOT like the hat

Meet Ben...this is Austin's best buddy in his class.  Miss Ashley says they are inseparable.  Cute!

Peek a boo

Little piggy

 

I snuck a picture of me in here...I ran the Woodlands Half Marathon on 3/2 - I set a PR (my previous PR was in Oct 2010 in Denver, pre-baby).  I ran in 1 hr 38 min 8 sec, which is 8 seconds faster than 2010.  The weather was perfect, a cool 40 degrees, low-humidity and sunny.  Thanks to MiMi, Daddy and Austin for coming to support me! 

My little architect

 

Steady hands

Over-due post: Photo shoot

I have been meaning to post these pictures since last December.  We had a professional photographer take pictures of our family last December before Christmas.  We used two of the pictures on our Christmas card, and she took some other really good ones.  It amazes me that she could capture these shots with an active 16 month-old at the time.  It only took about 15 minutes for the whole photo shoot. Her name is Kristy Montgomery http://www.imagesbykristy.com/index2.php#/home/ if you are in the Houston area and need a photographer.  She only charged $100 for the sitting fee and a disc with 25 photos (each in B&W and color).  We also ordered 2 16x20 canvases to hang on our living room wall with a LivingSocial deal that I had.  I was very happy with how they turned out.  I can't believe how much Austin has changed since then, especially in the hair-growth category.