I haven't forgotten about ya'll :)

I fully intend to keep up this blog. I love it. It also is cathartic. I just don't remember a time when I've been THIS BUSY!!!! It's great though. Things are great. We are settling in. More on all of this very soon....

We waited in line an hour and a half for this....

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Lots Happening

I've got a lot going on right now... good things. Lots to share. Just haven't had the time to sit down and blog about it.

Anything to share about Austin? hmmmmm..... he threw up all over himself and my couch last night. Awesome. It really scared him and I felt bad. Not really sure why he puked, he was acting fine.

I've tried to upload a really cute video of him saying 'Austin Hoherd" for the first time, but the video is taking forever to load. I'll keep trying.

Here are some recent pics!

Aunt Stacy sent Austin stickers for Easter... this is what he immediately did with them.

Different stickers, different day. This kid loves stickers!

Long day at Bunna's

Eating Spaghetti Squash!

Playing around with Popi

Watching something on the iPad 

(and don't worry, he doesn't always sit this close, I just thought it was a cute shot!)

Old friends...

This past weekend was my girlfriend Marisa's baby shower and I was so lucky to spend the day with a few of my closest girlfriends- Marisa, Casey and Cassandra!

I met Marisa in my sorority and she now lives out here in Yorba Linda with her husband (who we also went to college with). We have been through a ton together in the past few years and I really treasure our friendship. She's honest, so funny and just REAL. I always appreciate a friend who is always honest with you, no matter what (everyone needs a few that just tell you how it is!) and Marisa is one of a few of my friends I can count on for that brutal honesty. I love her and I am so excited for her to be a mommy!! Our girlfriend Casey (another sorority sister) just moved out here from NYC. Case and I were roommates throughout college. I ADORE her. Like, think she may be the most fabulous person on this planet. So warm and kind and loving. And then there's Cassandra, who came down with her husband from NorCal (also a sorority sister and also pregnant!) who is equally as fabulous as Casey. So wonderful, kind and generous. I just love her and so, so happy when I get to see her!

Anyway, it was a great day, celebrating a great friend... a few friends were missing (you know who you are!), but we had fun and seem to be getting even more fabulous with age!

I mean, really, look how fierce these Colorado ladies are:

Tofu.... really?

As you all know, Austin's eating habits have been a STRUGGLE. He's picky. Really picky. Which is so strange because neither Ryan or I were picky eaters. I'm frustrated.

I've been experimenting. First, with broccoli bites. It took awhile, but now he loves them (which mommy loves!!!). This weekend, I made spaghetti squash. This was somewhat a hit. I'll need to keep making it. I've been also supplementing him with fruit/veggie puree pack (like baby food, but anyone can eat them). He was hesitant at first, but now, sucks them down. He now asks for them, which is great because it's an alternative snack that is super healthy, which mommy loves too.

Tonight? I made tofu for the first time. ehhhh... it was okay. What can I say, I'm a meat-lover. Austin loved it though. Weird. So weird.

Here's Austin eating his spaghetti squash:

Burping and Farting and Other Smelly Boy Behavior

Well, if there was ever a doubt in my mind that I have a boy that is ALL BOY, those feelings are now gone. For one, I have the BURP-iest (is that a word?) kid. He burps, like BIG burps, all of the time. I laugh even though I shouldn't, but I think it's hilarious mostly because I can't burp. Like, literally, I can't burp. Trust me, I have tried for years. After we both have a good laugh at his burp, I have taught him to say "excuse me, I burped", so I guess it's not all that bad that I laugh my ass off if I'm teaching him manners at the same time? He is also obsessed with farting and everything smelly. He pretends to fart, yells "PEEEW" and then busts up laughing. Where did he learn this!?! ha!!! He also always wants me to smell his feet. All of this makes me laugh so hard now, but I won't be laughing when he's a smelly teenager.

One thing that I am very proud of are Austin's manners. He is getting so good at his please, thank yous and I'm sorry's! I love it. We also clean up together at night before he goes to bed. It takes about 5 minutes longer when he's helping me, but I know it'll save me time and energy in the future so it's worth it! I even made of a silly little song that we sing and now I have it in my head all the time.

And one more thought.. bribery. It works. I never thought communicating would be so hard with a 2 year old, but when you use bribery, it makes it so much easier and my sanity has slowly started putting itself back together- yay! We use bribery for everything now including potty training, to eating (finally figured out a way to get him to eat!), to cleaning, to calming down. I love it and anyone who says that bribery is no good is a damn liar or has never raised a 2 year old.

I mean... is he 10 years old in this pic!??! what the heck?

First time at the movies

He loves to steal my phone and take pictures of himself, so this is what I get! how fun is that?!?! ha! I love these picture surprises he leaves me now!

In N Out Milk shake.. yum.

Goofing around with Popi. Love him!

At Pretend City:

And this is the monster I share my bed with:

Stickers on his eyes. Creepy

Fun with Uncle Charlie and Popi!

Counting to 10!

Austin officially counted to 10 this morning! He's made it to 8 before, but this was the first time I've heard him count all of the way to 10.... what a smart little man! He now knows all of his colors, shapes and numbers- so exciting!

"Oh Sh*t"

My girlfriend Marisa came over this afternoon and she headed straight for a spoonful of peanut butter in my cupboard (she's 8 months pregnant and does this every time she comes over lately :) ). Austin was eating his dinner and Marisa dropped her spoon full of peanut butter on my floor and she said, "oh shit" and IMMEDIATELY Austin said "oh shit! oh shit! oh shit!"! hahahaa! You should have SEEN Marisa's face! She felt horrible! ((I thought it was hysterical and told her that I was just going to blame her when he started saying it at daycare)).

Anyway, just a funny moment tonight. Poor Marisa was mortified! Austin was cute though and gave her a big hug on her way out and said, "bye 'eesa- see you soon!"

Also, I just need to document this because it's so funny to me- I call Austin a silly goose all the time and how funny he is and lately, whenever he does something he thinks is funny he says, "mommy, I funny goose!". What a stinker. Yes, Austin, you are definitely a funny goose.

How to get a 2 year old to brush his teeth

It was a struggle for months to get Austin to brush his teeth... until I found Ginger, the Teeth Brushing Kitty app on our iPad. He loves it and now ASKS to brush his teeth. Next step: Pediatric Dentist! 

Side note- at the end he's saying "Kitty, you're CRAZY!" Story behind that is our actual (not virtual) kitty IS certifiably crazy! She climbs up our curtains (and walks on the curtain rods), balances on the doors of the armoire, is always getting into things, etc and I am always saying, "kitty... you're CRAZY!" so now Austin has started saying it all the time- ha!

Big news in my house this morning!

I was drying my hair this morning and looked over and Austin was standing in front of the potty with his pants around his ankles and trying to get his diaper off! He's been doing such a GREAT job on potty training lately and pee pees every time I sit him on there, but this is the first time HE'S taken the initiative! So proud!

Surf City Marathon

Shortly after Ryan passed, his brother Charlie decided that he would run the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach in his memory. He has been training for the past few months and completed the marathon on Sunday. We were so unbelievably proud of him and this accomplishment!! Ryan would have been so honored... and, as Charlie said, he was with him every step of the way.

Congratulations Charlie- We love you!!!