My Baby

Austin is just such a smily baby! He gets so happy when we talk to him. He coos and smiles so big, it is so adorable. He is really a happy little guy. He rarely cries and still sleeps a good amount. He usually go to a theme park once a week and he is always an angel. He wants to sit up more now and tries to pull himself up to sitting. He is getting better at holding on to toys and tries to put them in his mouth. Austin is so sweet and we're happy he's with us. I just wish he wouldn't grow so fast :)

Rexford Stuff

Rexford has taken on the job of big brother very well. I was very worried before I had Austin that Rexford would be upset and jealous and mad at us. He has been fine and very sweet to Austin and we haven't had any problems, thank goodness :) The other day I was in the bathroom getting ready and Austin was laying on my bed. He started to cry and Rexford ran in the room and hopped on the bed and said, "Don't cry Austin. There's no monsters. Don't cry baby, it's okay Austin. There's no monsters here." It was so cute.

It seems as though Rexford has grown up a lot in the last few weeks. He says more complicated sentences, makes jokes and laughs at jokes on tv, can get things out of the fridge, put on his shoes by himself, and climb better. One thing he has started doing by himself in the last couple of days is say prayers. We usually say them but he wanted to and I thought I would have to help him but he just started talking and kept going and did the whole prayer by himself. Since the first time he keeps wanting to say prayers and does it by himself. It is so cute. They usually go something like this: "Heavenly Father, thank you for today. thank you for sea world. thank you for mommy and daddy and austin. thank you for dinner. (then a few sentences that I can't deciper). jesus christ amen."

The other night I was talking to Austin and he was cooing and I said, "oh you have so much to say don't you?" Rexford then said, "I have a lot to say too." It made me laugh.

My sister Shannon offered him popcorn and he told her that he wasn't old enough to have it yet. I'm surprised he didn't try it. I don't let him have it yet and I told him he could have it when he's a little older so I guess he remembered.

He is just so smart and sweet and I love him!

Rockin' Rexford

Every time we go to my dad's house Rexford likes to play with a small guitar that my brother has. He plays it and always sings along. It is so cute and I never have my camera with me. The other night I had my camera and was able to capture some of his performance. Unfortunately there is some background noise because Brian, Shannon, Wayne, and Caleb were playing the Wii in the next room and were really loud. Rexford loves to sing lately and often sings while we shop or walk or just around the house. Here's my little performer. Watch to see how he rocked up Itsy Bitsy.

Girly

I know the blog background is a little girly for a family of mostly boys. But I liked it anyway and a girl needs some fun flowery pink stuff every now and then. And it's my birthday month :) So for awhile the background is for me and I'll put something a little more masculine for the rest of the family later on.

A Day at the Park

Yesterday we enjoyed the day with Daddy home by going to the park. Rexford had so much fun swinging with Daddy and going down the slides. We fed the ducks and Rexford (he kept eating the bread instead of throwing it) and even got out our kite. It was a beautiful day and lots of fun!

Random Stuff

Here are some pictures I've taken this past week but don't really go with a story or anything.

Austin is just about old enough to sit in his little chair. He needs to be a little stronger but he's getting there.

Rexford and Austin just love each other. You can tell even though Austin can't talk yet. He smiles at Rexford and gets excited when he comes close. Rexford loves Austin and has been saying, "I have my own baby." It is really sweet.

Rexford having the time of his life in the giant ball pit at Universal. I never let him go in it because I think it's probably dirty but I gave in and he had so much fun. It was hard to get him away from it.


Go Steelers!! Austin dressed up on game night and they won! Can't wait for the Super Bowl in a couple of weeks!

My smiling little Steeler

Rexford having fun on the slides at Sea World

The boys being silly before church.

They look a little guilty here

3 months old

We tried to get a picture of the boys-it was very difficult because Rexford kept bouncing around and not looking at me

Here's Austin all bundled up on a cold day

More Sea World

My brother takes pictures at Sea World and here are a few that he took for us. We're trying to use our passes a lot lately since they expire the end of this month. We love it there!

Rexford did not want to get close to the horse but at least he's in the picture

His favorite place at Sea World is the sand area and he would stay there all day if we let him

Rexford relaxing while Mommy fed Austin inside the baby care center

Me with my little wind-chapped Austin

Rexford's First Roller Coaster Ride

Rexford went on his first roller coaster ride on Friday! He's been tall enough to go for a little while but has never wanted to go. Friday he said he wanted to go. I repeated it back to him to make sure that's what he said. I asked him who he wanted to go with him and not surprisingly he picked Aunt Alyson. So they went and got in line. I never thought he'd actually do it. I thought he would get up there and then refuse to get in the seat or something. But he climbed right in. I thought he would be crying when he got off but he was very brave. I know he was scared and Alyson said he said he wanted his mommy but she held on to him and told him it was almost over and then he was okay. It's kind of a fast ride for a two year old. He said he had fun but didn't want to go again. All day he kept saying, "I did a good job on the Shamu ride. I'm having so much fun at Sea World." His face looks pretty sad in the picture but it's cute anyway and it's the only picture I've got because from where I was I couldn't see him to get any pictures. You can see him briefly in the video and you can see Aly more since she's taller. I'm glad he wasn't crying and I hope he really did have fun so that we can enjoy more roller coasters in the future because I love them!

Fun at Home

Now that the holidays are over and family has gone back home and back to work, we're getting back to our normal routine. Rexford is enjoying all of his new toys and gifts although he's having a little Christmas withdrawal. He still wants to look at Christmas lights and listen to Christmas music and keeps saying, "Christmas is over mommy" all sad.

It is really sweet to see Austin and Rexford together. Austin is more expressive lately and smiles and coos a lot. Rexford will talk to him and hold his hand and Austin smiles back and him. They are really cute together and it's fun to see Austin respond to his big brother. The other day I found them laying on the bed together snuggled with a blanket and Austin was sucking on Rexford's arm and Rexford was saying, "that tickles Austin" and laughing. Rexford is always saying, "I love my baby brother" or "he's smiling at me." I'm glad they get along so far :)

Austin is getting so big and growing too fast and his smiles are so cute

When he was born I thought he might be skinny but he's really chunked up

My happy little guy

Rexford loves to put all of his toys in Austin's swing and then turn it on. I often come in the room and find the swing on the fastest mode with tons of toys.

I don't know what's up with Austin's face here but cute anyway

Rexford playing with his new Hot Wheels tracks

Rexford gives Austin kisses all day

Austin's Blessing Day

Austin was blessed at church on Sunday so we took the opportunity to snap a few photos. Thanks Lisa for taking pictures :)

Day at Disney

We had the opportunity to go to Disney yesterday (courtesy of Polly and family - thanks so much for your extra day!!) and had a great time. Brian and I went and we took Rexford and Austin along with their cousins Ian and Shaelyn and my sister Alyson who happened to be babysitting them that day. It was a little more crowded than I would have liked but we had fun anyway. We started out with the Magic Kingdom in the morning and then headed over to Animal Kingdom after lunch. We didn't get to check everything out there because it was getting late and we were all pretty tired but the kids enjoyed the animals and the train ride. I was surprised that Brian actually went since he's not usually a theme park guy and he was actually still in a good mood at the end of the day :) I think he had fun going on the rides with Rexford and Rexford was happy to have Daddy there. Austin was so good the whole day. He got a little mad on the way home, probably because he'd hardly eaten all day. We had lots of fun together!

We started out with the race cars but we don't have any pictures. It was a lot of fun though for all.

Brian and Rexford riding the carousel

Austin smiling while everyone else rode the carousel

Alyson, Ian, and Shaelyn on Aladdin's magic carpet ride

Here we are outside the Magic Kingdom. Austin was sound asleep in the sling most of the day.

The kids had lots of fun together the whole day. They were silly and crazy, talking and singing and playing around. Here they are on the tram.

Shaelyn was the only one interested in getting close to the characters. Here she is with Meeko at Animal Kingdom.

The kids liked these elephant statues and wanted to take a picture with them.

Ian brushing a goat

Rexford wouldn't look at the camera because he was too busy checking out all the animals

Shaelyn would have staying at the petting zoo all day. She loved brushing and petting the sheep and goats.

Shaelyn and Rafiki

Rexford finally crashed on our way out of Animal Kingdom. He slept even when I took him out of the stroller and on the tram ride. Unfortunately he woke up in transition to the car but at least he got a little nap.

It was really nice weather all day and we had a fun day. We went home around dinner time and I crashed shortly after on the couch with Austin.