Weekend Visit to Pullman

We love an excuse to go to Pullman -- especially when we get to hold the sweetest little newborn ever.  Maren delivered little Hunter William just four days earlier, and I can't believe she still wanted us to come.  But I'm glad she did because I couldn't get enough snuggles from little Hunter.  And Austin was in need of some good roughhousing.

We arrived Friday night and the raucous began!  Austin absolutely loves his cousins...probably because they fuel his wild side.  These little boys ran and jumped the whole weekend.  It's amazing that such little bodies can't have so much energy.

But, like I said, Toren and I spent most of the weekend cuddling sweet little Hunter.  He is the most precious baby.  I don't think we ever even heard him cry once while we were there.  Austin was fascinated with Hunter when he took the time to notice him.  Mostly he was preoccupied with his much cooler older cousins.

A local photographer needed to build up her portfolio of newborns, and arranged to take some pictures of little Hunter.  She was nice enough to take a few of all the boys individually and together.  We brought candy, cookies and gum to bribe the boys into sitting still.  It wasn't enough.  They're willful little guys, and would barely sit still...let alone crack a smile.

And, yes, these are the best ones!  Luckily, the ones of Hunter are absolutely adorable.

Nana Arrives

I guess it's time to catch up...as usual.  Maybe someday blogging will be a priority in my life.

My grandpa was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in October.  Traces of the cancer had spread to a few other organs, and the doctors gave him six month left to live or 13 with chemotherapy.  He started treatments right away.  My mom scheduled a trip to come home and visit him (and, by default, us!).

His scan a couple months later showed that the tumor had shrunk by 50% and the traces elsewhere in his body were completely gone. The doctors were surprised with the results, and we considered it an answer to many prayers.  He moved on to another chemotherapy drug, and his most recent scan revealed that the tumor was getting significantly weaker.  The doctor's were so impressed and said that their might come a time when he can stop treatments all together because the cancer will be gone or benign.  It's really been a miracle for our family.

But my mom still came for her visit!  The day after we picked her up from the airport we headed for Spokane.  My mom was going to visit Laura, David and Mandy in Rexburg and Toren needed to be in Pullman for the weekend.  So, met Toren in Spokane, stayed the night, and then parted ways the next day.

Nana's iPad was the highlight for Austin.  It was an absolute lifesaver on the drive...since he only napped for about 45 minutes of the 5 hours it took us.  He's almost convinced us into investing in one before our next long trip.

He loved hanging out in the hotel, even though we made him sleep in the bathroom.

First Bloody Injury

The one thing I dread about Austin growing up is all the injuries an active boy might have.  Broken bones, stitches, or anything with lots of blood.  Well, this week we had our first bloody "crisis."  Last night Austin was playing outside.  He was gathering rocks for his stash.  I saw him carrying a pretty big one.  He had lugged it all the way up the deck stairs when I looked down to finish the dishes.  Then he started screaming.  Toren rushed out there and carried Austin in -- his hand was covered in blood.

His entire thumbnail was dangling from a little piece of skin on the tip of his thumb!  I pulled the fingernail off and we wrapped it in paper towels to help stop the bleeding and have a chance to help him calm down.  Eventually we were able to wrap it up nicely and spoil him the rest of the night (hence the little bowl of chocolate chips).  Now he's pretty proud of his "owie."  But, sadly, I'm not even exactly sure how he got it.

And earlier this week Austin tripped on the deck stairs and got a real nice bloody, fat lip.

I guess this is probably just precursor of what's to come over the next 18 or so years....

Rather Handsome

Austin looked just too handsome in his church clothes today to not post a picture.  I also wanted to add a few more things about him (for my memory's sake) that I didn't include in his 21 month update.

1.  He puts EVERYTHING in his mouth.  Everything: rocks, coins, bobby pins, paper, grass, wrappers, earrings.  If it fits (and sometimes even if it doesn't), it goes in.  It's not a phase and it is not related to teething.  He's done it since birth -- it's just who he is.
2.  He has been throwing little tantrums for a while now, but the most irritating thing he does is go "limp noodle" when we try to pick him up or walk with him and he doesn't want to.  It especially happens during church when my hands are full of other stuff.  On more than one occasion I've literally had to drag him down the hall.
3.  He loves to floss, though I recently discovered that after he's "done" he eats the floss.  He says it's "yum!"

But he is rather handsome, isn't he?

Thailand: CHICKENPOX!

NOTE:  I wrote this ages ago but somehow never published it...

Yep, Austin got Chickenpox.  He had the vaccine, but just a couple days after we arrive in Thailand he was extremely cranky.  I had never seen him so whiny.  I kept apologizing to my family and assuring them that "he usually is a really happy, fun little guy!"  He had a temperature above 102 and just seemed to feel ill.  Then he broke out in spots.  I figured they were mosquito bites since I had a few, though I'd been regularly lathering him with insect repellent.  My mom said they looked like the beginning of Chickenpox.

And, sure enough, a couple days later they blistered up.  Luckily, they didn't seem to bother him too much.  The pre-breakout crankiness was much worse.  And also, he had quite a mild case (maybe 30 Chickenpox total) because he did have the vaccine.

I have no idea where he picked the virus, but we're glad it wasn't near as bad as when I had the Chickenpox as a kid (see proof below).  His were mostly on his legs and arms, with two on his face and about five on his belly and back.  In fact, I had a hard time finding a picture where you could even tell he had them.

A 21-Month Update

Austin was 18 months the last time I logged his statistics.  He's changed SO MUCH since then, and there there is no way I can wait until 24 months to do it again.  So, here's some unofficial statistics taken by me!


Austin's 21 Month Stats:

Height: 34.5 inches (90th percentile)

Weight: 28 pounds (50th percentile)

Austin's vocabulary has exploded (thank goodness).  It seems like he picks up at least one new word a day.  He's starting to string a couple words together now to make short sorta-sentences.  Admittedly, the average person probably wouldn't have a clue what Austin is saying most of the time, but being home with him all day I know that "nangy" means "candle" and "weeesh" means "fish" (as in goldfish crackers).  I love to hear his little voice confidently sound out words, and we've both been a little happier now that he can communicate better.

He's grown out of almost all of his baby-ness.  I can't believe he will be 2 years old in less than three months.   This second year sure has flown by.

At 21 months, Austin...

...loves to tease and joke.

...tells us when he is "poo poo."

...is absolutely obsessed with airplanes and recently trains.

...would watch Sesame Street all day long if we let him (we don't, of course).

...has become fascinated with babies... especially putting them (or stuffed animals, small toys, Toren's shoes) down for a nap.

...loves going to nursery (finally!).

...gets particularly ornery/naughty when he's tired, hungry, or bored.
...doesn't really like graham crackers (weird).

...loves to roughhouse (wrestle, run, jump, tackle).

...is becoming a little daredevil.

...loves to take showers....by himself.
...counts by saying "two, three, jump!" or "two, three, go!"

...loves sweets of any kind.

...gives hugs and smoochies willingly.

...answers to almost everything by saying "yep" or "uh huh."

...asks about his Grandma, Grandpa, Nana and Papa everyday.

...is incredibly persistent and stubborn (I pray that I can help Austin channel these qualities for good).

...picks his nose and, when he finds a little somethin, says "eeew boogie" or sometimes "yum" before putting it in his mouth (I DID NOT teach him this!).

...wants to use hand sanitizer, deodorant, cologne, chap stick, blush...whatever he sees us using.

...plays with his dinosaurs, animals and cars more than any of his other toys.

...never slows down during the day.  

Unfortunately we've hardly taken any photos lately, but I managed to scrounge up a few from the last month.  

Rocks and Leaves

We've had the most beautiful weather lately.  I guess it's made up for all the snow we had during Winter Extreme 2012.  The best part about the warm weather is that I've been able to let Austin roam free in the backyard.  He loves being outside.

He's been working on collecting rocks and leaves.

P.S. Don't these pictures look so bright and clear?  For my birthday (which I never blogged about, but it was last month), my mom gave me a nice Nikon camera.  I don't know how to use all of its cool features yet, but so far I absolutely LOVE it.  Thanks Mom.