"I pat the baby goat!"

Austin and I went to the zoo with Casey and Ivy on Sunday. He loves seeing all the animals! I was pretty pumped because this time, there were people in the petting zoo area so we could actually go in and pet the goats! I wasn't sure what he'd think about the goats, but he LOVED this little black one!

"Mommy, I like the little goat!!"

I tried to get a picture of him talking to the goat. He got right in the goat's face and had a big conversation with him (her? I didn't check that area out!). Unfortunately, my camera wasn't ready, dang it!

Austin wasn't quite as into the bigger goats. In fact, he was patting this one and a bigger guy came up and just stood behind me. When Austin looked up and saw it, he was like, "Mommy! I don't like the big goat!" This one however? Just his size!

The weekend that went awry

Well, Cecilia and I were supposed to go out for a Girls' Night Out on Friday, which was to consist of dinner at Kobe and then something really awesome like shopping at Walgreens or Old Navy! We arranged early in the week for a babysitter to watch the boys at Cecilia's place, since Memphis was out of town with Rorhk. However, said babysitter didn't show. We called her when she was 15 minutes late and she didn't answer her cell phone. At 30 minutes late, she called us claiming that she had been in the hospital with food poisoning the night before and then "was out of it all day" on Friday.

Damn.

If she was sick, that's unfortunate. However, where was the call on Friday during the day? The whole "I was totally out of it" excuse doesn't really fly with me. I guess if I had a commitment and knew I wouldn't be able to fulfill it, I'd make sure I called or had someone call the person so that they wouldn't be stuck with no childcare!

We called everyone possible in our cell phonebooks but could find no other option for Friday or Saturday nights. Why don't we know more babysitters?? Cecilia and I ended up hanging out with the boys and walking from her apartment to Walgreens. Get. Pumped. We had a good time, overall, but it was kind of a letdown after the thought of a night out with just grown up people!

On Sunday, our bad babysitter luck struck again! We both brought our kids to the YMCA because we had a Zumba class to teach. There is childcare on Sundays from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., pretty much because of the Zumba class. However, at 10:45 a.m., there was no childcare worker! A call was made and we were assured that someone would be "right there." "Right there" turned out to be more like 11:20 a.m. Cecilia ended up watching the kids in the childcare room until someone showed up and I started class. It worked out in the end, but why ya gotta hate us, babysitters??

The day after...

It was the big 0-2 birthday yesterday! We celebrated by me taking the night off from Zumba and the whole family going to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and games. I got there before Austin and Nick, so when they walked in, I got to see the look of sheer joy and amazement on Austin's face. He was SO excited to see EVERYTHING! There was not much pizza eating by the young mister (Nick and I managed to eat our share), but there was a lot of Chuck E. Cheese love! He danced along with Chuck E. and talked to him and even wanted to share the stage with him! Austin also had a blast riding all the little cars and even playing a little Skee Ball (I heart Skee Ball, by the way!). We were there for just over an hour and could hardly pry him out of the place! We traded in 40 of his 46 earned tickets for a small plastic grasshopper...oh yeah, don't be jealous of our loot!

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??