Revenge of the Obedient Baby

I had been desperately trying to read Mockingjay for two days with minimal success.  I think by Friday night I was only halfway through it.  And I really wanted to finish it on Saturday.  So I had a pretty frank talk with Austin.  I begged him to take just one decent nap, allowing me to devote that time to nothing but Mockingjay.  And guess what my obedient boy did?

He slept from 9-10am (this alone would have made me happy).  And then from 11-12:30pm.  And then from 1-2:30pm.  I couldn't believe it!  This was a nap-record day for us.

I was able to finish Mockingjay (wow..by the way) and do 5 loads of laundry.

Wouldn't it be nice if that's where the story ended?  Yes, it would be.

But it isn't.

Saturday night Austin woke up every 2 hours.  Last night he woke up almost every hour.  I think he's seeking his revenge.  Let's just hope he's satisfied by now and sleeps well tonight.

At Nana and Papa Spader's

For Toren's day off this week we decided to drive up to Seattle to visit my grandparents.  They absolutely adore Austin and happily held him all day.  My Nana had given me two baby blankets for Austin a long time ago and they are perfect in every way.  I only use those blankets, so I end up washing them pretty much daily.  While we were there she made us two more!! I was so happy!  Thanks Nana!

While we were there my cousin Carmen came over with her little boy, Parker.  Parker is 3 weeks younger than Austin, and I have a feeling they will be the best of friends -- especially if Austin will stop trying to beat Parker up.  It was so funny.  He seriously wouldn't stop touching Parker.  I would take his hand away and he just put it right back.  I think this is evidence of years of wrestling matches to come.

And, just because it's irresistible, I'm going to include this picture of Austin on our drive home, snuggled up to his new blanket.

Three Months Today

Austin is three months old today.  I can hardly believe it.  It feels like we've had him FOREVER, though (in a good way...usually).  I almost can't remember life without him. At three months Austin...

...loves his Johnny Jump Up.
...won't nap for longer than a half an hour (unless your holding him).
...smiles ALL the time.
...is starting to giggle.
...loves to chit chat in his own language.
...is fascinated by himself in the mirror.
...is almost always sucking on his hands.
...can roll onto his side all by himself.
...loves to sit and stand up on someones lap.
...is growing lots of fuzzy, blond hair.
...receives at least one million kisses a day.

We can't wait to see what the next three months bring!

What a GREAT Day!

I'm incredibly busy every day.  By the end of the day I'm not quite sure what I've been busy doing, but I know I haven't sat down for any length of time (aside from during Austin feedings).  I feel like I am CONSTANTLY tidying the house.  But I never feel like I have time to really clean.  Today, I took the time. 

First I did all the usual things: make the bed, load any lingering dishes from last night into the dishwasher, put away everything that seems to just by lying about, fold laundry that I've been neglecting, etc.  But then...I scrubbed and disinfected every inch of both bathrooms and the kitchen.  I swept, mopped, and vacuumed everything.  Ok, I guess that's it.  Wow, it sure felt much more impressive while I was doing it.  I love the clean house feel, though.

Plus...

...My huge box from Diapers.com arrived today, in which were diapers and wipes at a cost cheaper than Costco.
...I got Mockingjay on audiobook.
...Austin took a nap today that lasted one whole hour (lately he's only been taking half hour naps and it's driving me nuts)
...Some friends delivered us a pie (which, in itself, would make for a great day).

Now I'm going to sit down with Mockingjay and a big slice of pie until my husband comes home (who probably won't even notice a difference). Phew..what a great day! 

I owe all of my cleaning success of the day to the Johnny Jump Up, my new best friend.

Football Season is...

...coming too fast!  We're not ready!!

Mastering the Chicken

I've never cooked a whole chicken before.  Never.  In fact, I've made it a point not to.  However, as I was perusing through the meat section of Safeway the other day I decided, now that I'm a mom, it was probably time for me to face my fear.  Plus, Foster Farms whole chickens were on sale for $0.79 a pound.  I couldn't pass that up.

 

I don't really have a good pan to cook a chicken in the oven, so I decided to use my crock pot.  Plus, you can pretty much put anything in a crock pot on low for a few hours and it'll be delicious.  I found a recipe online and got to work.

Step One: Remove giblets.  Wait, WHAT?!?  What's a giblet?  I think I've changed my mind.  This is why I've never cooked a whole chicken.  You have to do things like remove the giblets.

I had a mini freak out.  But then I gathered all my courage, found some surgical gloves, and removed those giblets.  I held my breath, gagged, and closed my eyes through most of it, but I did it.

Step Two: Add apple slices and cubed butter to the chicken's cavity.  Well, after the giblets, this was a breeze.  Soon my chicken was stuffed to capacity.

Step Three: Coat both sides of chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt.  By now my whole chicken confidence was swooning.  I massaged that olive oil on my chicken sans gloves!

Step Four: Carefully place chicken in crock pot and top with dried onions.

Step Five: Cook on high for 2 hours, then low for 5 or 6 hours.

Step Six:  Enjoy!

I used to be the kind of girl that could never even eat meat off a bone.  Now look at me!  Removing giblets and massaging a raw chicken with my bare hands.  Who'da thought?!  Perhaps now I can truly call myself a housewife.

Also....If You're A Mom....

...you find yourself joyously singing Baby Beluga out loud even though your baby has been sound asleep for quite some time.  And then, once you catch yourself, you sing it 6 more times with all the gusto you can muster.

 

On the bright side I think we've found a replacement for The Ants Go Marching.

And Speaking of Drool and Boogers

Austin has learned to spit. He loves it. When he's not sleeping or eating, he's spitting. And usually very loudly. He'll soak up an outfit in a matter of minutes by the sheer amount of post-spit saliva that pours down his chin. Gross, I know. But also kind of adorable...right? Kind of?

And today we got the double-whammy. Spit drool AND booger. You can't see the spit on his chin very well, but it was definitely there. And the booger, well, it was really about twice the size you see here. What can I say, Austin is pure boy.

Disclaimer: I promise that not all of my posts will be about gross things. So please, don't give up on my blog. Other things do happen in my life...just not as often.

Us Superhumans

I absolutely love being a mom. I have to admit, I've had plenty of days when I thought I just wasn't cut out for motherhood (and i even have a pretty easy baby). I feel a little bit sad when I think that I won't be going back to work this fall. I loved my job. But then I look at little Austin and I feel incredibly blessed that I get to stay home and raise him, which is exactly what I want. Though I'm still new to the whole mom thing, I have learned a thing or two. And I can say with confidence that moms are, in fact, superhuman. Here's why:

If you're a mom...

...you can accomplish a billion things in exactly one hour (or the length of a nap).
...you're able to function fully on only a few 2-3 hour naps at night...or less.
...you get excited when your baby toots, poops, sneezes (or really makes any sort of noise)
....you've taken close to one million picture in less than 3 months.
...you track your day based on daytime TV shows rather than the clock.
...you don't wear perfume...you wear baby spit up.
...you talk nonstop from the time your husband gets home until the time you go to bed.
...your hair in a ponytail is as stylish as it gets.
...you cherish the time you are in the shower like you never have before.
...nothing, and I mean NOTHING, fazes you: poop explosions, large amounts of baby barf, enormous boogers, excessive drool, blankets soaked in urine...you get the idea.

A Blessed Baby

We had Austin's baby blessing on Tuesday evening. My parents were en route to Seattle (from Salt Lake) and we thought it would work out nicely if they pit-stopped here for the special occasion. It was a beautiful blessing. I couldn't have been prouder to be Austin's mom. He is meant for great things in life. I just hope I can be a good enough mom to him to help him achieve everything.

My Nana bought Austin his blessing outfit. My mom (Austin's Nana) put it on for him. Can you tell what Austin thought about it? This was quite an ordeal for a guy that spends most of his days hanging out in a Onesie.

The proud parents. And a happier baby. On a side note: Austin was perfect during the actual blessing. There must have been something really interesting on the ceiling because he stared at it the whole time in solemness.

A whole lot of family support (plus Itty Bitty in the back left).

Uncle John's FAVORITE nephew. Austin thinks John's pretty cool as well.

Daddy and Austin.

Utah Trip - Day Four

Sunday was our last day in Utah and we still hadn't see "the sights." So, we headed down to Temple Square. It was another 100 degree day, so we spent more of our time in the visitor's center and the Tabernacle. We did endure the heat for a few family pictures, though.



That afternoon we went over to Gramps and Grandma's for dinner, took a good nap, and then flew home with no problems. It was a great little vacation from our daily lives and so nice to spend some time with family.

Utah Trip - Day Three

Our third day in Utah was the day of the wedding. Austin was absolutely thrilled to get dressed up. On a side note: I looked for black newborn pants FOREVER without success. I pretty much looked everywhere. I couldn't find any. At all. Not even sweats. I eventually looked online and (of course) found some. But by then it was too late to get something shipped in time. Oh well. Austin is more of a laid back dude anyway.

Mandy and David were married in the Jordan River Temple. I had never been there before, but it was beautiful. Minus the 100 degree weather it was a perfect day for a wedding.

David and Mandy had a luncheon after the sealing in the Joseph Smith Building. If I were on a deserted island for the rest of my life and could only bring one food item I finally know what I would bring: the chocolate cheesecake I had at the luncheon. I'd be 400 pounds on that deserted island, but I'd be happy.

Laura and me in our bridesmaids dresses. The purple looked gorgeous.

The groomsmen striking their signature "I'm a stud" pose.

Can you tell from our glistening faces that it was a scorcher of a day?

I think Austin had finally reached his kiss max for the day.

We had such a good day and we're so happy for David and Mandy. I'll say it right now: David got lucky...really lucky. We absolutely adore Mandy. She fits into our family so perfectly. And her and David together couldn't be a better match. I know they'll be so happy for so long. Forever, in fact.

Utah Trip - Day Two

With my family living overseas we just aren't all together as often as we'd like anymore. So because we would all be together for David's wedding, my mom thought it was the perfect time for -- you guessed it -- family pictures. You probably think there isn't anything worse than having family pictures taken. There is: having family pictures taken in 100 degree weather! No joke. We were sweating our brains out. Luckily we knew our photographer well (she's my cousin -- and she's super talented: Photos By Wendy G). She was fast and efficient and I know she'll be able to Photoshop any unsightly sweat marks.

This picture wasn't taken by Wendy (obviously), but it'll give you a taste before we get the really good photos. (P.S. Thanks mom for the handsome shirt for Austin)

We were starving by the time we were done (even though it only took an hour -- posing and smiling is exhausting!). We met up with Mandy's (David's now wife) family at the Macaroni Grill for some delicious lunch. Austin spent the time being held by pretty much everyone. He was so overwhelmed by all the attention that he just had to take a nap.

Utah Trip - Day One

I was a little nervous flying to Utah with Austin. I hate everything about flying. And I just knew that adding a newborn to the mix would tip my anxiety over the top. I can say with great relief, however, that Austin did WONDERFULLY well. He happily drank a bottle during take off, snoozed during the first half of he flight, charmed us (and our airplane neighbors) with smiles and giggles until we started to descend, and then sucked the life out of his binky until we hit the ground. It couldn't have gone smoother for us.

My mom, John (brother), and Laura (sister) were waiting to greet us at the airport when we arrived. My mom couldn't wait to get her hands on Austin. My dad's flight arrived about 20 minutes after ours (this would be his first time "home" from Hong Kong since Christmas). It was a great reunion! It was my dad's first time meeting Austin. He was smitten...of course!