Austin's Birthday Bash

Today was Austin's first birthday. We had lots of fun setting up and wrapping all his presents. We had the party at grandma's house since she has more room. Great Grandma Merkley, Grandma and Grandpa Walters, Blake and Janey Malcom, and the Hornes were over for the big event.

We had cake and ice cream, soda, veggies and dip, chips, and chex mix. It was yummy. Mommy blew up some balloons and through them about. Austin had fun playing with his second cousin Levi. He also graced us with some smooth dance moves too. We have discovered that he loves to dance when he hears music. He just knows it's time to bogey. As soon as we turn the music off, he stops! Watch him walk a few steps too! Check out his stuff:




Later we opened his presents. He made a good haul. He got some clothes, movies, books, some awesome little hand puppets, some mega blocks, and some toys. His favorite thing so far seems to be the puppets. Here's the video of his happy day:




Now, on to the birthday wishes!





Happy Birthday baby boy! I can't believe you are one year old already! Where has the time gone?

Austin update

Austin is 9 months and 3 weeks old, and 21 pounds. He loves to chew on fabric, and is known for pretending to want to cuddle and nuzzle his face in your shirt and then biting you.

He also loves to be around people. Translation- he follows you around the house, no matter where you go. Which means you have to be careful not to step on him.

His favorite baby food is banana. If it's anything else, he usually puts up a fight, making faces and spitting it out at you. He also eats little rice puffs in large quantities. If you leave him to feed himself, you'll nearly always turn around to a blank tray at the high chair. And when you eat dinner in the kitchen, he stands at the baby gate and yells at you for not letting him in.

Austin can pull himself up on the couch and walk around. He also crawls really well now. He can wave (with both hands), and he frequently says ma ma and da da though we doubt he actually associates the words with us yet. He loves playing peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake, and enjoys when I sing the itsty bitsy spider and the wise man built his house upon a rock.

He's very ticklish, when he wants to be. The best spots to get him are under her arms, around his neck, and his thighs. He laughs and laughs and laughs, and his smile is so beautiful. He's got 4 teeth now, two on top, two on bottom.

He enjoys bath time and likes to splash around while playing with his bath toys. His favorite bath toys are the blow fish (because it's a bright orange ball), and the star fish (because it's nice a pink and easy to spot). He's really squirmy when you try and put his clothes back on him now though. Mommy usually has to make him a bottle to get him to calm down enough. He does try and help every now and then, by pushing his arms through the holes for you.

He likes to chew on anything on the floor so mommy is constantly taking things away from him. He especially loves shiny things he knows he shouldn't have- like the remote or the phone.

Austin gets really excited when daddy comes home. The other night he was playing quietly with toys on the floor, when Aaron walked in the door. He lit up, said "Da Da!" and started laughing and booking it to pat on daddy's feet. He was all smiles as daddy picked him and gave him cuddles.

We love our little boy. He is an angel. <3

Dance Baby Dance

Here's some pics of Austin that we took at Grandma Verla's house-







And here's a video of Austin gettin down! XD

Happy Birthday Grandpa Bailey!

Dad, for a while now I have been meaning to let you know how much you mean to me, and it's about time I did it. I want to thank you, for the constant sacrifices you made for us. For the night shifts, for the long hours, for putting up with 5 hyper children all under the age of 9 at a time of financial uncertainty. I am sure there are many things that you and mom went through that I was oblivious to, but know that we care. Know that I think about that. Know that we love you.

If it weren't for your willingness to take us to church I would not be a fraction of the human being I am today. Know that your testimony has altered my life, know that your advice and guidance is always in my mind, and know that your grandchildren will be better people because of you. You have been such a huge blessing to our family. You will always be my daddy. <3

Baby Moments

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ViewSlideshow.action?&collidparam=236914892110.574463563210.1237769302122

Happiness Journal- My son

Did you know that happiness is infectious? According to this recent study, you can spread happiness to those around you by expressing what makes you happy. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/3548303/Happiness-is-infectious-and-spreads-through-friends-and-family.html


So I know I can’t be in Georgia and Washington at the same time. I still want my family down there to know me and see how I am growing and developing as a person. Well lately I keep having the idea of making a happiness journal. What better way to keep track of what I am grateful for than posting it here on my blog? I challenge all of you out there to think of at least one thing you are grateful for today. And if you have the time, try making a happiness journal. Write about one person and talk about how that person makes you happy or grateful.

Today I am grateful for many many things and it’s hard to pick what to write about. I am most grateful for my loving family. More specifically my little baby. He brings so much joy to my life. He is so full of energy and so happy to see me in the mornings when I pick him up. His expressions of emotions are so pure. I am grateful that he makes me want to be a better person. I look at him and I hope that I can be all that I can be as a parent to steer him in the right direction so that he can be a happy person. I want my home to be a place of warmth and laughter, and family home evening game nights. And when I am an old woman, I want to look around a room full of my grand children and great grand children and feel at peace. I want my home to be a happy home, for him, because he deserves no less. He makes me a better person.

So today I have taken the extra effort to make him smile. We've been playing all morning. He loves to be tickled! It just brightens my day so much to see that big beautiful smile.

Next time I will pick another person I am grateful for. Who are YOU grateful for? Spread the joy and let them know!

Happy Day!

So Aaron called me from work today. Amazon offered him a permanent position. This is great news! He was hired on as a seasonal worker for the Christmas holiday and we were sure they were going to lay him off in January. They kept him on for a little longer and never told us exactly what they were planning to do. Now we get benefits and insurance. XD

This isn't THE job by the way. He is only a technical support representative but we'll be looking while he continues to work.

In other news, I am trying to lose weight. I have got to tell you, I am so impressed by this 6 week body makeover plan by Michael Thurmond. He really does know what he is talking about. I have lost 16 pounds since I started the program January 27th. I still have 10 pounds until my goal but I think instead of going by weight I am going to go by body shape. I am eating 6 times a day (lots of protein, complex carbs, fruits, and green veggies) and I am working out twice a week for 20 minutes and walking an hour 4 times a week. It's soooo easy and yet the weight is melting off. My metabolism is revved up and I have lots of energy. Austin and I go down to the nearby park along the river for a stroll and it hardly seems like exercise. I am building a lot of lean muscle too. *Flexes forearm*. I mean, I'm no Amberlie, but I am much better than what I was.

The big draw back is the food. It is incredibly bland. No salt, sugar, juice, milk, and no condiments (butter, ketchup, salad dressing, etc.) Needless to say I am eating much healthier now. I have lots of onion, green peppers, mushrooms, salad, bananas, apples, blueberries, ground turkey, and fish in my fridge right now. Yeah, that all sounds good until you find out that you can't put salt or sugar on any of it. Salt makes a BIG difference folks. And I have tried some artificial sweeteners to replace the sugar. If you poor enough in your oatmeal it almost tastes good. The only good condiment I have been able to eat is barbeque sauce (homemade). It's actually really quite tasty. So I have lots of BBQ chicken. =p yum

To put it in perspective- I am 50 pounds lighter than I was at my highest weight pregnant with Austin. XD And I ALMOST fit in the healthy weight category. My BMI is 24.5 and healthy is 18 to 24. I'll keep on trucking along.

Look at Austin! He was smiling at me completely sideways in his crib this morning when I went in to pick him up. He was having WAY to much fun kicking the sides and getting himself turned around. He's so strong!

Christmas Memories

December 25th 2008 was little Austin's very first Christmas. We got some video of him with a bow on his head. This year we had a lot of snow in the tri-city area which is unusual. I'd say we had about 10 inches of snow for the Christmas season.

Christmas eve we and some family and friends piled into a 15 passenger van and went Christmas light viewing. The snow was fresh and falling peacefully and the evergreens looked like Christmas trees. It made everything simply picture perfect. Then we came back for some hot chocolate.

We stayed in Richland for Christmas this year since Austin was so young. He was two months old. Now he's over 4 months!

Here are some pictures (click for full view):



And here's a video of us:

Happy Birthday Grandmommy!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Happy Birthday Momma! *Sings and Hugs* We wish we could be there sooo much. I actually had a dream yesterday that I flew down to Georgia to see you guys. If I were there I would make you a spice cake. =P

I wanted to get a picture of Austin smiling with a bow on his head for you but he wasn't cooperating. Maybe next time!

Much love,

Ashley and Aaron (and Austin)