Thanksgiving week

I am so thankful for Mom and Denny coming to visit (thank you family for letting us borrow them for the holiday), our wonderful families, our home, my loving hardworking husband, our great friends, KU basketball, Auburn football, having a job that I love, my loved ones in good health, living in a country that when in "recession" people still get up at the butt crack of dawn to buy stuff on black Friday, my goofy pets and my beautiful son. I love you guys and hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Grandma's house

We are so fortunate to have Keith's mom (GagGaw) and sister Lori (Aunt Lo Lo) to watch Austin for us while were at work. He also gets to spend time with grandpa (Dude Buddy), Uncle Kevin (Uncle Ra-Ra) and his cousins Tyler and Kelsie everyday. They do such a good job and he is learning so much! He has exercise time, reading time, play time, nap time, feeding time and gets love all day. You can't ask for better care!

Cold weather

It's now cold in the mornings and Keith and I love to snuggle up to Austin. He is such a good cuddler! I just hate to leave him to go to work:( I am going to do my best to get a Christmas card out to everyone this year. I will need everyones updated address if you want a card. I know it's a little early to be thinking about Christmas but they are already playing the music and hanging the decorations! I love Chirstmas but I wish they'd let me get through one holiday before shoving another one down my throat. I am still trying to prepare for Thanksgiving and recover from Halloween!

Mirror Mirror on my swing...

There is a mirror on the mobile of Austin's swing and he has just noticed it. He will sit there and talk and smile at it. Very funny stuff! Remember when life was that simple and we were that easily entertained?

Our fun new toy

We got this toy out yesterday and I was afraid he might still be too small for it. I am glad we gave it a try anyway because it was a big hit. Although, he spent the first few minutes chewing on it he eventually figured out how to bounce in it to set the lights and music off. It's a great and fun toy but it takes up the entire living room! I told Keith we need to get a bigger house;) Austin is still teething and talking even more. I just know if I listen real hard an English word will come out! These next few months are going to be so much fun. He is starting to discover playing and his imagination will start to evolve. This should be a lot of fun considering his VERY goofy personality!

The circle of life...

Mom holding me, and me holding Austin

I think we may have the same smile. What do you think?

We're ahead of the crowd...

Our book that tells us what he will "start" doing at 15 weeks says he should now start kicking his feet a lot (been doing that for months), he should start looking around and turning his head (was doing that in the hospital. The nurses were amazed!), should start recognizing people (he knows when Uncle Kevin enters the room or Aunt Lori's voice) and he should start trying to roll over. We have been doing these things for month's so I am convinced we have a child prodigy on our hands! ;) We are getting very excited about Thanksgiving! We are going to have mom and uncle Denny over along with Keith's family. I can't wait to see them and enjoy great food at the same time. Time to break out the famous Thanksgiving sweat pants again!

Goof Ball

Our child is such a goof ball! His new favorite game is to have a face making contest with mommy. I'll make a face and a noise then he will try to out do me with an even funnier face and noise. He usually wins but on occasion I think he lets me win. He is starting to understand words too. If we say bear he looks at his bears, if we say bottle he gets excited and kicks his feet. He hasn't said any real words yet but he does have very serious conversations with us in his own language, and he expects you to pay attention! So far he has lots to say. I think he may get that from me;)

Curious George

My little monkey's favorite little monkey! He loves watching Curious George. He sits down to watch it almost every morning. He loves to talk to everything now and I know you can't believe it but he has a tooth coming in!!! He is still the happiest baby in the world despite the tooth cutting through his gums. He has always been very alert so now that he can hold his head up really good he is constantly wanting to be moved around to see new things. I don't think it will be long before he becomes mobile. Watch out world!

Thank you

What is a Vet?

They are an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of their life's most vital years in the service of their country, and who sacrificed their ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs. "They" are a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and they are nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known. So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded. Happy Veteran's Day!

A ham in our family? No way;)

He seems to love the camera! I don't know where he gets it from;) He is just the happiest child I've ever seen. He smiles at anyone at any time. It's not hard to get him to laugh at all. Apparently, I am just really funny looking because he laughs at me all the time!

His first Halloween

Little monkey

He's getting so big!

The things our family teaches us

I have been thinking about family a lot lately. I guess between starting my own and the holidays lurking it is inevitable. I have been thinking about the things I want to teach my children and niece's and nephews and someday their kids. That made me think about what I have learned from my family.

The Women (just to name a few)
Grandma Petty=kindness. She was kind to people that I would have struggled with
Grandma Ikenberry=honesty. She always speaks the truth in a way that's true to herself
Mom=hard work and perseverance. She has the best work ethic of anyone I have ever met. She always does everything 110%
Aunt Carrie=ambition. She has shown me that I could have anything I wanted if I put my mind to it
Manda=friendship. She always will be my first best friend. She knows more about my laughter and tears than anyone else
Andria=laughter. Although my time with her was short the fun and games we shared as children will be with me always. She was also the first loss I had ever had. I am still learning forgiveness

The Men (my father's)
Grandpa Petty= physics. he always told me when I stood between him and the TV that I made a better door than I did a window;) he was right
Papa Ray=aspiration. He has always been so supportive of me and made me feel like I could do anything
Uncle Dan=dependability. He was always there whether it be advice, life lesson or to dress up in a red suit and walk up a steep hill so that I could meet Santa Claus
Uncle Denny=honor. He taught me about fighting for something I believe in

The Kirkland boys

Austin, Daddy, Grandpa and Uncle Kevin...man us girls are out numbered! I guess I am going to have to have a girl next;) The weather here is wonderful! I love the fall. The trees are pretty and the temp is perfect for cuddling in the morning and night and playing outside in the afternoons. Austin LOVES to be outside! He is so attentive and watches everything. You can almost hear the wheels turning in his head. This is a great thing, but I have a feeling it will be a challenge for Keith and I to keep him out of mischief.

I Voted

Austin and Keith did so good today standing in line at the polls. Neither one of them threw a fit! Although daddy was close he managed to be patient;) The lines weren't that bad at 7 am. Most importantly we all got to vote and nobody threatened our lives. Isn't it great to be an American?!