Happy Birthday, Austin!

Dear Austin,

You’re two today. Two! I can’t believe it. These past two years have flown by so fast. I remember being near the end of my pregnancy and just sitting in your old room wishing you would be born because I couldn’t wait! I wanted to write you a letter like I’ve seen so many parents do, telling you all the things that are in my head and my heart today. I don’t know if I’ll be able to capture what I’m feeling, though – I don’t know if it will be “good enough” to really convey your presence in my life, but I’ll try!

You constantly surprise and amaze me! Every day, it seems, you come up with another word, another phrase, another joke and just knock me off my feet. You are such a talker (you come by it honestly!) and you love to chat and have conversations with me, Daddy, and anyone who will listen. Sometimes I’m the only one who can interpret what you’re saying, and sometimes not even I can understand you, but you keep talking, and with such conviction that I know you’re saying something really important!

Some of the most recent things that you have said and done that have surprised and impressed me are things like singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” on your own. I don’t know where you learned that one, but you seem to love busting out into song with that tune! You also have started saying, “I’m sure!” and “I’m not sure…” in response to questions – what a little man!

One of the things I love about you is your sense of humor. You love to laugh and giggle and tickle, and can spend minute after minute chasing and “getting” Daddy and me, only to make sure we chase and “get” you right back! I don’t know where you get your energy from, but it’s endless! I love when you get the joke, too, like when you know you’re doing something funny and making me laugh. I can see the enjoyment in your face knowing that you’re cracking me up, and so you do it even more!

Another thing that is growing everyday that I love about you is your compassion and caring. Yesterday, you helped Daddy put mulch down in the yard, and you were very concerned and asked, “Are you okay, Daddy?” a lot to make sure he was doing alright. If I trip or stumble, you are right there asking me “You fine, Mom?” And if you accidentally bump me or something, you jump right in with a big kiss on my “ouch” spot and a hug to follow. Your heart is so big, my boy, and I hope it always will be.

There have been a lot of ups and downs during these past two years, and I credit you for helping me get through the rough times. I don’t know where I would be today if I didn’t have you in my life, because sometimes, when I’ve been really down, the only constant has been you. You’ve given me something positive to focus on when I have needed it the most, and that has helped me put a lot of things into perspective.

You are my son, my heart, and my friend. I miss you when I’m not with you, and I feel so lucky to have someone as special, smart, funny, and beautiful in my life. I love you so much, buddy! Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mommy

"Cece is stuck in my pants!"

Austin has a habit of putting whatever toys he is playing with up his pant legs while riding in the car. I'm not sure why, but this is pretty fun for him lately! Today, we were driving to Sherry's house for daycare and Austin was playing with Stretch and Cece (one of the Little People). They were, as usual, traveling up and down inside Austin's pant leg. Suddenly, he started crying and getting upset.

"What's wrong, buddy?"

"It's unner me, Mommy!"

"What is? What's under you?"

"Cece!"

I was pretty confused. After some more questioning and some strategic looking over my shoulder at the 4-way stop, I realized the dilemma. Austin had shoved Cece waaaaaaaaay up inside his pant leg and now he couldn't reach to get her out.

"Is Cece stuck in your pants, buddy?"

"Yes! Cece in my pants!!"

"Don't worry. When we get to Sherry's house, I'll get Cece out of your pants!"

These were not words I thought I'd be saying to my son, but we were able to extricate Cece from the pant leg and continue on with our day. Whew!

Austin-isms, the brief March 2009 edition

Here are some of Austin's latest sayings and funny things:

• "Dee-row!!" This is "Eyeore". Austin's new diapers have Tigger and Pooh on the front and Eyeore on the back, and he finds this VERY exciting! We always have to look at them and talk about "Tigger Pooh! Dee-row too!" Sometimes he throws a "Rabbit too!" in there, but it's not consistent.
• Turpitt -- turnip. We've been talking about turnips lately. I don't know why.
• I bought him some new sandals for this summer season. The last couple of nights after his bath, he will see the sandals and insist on wearing them with his pajamas. They are obviously his dancin' shoes because putting them on always leads to Austin doing a little jig around his room and saying, "Dance! Dance!"
• We've starting practicing the ABC alphabet song, and Austin and I usually sing it in the car a few times during each ride. He joins me for several of the letters at random spots -- usually "A, B, C", "F", and the whole "P, Q, R, S" run. Also, he ends up laughing hysterically during parts of the song. I guess some letters are just funnier than others!
  

This blog...

I feel like this blog is mocking me.

Why do I get so excited to read other people's blogs but then neglect my own? Why do I feel like my blog postings are far less interesting and/or funny than postings by, say, Erin or Cecilia? I am funny, and I just should start posting more! So I'll try.

Lately, my addiction has been playing Bejeweled on Facebook. Damn you, Bejeweled, and your mysterious hold over me! I get so excited when the announcer gives me encouraging remarks like, "Good." or the elusive "Excellent!" It's positive reinforcement at it's best!

Erin has been my Bejeweled nemesis this last week. I keep trying to top her high score, and it rarely happens! The scores got cleared the other day (Tuesday?) and I thought, "YES!! Now it's my turn to set the bar really high!" Unfortunately for me, she was obviously playing her first game simultaneously with me, and her score was higher than mine! I did top her briefly, but she has since taken over once again.

I encouraged Cecilia to start playing Bejeweled, and she has taken over as almost the top person in my team! Her score is like triple mine.

Why am I so lacking in Bejeweled skills??

Why is she copying me??

I came across this on Monday: http://x17online.com/celebrities/octomom/crazy_cleans_up-03092009.php

I can't link the picture to my blog, but if you click on the link, you'll go to the photo I'm talking about.

I just bought the EXACT same shirt in the EXACT same color on Sunday at Target! Please understand that I didn't buy it to copy Octomom! I promise! If I want to copy her, I'll just have 13 more children all at once.

My funny boy

Austin is nearing his 2nd birthday, and he just amazes me all the time! Here are some of my favorite things he has done/is doing:

• He has started calling Nick and I Dad and Mom instead of Daddy and Mommy. I don't necessarily love this, because he's too little to switch yet! But it sounds so cute when he says it!
• The other night, I was taking him upstairs to get ready for bed. Nick said "Night night, Buddy!" and Austin said as clear as day, "Goo night, Dad!" Very formal!
• Austin gets SO EXCITED when I get to Sherry's house to pick him up for the day! He recently went through a phase of not wanting to leave with me, so this is such a pleasant change. He starts saying, "Mommy! Mommy!" with a huge smile on his face and run towards me then doubles back and says, "Get coat on! Get coat on!"
• We were playing in his room last night, he and I, and we started playing the airplane game. You know the one -- I was laying on my back lifting him up with my feet and he was "flying." He was eating it up and each time I put him down, he'd say "I wanna go AGAIN!" Then he'd grab my feet and hold them up onto his belly, grab my hands, and say, "One...two...THREE!!!!" until I lifted him up. I kept letting my feet fall down and he kept picking them up, saying, "Come ON, feet!"
• He LOVES to "nuggle" (snuggle with) Nick and I. In the morning, his favorite thing to do is still eat his "cay cakes" (pancakes) and "nuggle Daddy!" while watching The Disney Channel.
• Lately, he can't say "Hi Mom!" enough times!
• I also love how when I say, "Hey Austin..." he'll always look at me and say, "What?"

Love him.

Coupon it up, baby!

Yes, I am back! I know, I was gone for so long and this blog sat all sad and un-updated for almost a month! A lot has happened in the last month...most notably, Austin was sick for almost two weeks! I just didn't feel like blogging or I was not on the computer that much or something. But here I am, and I'm going to try to get back in the habit of blogging again!

Today's blog is about my awesome coupon deal at Walgreens today! Cecilia and I went over our lunch break and cleaned them out of diapers!

Here's are the details of the deal
Right now, Huggies are on sale at Walgreens for $10 for a jumbo pack. You can also print out coupons for $3 and $5 off certain types of Huggies. Walgreens is also giving out a $10 Register Reward coupon (which can be used like cash at your next trip) for buying at least $25 of specific Huggies products this week. With all of these factors, you can't lose!

Here's what I did
In each of 5 separate transactions (yes, I stood there and did this 5 times in a row! The lady was pissy about it, too!), I bought:

• 2 packs of Huggies diapers for $10 each = $20
• 1 pack of Huggies wipes for $6 each = $6

I bought a few other items that had either Register Rewards associated with them or a rebate for the full amount, so I basically got these other things for free, or close to it.

My total with the sale prices and tax (before coupons) would have been $150.66.

• I used $59 in diaper/wipes coupons (I know, crazy!)
• I earned $50 in Register Rewards from the diapers/wipes to use later at Walgreens
• I earned $4 in Register Rewards from deoderant I bought to use later at Walgreens (got 2 deoderants for $0.99 each after RRs for Nick)
  
• I will get back $6.59 in rebates from buying some shampoo for Nick (free!)
• I used $10.99 that I had on a Walgreens gift card to pay for part of one order
• I used $5.96 that I had on my W card (free money for buying Walgreens brand items) to pay for part of one order

After all is said and done, all coupons cashed in, all rebates earned, and all gift cards redeemed, I will have technically only paid $14.12 for the following:

• 10 jumbo packages of Huggies diapers
• 5 huge packs of Huggies wipes (the refill packs)
• 2 Right Guard deoderants
• 1 Axe shampoo/body wash combo

I love playing this game! And yes, I was more than prepared to deal with the sighs and rudeness of our cashier who tried to tell us that we couldn't do our deals this way for one reason or another. Whatever, lady, just scan my items and coupons and we'll see how it turns out!