Austin-15 weeks

I'm keeping with tradition and documenting my 3rd son's life with my iPhone (and currently typing this with my right thumb....on my iPhone!). But at least there is some documenting!
Today I dressed Austin in 9 month clothes. Wow! He has been eating cereal once a day for 5 days. He definitely likes it much better but he still has a tongue thrust and tries to push the spoon and food out of his mouth. But he is starting to get the hang of it. He is consistently eating 6 oz bottles every 3-4 hours....still around the clock...which is why we introduced cereal earlier than normal. Austin loves to talk, blow bubbles, play on his playmat or in his bouncer (still hates the swing), stare and talk to his toys, and read books. He loves sitting in my lap on the patio and watching his brothers jump on the trampoline. I tried to capture a picture (below) of him clasping his hands together (just like his Papa used to do when he was talking to you).








Here he is "talking". He usually has lots of stories to tell me during the day!


Blowing bubbles!


He likes to sit straight up. He wants to be able to see everything! He is nosy like his mama! He loves his baths.
I can't imagine our family without this chunky monkey! This morning Andy called him Fat Stanley! Mason is going to see the Flat Stanley play today so I guess that's where that came from. :)

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Cereal

Austin tried cereal for the first time today. He wasn't a fan. Mason and Alex didn't like cereal at first either. We will keep trying. Just another sign that he is growing up way too fast!








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Remembering

Natalie brought me this rosemary plant on the one year anniversary of my dad passing away. She told me she had gone to the Antique Rose Emporium the day before and happened to buy a rosemary plant (along with other plants). When she got home she wondered why she purchased the rosemary since she already had plenty. The next day we went walking and I told her it was the one year anniversary. Then she realized why she bought the plant. Pretty neat story. Natalie told me that rosemary is the plant of remembrance. I always think of my dad when I look at it. I promise to keep this plant alive! Thank you Natalie!



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Guitar lessons

Mason just finished his 4th guitar lesson. He really enjoys it. I'm hoping Mason can teach me to play one day!


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Adoption fundraiser

This beautiful family (one of my closest friends) is about to be a family of 6! They are adopting again from S. Korea. They are in the process of fundraising to help differ the cost of the adoption as well as having to travel to Korea to bring home their baby. I told Missy I would do whatever I could to help. At this point I can be the most helpful by selling BBQ meal tickets for a drive thru meal that will take place on April 12th. The drive thru will be at Champion Fellowship from 4:00-6:30. The tickets are $8 each. A bake sale will be held at the same place on the same day from 3:30 to 6:30.
If you need an excuse to skip cooking and support this amazing family let me know. I'll bring the tickets to you! Thank you in advance!


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One day

I hope to take pics of my kids with the real camera and update my blog on the real computer! Lately their whole lives are documented on my phone. At least I can update my blog from my phone using my right thumb to type as I feed Austin with my left hand. :)


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Crib transition

Austin had gotten to where he slept through the night most of the week. And he would always go at least 6 hours at night before needing a bottle. Now that we moved him from his bassinet sleeper to the crib the longest he has slept is 3 hours. In between bottles we are giving him his pacifier every 30 mins! I know I just need to let him cry it out but I was hoping to help him through this transition stage. In the meantime mom and dad are TIRED! Austin isn't taking good naps anymore either. He maybe sleeps 45 mins twice a day. I'm hoping this stage passes quickly! Here he is his first night in the crib. Sweet baby.


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Fun at the park

We couldn't leave pville without a trip to the park with Gammie! She captured some cute pics of the boys.





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Weight Watchers update

I've been on weight watchers for 4 weeks. I have lost 5 lbs. My goal is 10 lbs. I go over my points a few times a week which is why I haven't dropped the weight faster. But I'm happy with the progress so far. I am not starving anymore! Thank you Karen and Janis for sharing your weight watcher tips with me! Hopefully I will be able to fit into my swim suit this summer!


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All Abilities Park

Friday we met Cindy and Abby at the All Abilities Park in Round Rock. If you live near there and have never been its worth it! It was really cool and free!! They had a huge city that even had working stop lights. They had all kinds of playgrounds and most things are built for handicap children and wheelchairs. The kids had a blast and I had a great time visiting with Cindy.
This was a merry go round. There were lots of spinning things there!


This swing was their favorite!

















A view of the city!


Working the cash register at the store.


After the park we ate lunch in the deck at Mighty Fine. The kids played on the playground there too. Then we did a little shopping at the outlet mall. After that it was time to head back to Brenham.
It was good to see my family and friends.
Today was a shock to the system when the boys had to get up at 6:30 to go to school! We still haven't adjusted to the time change!

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Jumpoline park

Thursday we met my friend Teresa at an indoor trampoline place. You had to pay by the hour and it was kinda pricey so we only stayed 2 hours. But the kids had a blast! They jumped the entire time! I was so impressed with how well our kids got along since they only see each other twice a year! It was great to see Teresa! I wish we had been able to visit all day!




















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Texas Natural Science Center

We spent a few days in Austin over Spring Break. One of the things Mason really wanted to do was to go to the "dinosaur" museum on the UT campus. Once we finally found an entrance that didn't have 50 steps (since I had Austin in the stroller) we had a good time. The boys picked out "real gold" (aka: slivers of gold in a tiny bottle) and polished rocks as souvenirs. They practiced their horn sign for Daddy. I actually had to teach Alex how to do the horns sign. It was painful!








We walked around campus for a little bit after the museum. We used to bring the boys there to walk around, splash in the fountains and feed the squirrels when we lived in pflugerville. After UT we went to Barton Creek mall and had a cookie and walked around the Lego store. They were very impressed with what you can build with Legos!

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Homemade moon sand

The other day we made homemade moon sand using 5 cups of flour and I cup of baby oil. The boys had a great time playing with it. It was definitely messy though!





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Cat in the hat

I happened to be in Alex's classroom one day before spring break when they were taking these pics! Cutie!


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Starting young

One morning I walked into the kitchen to this scene. Mason was showing Austin how to play a game on the iPad!


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Rodeo

We spent the night at a hotel in Houston a couple of weeks ago and Andy took the big boys to see Big Time Rush at the rodeo. We all had a great time at the hotel. Austin did fantastic. He slept through the night...12 hours straight! While the boys were at the concert Austin and I went to visit my cousin Kelli. It was a nice getaway!
We ate at Chuy's on the way there.


Austin was checking out the big boys bed!


Sweet brothers!


Thank goodness for the indoor pool! They had a blast swimming!


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#7

Alex lost two teeth in 2 weeks. He has now lost 7 teeth. He is keeping that tooth fairy busy!


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Mason's 9th birthday

Mason had his birthday party at Silverwings this year. He really wanted to have it at our house but I just couldn't pull it together this year. Hopefully next February I will be running at 100% again. I forgot how much a newborn takes out of you!

Mason picked out a football cake.

Sweet boys!

About to ride in the skate!

I love these kids!

Of course I had to decorate his door the night before his birthday.

One of Mason's birthday presents was guitar lessons at the Music Shop downtown. He took his first lesson with Andy's old guitar but we quickly realized it was too big for him. We ordered him a new black guitar which he absolutely loves (pics to come in a later post). He has taken 3 lessons so far and really enjoys it. I am hoping he can teach me to play one day!

We love you big guy!

Marine gloves

One thing I meant to add to my last post was how proud I was that my dad was a Marine. I have to add a side story....One year my mom went to NY on a girls trip. I called my dad one am to check on him. He didn't answer but called me back later that day. I asked where he was and he said he was getting a tattoo. I didn't believe him (he didn't have a tattoo up to this point) so I went right over to see for myself. Sure enough he had a big tattoo on his upper arm that had an eagle and USMS and a flag. It was awesome! He told me not to tell my mom, he was going to see how long it took her to notice. I think she had been home a day and a half before she noticed! My dad was proud to be a Marine.
At the cemetery they played Taps and then the Marines folded up the flag that draped his coffin and presented it to my mom. After they gave her the flag one Marine took off his white gloves and presented them to Mason. The second Marine presented his gloves to Alex. It was very moving and I am glad they have those as a symbol of what my dad believed in and stood for.


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Brotherhood

It was a year ago today that we had my dad's funeral. Despite the sorrow and loneliness I felt, I also felt a sense of togetherness. I felt like my family grow by 100+ people that day. That day I was so grateful my dad chose a path of law enforcement. He was part of a family, a brotherhood. Once you are in, you are IN. They will take care of you until the end.
I remember walking into the church and seeing many of his TABC agents with their badges on with the black tape across their number in respect and honor of my dad. During the funeral one of his agents and good friend presented an American flag to my mom that had been flown over the Texas Capital in his honor.
On the way to Killeen (where he was buried in the Veterans Cemetery) we were escorted by the Patriot Guard and police officers from many different departments. The most moving part was about half way to Killeen some of the TABC outpost agents were waiting on the side of the road. As the procession approached they filed into line to escort my dad. I was honored and proud to be his daughter my whole life and at that moment I was filled with pride.
My dad was a leader in his agency. He was stood up for what was right, he was fair, he was compassionate, he was honest. People respected that about him. He helped create that strong brotherhood he was a part of. I'm glad we are a part of that family. I know I have many people to call on if I need a good story about my dad!
That day, those agents brought serve and protect to another level.