Austin is so smart

Well we think so anyways!!
Here is where he is at.
Words he can say and know: Hi, Mama, Dada, Ball(fav), Catch, Dog, Balloon, and Hot. We are pretty sure he said Cat but not going to count it yet.
Words he can read on his flashcards: Dog (he actually says) and Ear (he points to it when he sees card) This is amazing to me because we don't really go over the flashcards much from his Your Baby Can Read pack.. so we know it isn't a memorization thing..
Body parts he knows and will point to when asked: ears, eyes, mouth, teeth, tongue, nose (he puts his finger up it all the time), toes, feet, hair, head and his first - Bellybutton! Working on knees and shoulders as well but not there yet.
He can only sign one word and it is sporadic: More
He loves to clap and dance around now as well. And he is becoming quite the thrower.. a Nebraska Cornhusker Quarterback possibly?? mmm??? I think so! He actually sits and watches football with mommy and daddy on Sat (Huskers) and Sunday (all NFL).
We are having fun watching our little man really grow up!

Halloween is in the air!

If you know me, you know how Halloween is my FAV holiday mostly due to the costumes. Yes, I am a theater lover and love to dress up. I also love how the weather turns colder and the leaves on the trees (yes we do have some trees here in AZ) turn that orange burnt color this time of year. Along with the smell of spice and pumkin pie I love the fun decorations of this event.
This year we are having a Halloween Party!! WHOHOO!! We had one 2 years ago when I was newly pregnant with Austin. Funny how things work out and I am now pg with Austin's new sibling.. pregnant again for a party. UGH!
We are making this a family friendly party because we have so many friends with little ones that it is just easier to go that route this time around. I really hope everyone can make it as I am planning fun games for all and yummy eats and goolish treats. I got this great book on how to make fun creative cupcakes and have 3 different types planned for the occasion. I even bought prizes for the games and costume contest. SO EXCITED!!
Justin, Austin and myself area all going to be Vampires... not the Twilight version because, well, they just look like everyone else. No fun in that. I have my costume and A's all done.. but still looking for one more peice to finish Justin's.
I will let you know how it all turns out! Can't freaking Wait!!! WHOHOO

So many emotions, so little time

I am super duper moody lately, but feel just in most of my fits. I think that should be okay. I am 13 weeks and 1 day preggers now and still super duper sick. I literally get sick 1-4 times everyday now even when I take a special little pill to help ease the nausea. I mean seriously, why do I even bother trying to eat sometimes. I have actually lost a pound or two, which is fine because I gained like 10 since finding out I was pregnant. But it sucks.

I was craving a glazed donut while in bed one morning.. so I told the hubby and he of coarse told me to go get some. Yeah, he doesn't go get me things.. he isn't that kind of hubby. So I go and end up getting a dozen.. I mean why not! Had one before I left the parking lot! SO GOOD! I ate 3 total and than they all came up. I mean, I can't even enjoy my cravings anymore. Don't worry I had a couple more that stuck until after 9pm.

Than yesterday I noticed that my eye was like red in this one spot. How did this happen? What is this?? It doesn't hurt or itch?? weird! Well at my fun play group today the girls noticed it right away and said I popped a blood vessel in my eye most likely from getting sick. REALLY?? REALLY, Puking can cause that? GREAT! (note sarcasm)

Otherwise feeling great.. hehe No I don't, I am super tired and I feel super fat and ugly and have a hard time getting out of bed every day. I choose to take naps when Austin lays down for his instead of exercise, get on the computer or clean. Our house isn't very pretty and I just can't seem to care. Justin has been telling me I need to vacuum the house for over a month. I remind him how sick I have been and that he can sure go do it if he really wants to. Well he finally did! WE both did some cleaning the other day, which was good.. I puked after of coarse.. but at least some stuff got done. :)

Cravings: I seems to want glazed donuts (had some holes today, mmm), soup and pizza. Funny because I am not a big fan of pizza but lately it is like all I want. Things that repel me: Fish and steak. I feel bad, J made steaks and I couldn't even look at it. I told him I was feeling really nauseous and he was mad at me.. than 30 min later I got sick (the bagel I had 2 hours earlier and my salad for lunch - because I know you want to know the details) than he wasn't mad at me anymore.. it is like he believed me. CRAZY! So I have this huge yummy steak in the fridge that just makes me nauseous when I think about trying to eat it. So annoying.

In other news.. Going to COLORADO on Tuesday to visit my sister and her family, my good friend and her fam and my friend is getting married!! I am so happy and excited for her, they totally belong together so this is super great! I even bought a cute dress at Kohls for it bc my go to black maternity dress is too big and my non mat clothes are too small. So this is super flattering.. My tummy is popping but mostly due to fat not the kid inside who is only 3 inches tall.. Can't wait to go to CO!! WHOHOO!!!!!!

It's super official... we are Pregnant!

That is right friends and family that are not yet aware, we are 12 weeks pregnant today. I know the time to hold off on telling everyone is like 14 weeks bc of possible miscarriage but I feel okay in this decision.

So if you don't know, my last pregnancy was horrible. I disliked almost all of it. Yeah, obviously the outcome is worth it but why can't I just have a slightly more friendly pregnancy. I was super optimistic (okay I wasn't) that this time around I would not be as sick, but so far, not so good. I have gotten sick 6 out of 7 days a week including the days I take a nice little prescribed pill to help me not puke. It is horrible. It is acid and the water I drank through the night in the mornings and my dinner at nights. Really?? Oh and the heartburn is crazy bad early this time around too.. and I get up at least 2 times per night to go to the bathroom.. and the tiredness..

Enough venting.. we are super excited to welcome Baby Bjoin #2 to the world and our family!! Man I hope it is a girl!! We are undecided about having 2 or 3 children... so we will see what the cards hold. I should know the gender in like 6-8 weeks. I will share at that time..
Until than - feel free to send happy healthy vibes our way!

Trips-Vaca's

We just got back from a short but fun trip to San Diego. My hubby is from there so we went to visit some friends we have been wanting to go see for the 3 1/2 years we have lived here. We left after waking up on Sunday and just chatted outside in the beautifully mild CA weather. Than had some great pizza for dinner at a local place. I always like to eat somewhere unique to the area when traveling.. I can have Pizza Hut here.. you know what I mean?
Monday after Austin's morning nap we headed to the zoo for about 4 hours. LOTS OF WALKING. I was struggling a bit because I have this pain that shoots in my belly every time I take a step.. but it is sporadic. So sometimes I feel it all day and other days, nothing. It is in the place where I got an infection after my c-section.. I asked the nurse about it at my last appt but she said it is most likely a pinched nerve or something. LAME. But the zoo was great! Austin seemed more interested in the people than the animals but still a good experience for all of us and a good little work out for mama-bear.
Than we went over to J's family friends the Williams. We were staying with their oldest son who was also a groomsman in our wedding.. so really good fam friends of J and his family. LOVE THEM!! They are the nicest most hospitable people on the planet. We had some great grilled food and conversation.
Tuesday.. after Austins morning nap we went to the beach for just over an hour. It was so nice out but J was getting annoyed that A was trying to eat the sand. But A did really well over all and loved playing in the sand.. trying to put it in his buckets. Than dinner with more friends of J's at a Mexican place. Normally I have a hard time eating this stuff but it was all safe for me (spice is the devil) so I ate a lot.. too much.. I got sick after because I over ate.. Oh well..
Went to bed early bc I didn't feel good and we got up and left by 8am on Wednesday Morning.. So a great trip..

Next up - Montana to see J's parents and Grandma Fran!!

Play Gyms for Babies

Now you all know about those play gyms for babies and little children right? Well we got our fill this weekend!

Yesterday my friend signed us up for a FREE class in Chandler. Super nice of her! It was really cool. They kept moving around the different pads and slides etc.. every like 5 minutes into a new space for the little ones to roam and play. We did some circle time with songs and play, along with swing and jump on a little trampoline.
Today my friend's daughter turned the big 1 year old and her party was at a different play gym in Gilbert. Similar in the concept but not nearly as much stuff going on.

Okay - so you would think my adventurous outgoing son would be all over this.. and he was but only with the balls! He LOVES balls. I mean, we could be anywhere and if there is a ball there, than we won't need any other form of entertainment. Every time we were to get in a circle with our little ones.. he wanted nothing to do with me or the circle, just hunting down that ball, throwing it and chasing it of coarse.

Now I could go to one of these fun interactive play gyms and pay $75 for 4 weeks (1 50 min class per week). that is almost $20 a class.. Well Austin, sorry, but Mama bear doesn't feel it is quite yet worth it for you to go to a class for that much money where all you want to do is push around a ball. Mama has LOTS OF BALLs at the house.. gifts from friends and others we have collected.. so I think we will stick with the play gym that is your home!

First Step

That is right folks! My little man has finally done something I NEVER thought he would attempt (at least this month), he took a step without holding onto anything! It was quite shocking as he has not really been interested in walking or standing up on his own. Now he can push a toy and walk all day long, but remove the toy and he sits right now. Its been like that for months!
In his horoscope it said the little Cancer that he is, tends to need to feel secure and not to expect him to walk for some time after his first b-day.. So we will see... So far this seems to be holding true. He is just really into holding something, anything, to the point of annoyance. But now I can see the light!
So this is how it went down.
He was holding onto the couch - where I was sitting - and he threw his toy a few feet to his left towards the elliptical. He turned, facing toy(and elliptical) and let go of the couch. So he is standing on his own for a couple seconds - this too is an accomplishment and rarity. Than he takes a conscious step towards his toy, turns back at me smiles and sits down. REALLY!! Freaking Awesome. He has done it 2 more times since.. similar scenario. This all happened on Wednesday of this week. He did it one more time that day and my friend Karla and Eli were over and saw it.. so I have a witness. Than he did it again at Eli's 1st birthday party. I tried for a picture but was unsuccessful.

It is only a matter of time now - Let the games begin!