Giving Up Paci and Learning About The Potty

Well, we are officially without a pacifier!  Austin had been down to only on pacifier since he had a little artwork session with the contents of his diaper one morning.  Only one pacifier was spared in this masterpiece and he watched as we through the other ones away.  Well, I warned him that if he broke his last remaining pacifier that that would be it and pacis would be all gone.  Well, about 10 days ago, that very thing happened.  He showed me his broken paci.  We threw it away, had a few tough days in which he needed a reminder about what happened and reassurance that it would be ok.  Now we are paci free and haven't looked back.  He's such a big boy.

Now we've moved onto the next challenge.  Potty training!  So far, it's been challenging, for me mostly.  It's a huge exercise in patience on my part.  The outside world must think I'm a real Queen B, because I've used up most of my patience for the next month in the last 3 days.  But, he's doing really well.  He's only had a few accidents and even woke up from a nap dry and used the potty.  He's such a smart little boy that I knew he could do it.  Now we just have to get him moved up to the next classroom at school where they encourage potty training.

We have a new addition to the household this week.  I used the idea of getting a fish as Austin's reward for cooperating with potty training over the first three days.  The first day we went that afternoon to look at fish at the pet store.  The second day we went and picked out the aquarium and then came home and set it up.  We talked about how if he used the potty the next day we could buy a fish to put in there.  Sure enough, come Wednesday afternoon (the day he woke up dry from his nap and used the potty), we were out buying a fish.  So without further ado, please welcome:

Raider!

Austin checking out his new friend

He lives in the bathroom

We feed him every time we go potty.  Only a little bit or else he would blow up like a blowfish!

And Austin just woke up from his second nap dry and went straight for the potty.  Hurray for success!

NC Aquarium

While at Emerald Isle, it was somewhat of a tradition to go to the aquarium when we were little.  So, it was only natural that Austin got to go this year.

They have one of those interactive mats.  Austin jumped right on and tried to chase the fish around.

He also found the biggest frog to hang on.

He touched a Horseshoe Crab with Mommy

And saw LOTS of fish

He turned into a crab, a few more times other than this one :)

 In the end, he found the ICE CREAM.  There was a Dairy Queen stand at the exit.  Granny got him a cone all to himself.

He displayed the best ice cream goatee that I've ever seen :)

Overall it was a successful trip to see "shhharks and teettles".

Emerald Isle Vacation

So in true Air Force family style, Austin and I took another vacation without Sam.  It has been his luck to be in training almost every single summer.  This makes taking leave very difficult.  So Austin and I planned out trip to the annual gathering of the Avera clan and went without him.  Maybe somewhere there was the dim hope that he would be able to join us, but I'm a realist so I knew it would be just us.  Nevertheless, we had a great time.  Austin was spoiled rotten by his Granny, Pa Pa, Great Grandaddy, GG, Auntie Shannon, Auntie C, and the list goes on and on.  To illustrate in terms everyone can understand, my suitcase weighed 47 pounds when we went out there.  I had to do some packing into carry-on bags to get home and the checked suitcase weighed in at 49.5 pounds.  Phew!  The lady at the ticket counter told me that I just made it.  I looked at her and told her, "I know, I'm a pro".  She laughed and slung the bag onto the conveyor belt.  I would hate that job, but I'm glad someone does it.

Anyway, onto the meat of this post.  PICTURES!

For the first few days, Austin was afraid of the actual ocean.  The waves made him nervous.  So Granny bought him a pool for the deck and the beach.  He LOVED it!

He especially loved it when we filled it with Mole Crabs (not Sand Fiddlers, which is what I usually call them).  About half of them made it back to the ocean.  The other half...well, they made it back to the ocean, but lets just call it the circle of life.

Digging holes with Pa Pa was how he spent most of his time on the beach.

"No Pa Pa, Get Up!"

This is the life

Our view from the beach cottage and most of the family :)

Pa Pa and Austin in the surf, finally!

Austin finally decided he liked the water :)

The Morning After

Austin's birthday this year was centered around all things cowboy.  Granny and Pa Pa started it off with a rocky horse named Blaze.  Annie and Pop got Austin a pair of cowboy boots just like Daddy's.  The Ulrich family topped it off with the hat.  And finally, Great Granddaddy and GG got Austin a partner, Woody from the Toy Story movies.  Someone is ROTTEN!  But still just as cute as ever.

 The great thing about birthday parties is the left over cupcakes!

 And I'm not sure what part of this way a good idea, but he went straight to the tub after this debacle.

Austin Turned 2!

Well, we made it!  He can officially be called "TERRIBLE" when he acts out or won't listen or whatever.  While he can live up to the hype, he's mostly GREAT!  So for Austin's birthday celebration we decided to invite a few friends over for hamburgers and hot dogs and to let the kiddos play in the pool.  This what ensued...

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!