{wordless} Wednesday

Austin @ {18} months!!!

So unbelievable! A year and a half… Time flies when you’re having fun!

Austin, you mean so much to all of us. You are a snuggler, an entertainer, a mess maker, a noise maker, and EVERYTHING in between. ;) I cannot imagine our lives without you.

18 months-- I’m not sure on your weight. I’m guessing around 25 pounds. You are getting heavier to hold. Your 18 month appt. is Monday-- I’ll update the weight and height then. You can say: Mama, Dada, Katie, hi, nigh-nigh, cheese, what’s tha?, ewww, ball, nana (banana) and mi (milk). I’m sure there are a few that we just haven’t figured out yet. LOL You play games with Daddy and your bros: basketball, tag and catch. You get so excited.

Some of the things that you love at this age: books (100 words book), cars! (you steal a car from your brothers’ room every single time you go in there), running, Katie, your cell phone, laughing, baths, being outside and bananas! You are a very routine kid. You have to put your ride on car in one spot of the house, if your brothers move it, you move it right back (and then give them a dirty look). It is quite funny to watch. You still don’t really watch tv, but you did watch a scene or two of Cars. You don’t even watch tv in the van-- bummer. You are getting better about longer car trips, but you still aren’t a huge fan.

A few things that you don’t like: socks, long car rides, falling down, showers, walking in the snow, being fed (you are very independent and like to hold the fork or spoon yourself), naps, hats and the tv remote being taken away from you.

You love music- you dance to whatever song comes on. You also play Just Dance with us (Wii). You don’t even have a remote-- you just do the moves that we do. You are pretty good at it, actually. One of the many funny things that you do.

I love you so much, Austin. I am so glad that you are such a happy and healthy baby. I am so lucky to have you as my little bubby!

Love, Mom

**update** Monday's check-up went well, 24 lbs. 32 inches tall. 24th percentile for height and weight. Little man is doing great!

{wordless} Wednesday

happy {valentine's} day!

Our 2011 Valentine's for the fam! I love making these cards every year. It's really hard to keep them "boyish", so I stick with black and red or blue and red. Oh yes, the boys care!

We all had a fun night out; Mexican food! The boys had great Valentine parties @ school and brought home lots of cards and candy from friends.

I have to include Austin's Valentine present from Grandma Sharp-- he loves this little monkey. He carries it around and hugs it...so cute!

{2011} reading list...so far

1) Bourne Identity-- Robert Ludlum (currently reading)
2) Look Again-- Lisa Scottoline
3) The Kitchen House-- Kathleen Grissom (BOOK CLUB SELECTION)
4) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-- Stieg Larrson
5) Sing You Home-- Jodi Picoult
6) Bourne Supremacy-- Robert Ludlum
7) The Secret Life of Bees-- Sue Monk Kidd
8) Firefly Lane-- Kristin Hannah

I will be adding to this list as I finish these and read more book reviews.

ROOM by Emma Donoghue

4 out of 5 stars!

This book was so good-- and very different from any other book I’ve ever read. The story is about a mother and son-- locked up in a shed (“room”) by a man that kidnapped the mother 7 years prior. The son, Jack, is 5 years old and has never been outside Room. Ma is 26 years old- she was kidnapped by “old Nick” at age 19. The story is told by Jack-- through his 5 year old eyes. Although there were things in the story that should have been elaborated on, I had to remind myself that this was Jack’s story-- how he saw things. Very emotional book…

I finished it yesterday and can’t stop thinking about it. It’s not a haunting story, but it will definitely stay with you.

my new {craft} desk!!!

We are down to one closet in our room, but I have a new {craft} desk! Our master bedroom has {HAD} two closets-- a walk-in and a smaller closet with wooden sliding doors. The walk-in is huge-- plenty big enough for us.

Kyle took the doors off, took down the clothes rod and added a desk top that we both built. A few trips to Lowe’s later and **tada** my new {craft} desk!

I am one happy mama!