Austen Learns to Ski

One Sunday, we decided it was time to take Austen skiing. He's three now so we thought he might be at an age where he would listen to some direction. Well, the first thing he said to Tom when he got Austen out on the little bunny hill was, "I want to do it myself!" And, to that, Tom replied, "You don't even know how to do it so let me explain it to you!" Much to our surprise he actually did listen and take direction. There were a couple of memorable moments (as told to me by Tom since I was in the lodge with Peyton although I did get to see him through some windows for a run or two):

1) Tom told Austen that when he wants to stop he needed to put his skis into a pizza shape. Well, Austen does not like pizza so he refused to do this. Telling him to make a triangle or something else worked a lot better!

2) Over the course of the almost two-hour session with Tom, Austen only fell twice but one time he did a really good face plant. Of course, like most three-year-olds, he started crying. Tom asked him if he was hurt anywhere. He told Tom no and then Tom asked him if he wanted to ski some more. Through his tears he said yes and went back up the hill ready to try it again.

3) My nieces met us at the ski hill and when they walked in I noticed they were wearing helmets. These helmets are staples for kids these days but they didn't rent helmets like they did skis so Austen wasn't wearing one. That night we promptly went to the store to purchase a helmet for Austen so he has one now and I can't wait for him to wear it. He looks like a little daredevil (so don't chastise me for the pics and video of him sans helmet).

Austen has really good balance which I think will help him skiing. When he was younger he was always really good at the balance beam in gym class and at school so I wasn't surprised that he did so well skiing his first time around.


Lesson one seemed to be a success. Not once did Austen say he was cold and wanted to go inside. Although in the video below he does say he's hungry and wanted to eat lunch. A day on the slopes sure works up a good appetite!

My First Outing with A & P Alone

My first outing with Austen and Peyton together was to the doctor for Austen's three-year check up. Admittedly, I was a little nervous about taking them both together. First, because the doctor's office is in the city and there is a lot of busy streets and traffic where Austen had to listen to me and either hold my hand or hold the stroller and second, the last two times Austen had been to the doctor's office, he got shots (seasonal flu and H1N1) so I thought there wasn't a chance that I would get off without any drama at this visit.

I prepared Austen, telling him he'd have to be good. And, like most mothers, I bribed him. I told him if he was good, he'd get to watch a video (something he always asks to do and isn't always permitted). Things went well initially. I got the stroller set up, Peyton in the stroller, Austen out and we walked into the doctor's office without incident. Even when the doctor asked for a urine sample, Austen calmly proclaimed he could do it. So off we went - me, Peyton and Austen into the small cramped bathroom to pee in a cup. However, once in there, Austen insisted he doesn't pee in a cup, he pees in the toilet so I had to lower the cup as far as possible into the toilet so he would go. After the task was complete and I was juggling Austen, Peyton and the pee to the lab around the corner (I didn't spill!), we were told to go to the exam room. That's where the drama started.

Austen wouldn't go in. He heard other kids crying and he planted his feet outside the exam room and refused to budge. The nurse came in and told me to get him stripped down to his underwear. I parked Peyton's stroller in the corner, thanking her silently for being asleep and went to grab Austen from the hall. After a few minutes of talking to him, I realized he was not going to cooperate and I couldn't rationalize with him and make his fears go away. I then had to just start undressing him against his will. He was crying and shaking uncontrollably. The nurse and I couldn't even get him to step on the scale to be weighed let alone stand to get his height. He was that scared. The doctor heard the commotion and thankfully came in and rescued the nurse and me. He managed somehow to calm Austen down (I guess that's why he's a pediatrician) and Austen's loud sobs became quiet hiccups. My heart went out to my poor little guy. He was sitting on my lap during his exam and I could feel the sweat escaping from his armpits - that's how terrified he was.

Well, he made it through the exam and so did I. We even managed to get him to stand on the scale and get him measured at the end (33 pounds, 37 inches tall). His reward was no shots at this visit and mine was making it through my first outing with Austen and Peyton alone even though it was a challenging one.

The Trio

Peyton is now almost four weeks old. Hard to believe!

Both Austen and Adler are adjusting to having a little sister. Adler likes to sniff and lick Peyton but pretty much leaves her alone otherwise.

Austen is growing increasingly more interested in his sister but for the most part goes about his day and ignores her. He likes to help for a bit of the time – getting her bottle or helping to get the items she needs for her bath and getting his stool so he can watch her/see her get changed or washed up.

He did hit her in the head with a ball this week (it was a soft one) and earned a spot in timeout for it only because I had repeatedly told him to stop throwing the ball around her. And, let’s see yesterday he almost dropped his toy school bus on her head and lost his balance when throwing Adler a toy and almost landed on her in her bouncy seat. So a lot of near misses. I’m sure at some point they won’t be near misses and Peyton will have to be a tough little girl to put up with Austen (and Adler).

Here’s a video of our little trio together:

Austen's Birthday Party

So on Sunday we finally had Austen's family birthday party (we planned it later this year so we could have more time with Peyton and I would be feeling more mobile after my c-section). We also usually have it just at our house but decided this year with a newborn that we were better off having it at a local pizza place. Funny thing is that Austen does not like pizza! Of course, we just ordered him something different and the rest of us enjoyed the pizza.

Anyway, I was very proud of my three-year-old and the way he sat and opened up every gift and showed appreciation for everything he received including clothes! He also gave everyone a hug, kiss or high five for his presents after each gift was opened. And, this was all without a nap!

Austen had a great time seeing all his family and playing with his cousins...he didn't even seem to miss his friends that he thought were coming!

Here are some videos from that day.

Happy 3rd Birthday Austen!

I can't believe Austen is three. It seems like just yesterday that I had him. I'm sure I'll be saying that when he's 10, 20 and 30 too! Anyway, Austen woke up this morning and saw his presents waiting for him by his chair at breakfast. He thought Santa brought him more presents. I guess that's the problem with having your birthday so close to Xmas! It's confusing for a three-year-old! I'm sure by next year he'll get it.

Next year, we'll also have to have a "friend" party for him. He keeps talking about all his friends from school helping him celebrate his birthday but we decided to hold off on a kid birthday party for Austen for another year given that we were going to have a newborn. He'll still be celebrating next weekend with family so he'll get to blow out even more birthday candles! I'm sure he'll be fine with that especially with all his cousins there.

Austen did, however, get to celebrate his birthday with his friends at school. Tom and I stayed up late last night baking muffins for his classmates. (Cupcakes are a thing of the past - only somewhat healthy treats for kids these days at school!)So his class sang happy birthday to him and Tom said when he got to school this morning, the first thing he did was make a grand entrance and announce to everyone that today was his birthday. No chance that he was going to be overlooked on his special day! Here's Austen opening up his presents this morning and a photo (above) of him telling us he's three!

A New Addition and a New Name

I'm sure you all noticed that my blog has a new name. It's the third name change since I started this blog almost four years ago. It's appropriate as it follows the changes in my life since then. About a year after we were married, we got a dog (Raising Adler). Two years later, we had Austen (Raising Adler and Austen) and now we just added a new addition to our family - a little girl, Peyton. So instead of using Raising Adler, Austen and Peyton, I thought it was better to keep the title simple. Regardless, the focus won't change. I will still be writing about my two kids and our dog. Only now, I'll have more material with one more child.

Anyway, Peyton was born last Wednesday, December 30th. The birth was much easier this time around since I was scheduled for a c-section and didn't have to go through labor. What a blessing that was. I felt more alert and certainly knew more of what was happening this time around. When they pulled her out and said "it's a girl!," the first thing that Tom said was "I don't know what to do with a girl, I grew up with three brothers!" My first thoughts/words were "I told you!" I felt like she was a girl. Not because my pregnancy was much different this time around and it was (harder I would say) but because of my dreams. Before Austen was born, I had three dreams that he was a boy. This time, early on, I had a dream that it was a girl and then one about two weeks before I gave birth told me again it was a girl. So I was pretty confident it was a girl.

Austen met his little sister on New Year's Day. He visited the hospital with my mom. I was sitting on the couch on the far side of the room with Peyton. He entered the room, looked at Tom and was about to give him a hug when he saw me and ran to me but immediately halted when he saw Peyton in my arms. He turned on his heel and ran back to Tom and gave him a hug and a kiss. Then he hesitantly approached me and gave me a hug and a kiss and peered down at his new baby sister. That lasted a few seconds before he was mesmerized by the big windows in the room and all the buildings outside. I would say that since her birth, he's been interested in helping to throw away her diaper (one of his favorite things to do) and then just goes about his business of playing with his cars, trucks and trains like he did before. Of course he's had his moments of acting out but he's back to school and his routine, which I'm sure is comforting for him.

Here's a clip of the two meeting that first day:

Austen and Adler on Xmas Morning

It's probably our last Xmas where we can get away with sleeping in a little before Austen has us waking up at the crack of dawn to open Xmas presents. We were out late the night before so Austen didn't even wake up until 8am. Then he didn't even venture into our living room area to see the presents under the tree. In fact, we were able to get him dressed before he even decided to take a look under the Xmas tree.

Actually, Austen thinks Santa puts the presents in our stockings, not under the tree as you'll see in the video below. This clip is of him when he first turns on the tree and sees the presents. I think he's more enamored with Adler's presents than his own at first!

All in all, Austen had a great Xmas - traveling to both sides of his family's; checking out Grandma's HUGE Xmas tree; playing with his cousins on both sides; and getting to stay up late. And, it looks like the baby listened and chose to wait until after Xmas to make his/her appearance!