Sweet Strawberries

My little helper in the kitchen was all over this one. Austin and I dipped some strawberries in chocolate to take to my parents' home this year for the annual Thanksgiving meal/get together. We ate some inbetween dipping too - who can resist a ripe, red, sweet, fresh strawberry?!

Head Down!

Today I went to the 'baby doctor' and had my 37 week checkup...all is well. Heart rate was 165 (! - baby was on the move!) and the baby's head is DOWN - which is where it was a few appointments ago. The OB said last time that 'the head is down, and it feels engaged'. So baby's head is still down, and I'm hoping it stays there until s/he decides its time to make his/her grand entrance into this crazy world! Three weeks to go.....I need to remember to take my belly picture tonight.

A Bad Haircut

I have always cut Austin's hair, and have been pretty pleased with the results. That is until now. I gave him a haircut Sunday night, then a bath. Well - during his haircut, I was trying to straighten out his bangs so they wouldn't come down to such a peak.....well, he moved and they got buzzed on side. I am so sorry Austin! Momma feels horrible! I will take a picture tonight and when I get the chance I'll add it to this post. I am so embarrassed, but I feel obligated to share my mishap...

A Heart for Momma

"Hey momma?"

"Yes, Austin?"

"I made this heart just for you."

"Aw, Austin. Thank you. You made that just for me?"

"Yeah, because I'm givin' it to you, and a blue one too."

"Thank you Austin."

"Welcome."

Houdini

This past weekend we drove up to Washburn one last time before the baby comes. Austin loves his time up north with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Cheryl. He gets so excited to see them! He loves playing blocks and reading with Grandma Cheryl and driving the tractor with Grandpa Bob to feed the cows. This past weekend he got to do both!

On the way home, our little man decided to sneak his arms out of the shoulder straps on his carseat - a definite no-no. He wasn't being cooperative, and whined over and over "I don't want to wear them". I couldn't turn around that well with the belly I am now sporting - so we had to pull the truck over and re-strap him in. Oh, how fun. I can't wait to get him his new Britax Frontier carseat - now it can't come soon enough! I have never liked the Evenflo carseat we got for the truck.....so I am eager to get him the new one, and fast!

Mug Mystery: Solved!

Well, after talking with my mom, and looking at the bottom of the plate, bowl, and mug set - and finding "DONNA" scratched into the clay before it was fired in the kiln.....my mom said I received the set from Donna, a third cousin of mine, who painted the set and gave them to me for a christening gift.

Mystery solved! :)

A Special Mug

When I was little an Aunt of mine; I'm not entirely sure who, though- help Mom!) painted ceramics. She did a set for me - a little plate, bowl, and mug. My favorite was the mug since it had an elephant for a handle. I couldn't have used it all that much since the whole set is all intact without a chip. My mother gave it to me years ago when I moved out, and it's been sitting in a cupboard waiting for a child of my own to use it. So, it has now become Austin's 'special mug', the one he uses when we have hot chocolate with whipped cream. Today we had hot chocolate, and he is so cute with the mug....and gets so excited when it's time for hot chocolate since it is our little time together and he gets to use 'the little mug momma used when she was a little girl.'

Austin's Big Boy Bed: How FUN!

It's Here: A Big Boy Bed for Austin

On Wednesday night we went and picked up Austin's big boy bed - a twin bed. For a little over a year now he's been sleeping in his toddler bed (his crib that we removed a side railing from and dropped the mattress all the way down) which worked wonderfully. We'll be needing his 'crib' for the baby, so we told him he was almost three, and he was old enough to get a big boy bed. We focused and hyped up his new bed instead of the baby taking his bed. He was so excited. We all went to get it together, and Daddy brought it in the house while I vacuumed and took things out of his room. We moved everything around - the dresser we do diaper changes on now is under the window in his room so I have a nice view outside while changing...and we put a side railing on his bed so he wouldn't fall out. He has fish sheets and safari sheets, a nice quilt, and fleece blanket, oh - we can't forget about the tractor embroidered tractor bedskirt. He loves it. He rolled around on his bed - and then decided to check out what was underneath it, so he crawled all the way under - then bumped his head and started crying so Daddy had to pull him out. I was trying not to laugh....but I couldn't help it ...so I had to turn my head for a moment. Boys. Ha! So adventurous! I took some pictures of our Big Boy on his new bed.....enjoy!

Trick or Treat!?

The Beaters

The other day Austin and I make cupcakes and decorated them for his Halloween party at school. He was at the kitchen island with me the whole duration - eagerly waiting to place the little candy pumpkins atop the cupcakes after I piped the orange frosting on. Then he chose the color of sprinkles. Each one was a work of art; I just wish I would have taken a picture of one before they all got devoured!! But, as most childhoods go - when a child is cooking in the kitchen with mom, the kids get the beaters.

Kisses

Here is a photo I just love everything about - the child and the act of being goofy, the lighting...Austin always has to look in the mirror about something - if you tell him his hair is sticking up, he wants to see it. If you tell him he has cute dimples, he has to smile in the mirror to reveal them to himself.

Big Boy Bed - coming soon!

I did it. I ordered Austin's 'big boy bed' the other day...it will be here on Wednesday. I think he's ready for it; I'm just not so sure I am! My baby is growing up! He's all excited, he knows its coming. I have everything ready for it - the tractor embroidered bedskirt, the fish sheet set and the animal sheet set, and the quilt...complete with sham. I know he will like it - I want to get it all ready for him and then sit on his bed and have daddy bring him in. I want to see the look on his face!! So, until Wednesday......we'll countdown the nights in which he'll seep in his toddler bed. I'll be sure to post pictures and tell you all about his reaction on Wednesday!