A weekend back in the Cedar Valley!

This last weekend we were back in our old neck of the woods! We finally had our house closing...feels pretty good to be mortgage free! Although, we've been looking at A LOT of houses down here now, so it probably won't last long! :)

While back in the Cedar Valley - we were able to stay with the Duncan's for part of the weekend. We had so much fun! Sometimes it's hard to believe that these three boys are only 6 months apart...you probably wouldn't guess it by size, but they sure do love playing together. And I'm sure that friendship will only grow as they grow up! Soon there will be another little Austerman to join the fun...I keep wondering if it will be another little boy or a little girl that is tagging along with the boys. Even if it is a girl, that's ok - I spent many a days chasing my older brother and his friends when I was younger...they might not have appreciated a 'girl' joining the mix, but it didn't phase me a bit! 

On our way to the park for some playtime! What a great wagon they have! And can you believe how identical these boys are? All weekend I could tell them apart without any problem, it helped that Mr. Riley had a tiny scratch on his nose...but seriously, I'm getting better each time!

Leyton riding the Spaceship!

And then Riley came to join him!

Riley having fun on the slide!

We enjoy the Duncan family so much! They were in our church small group for 5 years or so, and we enjoyed hanging out with them when we were all just couples, then we went through pregnancy together, and then to new parents. It's hard to find friends that you've shared so many memories and life changes with! We are so blessed by their friendship! 

Cruisin down the freeway...or maybe just the backyard

I'm not sure I ever posted a picture of the big birthday present Zay received, but here it is! We obviously have BIG dreams for our little guy...and are unintentionally a tad overzealous to give really cool things to our children. Zay LOVES this motorized jeep, however 5 mph is a little fast for a 2 year old that doesn't understand the art of steering...  

Here is proof of how Isaiah prefers to drive. Just lean back and put the pedal to the plastic! Makes this mama thankful for a gigantic backyard!

And there he goes…today he’s 2, tomorrow I’ll be watching him drive away at 22. Oh boy...

Just another day...at the park...

What a breath of fresh air it's been to be outside almost every single day for the last two weeks. Ah, refreshing. The local weather man tells us it's going to rain each day, but he really hasn't been too precise for the conditions in Mechanicsville, Iowa. I’m not complaining, rather delighted in his inaccuracy!

Some of our favorite excursions are simply to walk to the city park. Nothing special about this park, but we make it there at least once a week. Most of the equipment is old, worn out and reminds me of the parks that were around when I was Zay’s age. Zay doesn’t judge. He simply enjoys what is provided. The old-school slide, merry-go-round and teeter-totter make him happy. 

One way or another Zay always seems to attract the other kids to us. This almost always means the big kids. It’s amusing to watch how the little school-aged kiddos follow Isaiah around calling him a ‘baby’ and saying things like “oh look, the baby can walk” and “wow, the baby knows how to talk”. I just admire their curiosity, observing quietly how they play with my ‘baby’. Zay’s social nature is so inspiring to me. I pray he never loses that twinkle in his eye and that sparkle in his smile that just welcomes others to join in our playtime. 

 

And on the other extreme I'm still learning how to deal with Zay’s differences. While at the park, one of the little girl’s grandmas offered candy to all of the kids. Of course this isn’t the first time I’ve had to explain Zay’s special diet and that he won’t be partaking in the treats, but as Zay grows I notice him comprehending that he is different. The emotion on his face breaks my heart as all the other kids are eating a treat and he’s not. And I’m the one who has to say matter-of-factly that the treat isn’t good for him, as if I don’t recognize what he’s feeling. I do recognize it. I do hurt for him. I want to just let him have a tiny taste of what it feels like to ‘fit in’. But I have to be strong, so he can learn how to be strong. This is not my nature, so I’m learning too.

While sulking in that brief moment at the park, I’m quickly pulled back to reality. PKU has made our family special. Unique. Exceptional. And it has fueled me into being more than a typical mom. I want to be a great mom. I want to be strong. I want to be loving. And I want my children to be strong and loving. So many of the things I want to plant in my children’s hearts have been made easier because of PKU. Teaching them to look deeper than surface level.

In the end, it’s the challenge that has spurred me into action. To evaluate who I am and who I want to be. To be better and to do better. To remember that when I’m exhausted and feel pity that I’m the mom that has to make my child’s milk each morning, bake his bread each week and measure his meals, snacks, treats and drinks; I’m also the mom that has been given the wisdom, drive, and perspective most people have to live years to acquire. 

 

The Message version of James 1:2-4 says: Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Thank you, God for beautiful weather, playtime at the park, friends to have fun with and PKU! 

Trips!

We are home from our trips!!! Zay and I have been well traveled over the past few weeks! We started out with a weekend in Minneapolis with Daddy and Grandma Judy and then spent the next week with Grandma Becky and Papa Jim! Yay for fun times!!!

Playing around in the hotel before the Lakers game in Minneapolis...

Hotel rooms are actually quite entertaining for a two year old...thank goodness because we spent our share of time in them!

We made it to the game! Zay walked almost the ENTIRE way from the hotel to the game! It was a mile walk - I was so proud of him! What a trooper!

Mommy and Zay!


Zay and Daddy = true Lakers fans! Zay kept saying "ball-ball"...he can't quite pronounce "basketball".

Daddy and his Mommy...

Zay and his Mommy...

GO LAKERS! 

A couple pictures from warm-ups...

Ron Artest, or I mean "Metta World Peace". (He legally changed his name to this) One of my favorite Laker's to watch, mainly because he's so entertaining both on and off the court. I mean, really with a name like Metta World Peace and thanking your psychiatrist after you win a NBA championship...the entertainment factor is definitely there!

Andrew Bynum...this guy is just massive! Very impressive!

And Derek Fisher. Another favorite player of mine...too bad he just got traded and doesn't play for the Lakers anymore. :(

One happy hubby! Laker's WIN!!!

And now...switching gears - our trip with Papa Jim and Grandma Becky. My dad travels a lot for work and usually drives, so this time we jumped on board and came with! So much fun!! We were in North Dakota and Minnesota for this trip!

We found a nice mall while we were in Fargo and Zay played and played and played!

Too busy to slow down for a picture, Mom!!

We found some new crocs! Zay kept trying to put his old ones on and they were just too small for his growing feet! Blue ones for this summer!

We found a neat consignment store and found a deal on this scooter! $7.99 - Yay!

Mommy thought it would be a good idea to bring this Zay's wet-suit with built in floaties. It worked well, but we bought it last year, and it's pretty snug for this year!

Swimming! (Last picture you will see of me in a 2-piece swimming suit this summer! I just purchased a one-piece that will be much more flattering for my growing belly! ;)

One night we even went out to eat with Papa's co-workers. Zay was such a good boy at his first 'business meeting'!

A picture in the car - specifically taken to send to Daddy back home!

And getting ready to go swimming at a hotel one last time!!!

Just a couple more!

Remember not so long ago I dove into a pinterest DYI project and adhered these pictures onto canvas? Welp...I’ve further expanded that photo wall AND produced a couple other areas of interest in our transitory home! Because, really you can't have too many pictures of your two-year-old plastered on the wall, right? Maybe I should just consider getting customized wall paper with his cute little mug...then there wouldn't be a square inch not covered with his bright sun-shiny self! 

Anyway, seriously, I am loving the results! 

Admittedly, I never have actually ordered a canvas print, and I'm positive they are a smidgen higher quality; however...I change my mind a lot. This just seems like a cheaper, easier, and less committal way of displaying our favorite pics. Suits me just fine! And I tell myself while the kiddos (yes, I’m including the one in the oven) are still growing – we best keep snapping shots and updating our walls! 

I adore these pictures of Zay. I think of them as…”the many expressions of Zay”! Makes me happy to gaze at them hanging on our dining room wall.

And what’s not to love about a little lad getting a bit dirty. This undoubtedly demonstrates the phase of life we are in right now. Zay + outside = filthy. 

Okey-dokey, I'm off to pack up for the first of two little excursions we are going on. First stop, Minneapolis to see a Laker's game with Grandma Judy! Second adventure… On Sunday, Zay and I are heading out on a little road trip with Grandma Becky and Papa Jim! Ought to be fun! Have a fabulous day!

Outside time!

Today we spent a great deal of our afternoon doodling cars, rainbows and letters on our driveway and blowing bubbles into the wind. What a grand way to receive such a gorgeous day. I think our car read 68 degrees on our way home from the store…ahh, so refreshing!

Our work wasn’t complete until we had a memo awaiting Daddy as he pulled in the driveway.

 

Taking a stroll to the school’s playground was next on our agenda. Zay made friends with all the cute school-aged girls, several of them following him around to assist him with every little step, slide and swing. No pictures of them though…I felt it was better to leave the camera put away until after the other kiddos were gone. I didn’t know them and didn’t want parents to be weirded out by some random mom taking pictures of their kids!

Anymore, I really have to convince Zay to look at me when I have the camera in hand, but I consider it successful when I can catch a glimpse like this. Pure joy. I love it.

It’s a good thing I’m still agile enough to fly down fire escapes and slides, because you just gotta be fast when Zay is having fun. One minute he’s on the baby-level slide, the next he’s headed for the big daddy of ‘em all. I’m already having visions of what this will look like later this summer when I’m hauling around another babe…in my belly. “Hang on, sista…here we go!” (I say sista…but there is no confirmation of the little bean inside me being female. And to be quite accurate, upon announcing my pregnancy at MOPS today it was predicted that another boy will join our family. Time will tell!)

And……"Th-th-th-that's all folks!"

Baths, baking, and bunches of fun!

A day spontaneously greeting us with a lack of morning sickness is a day that is sure to be rejoiced in this house! Remarkably, that day was today!

Bath time was extra long this morning, with mommy right alongside the bubbles and splashes.

There is something I adore about seeing my baby wrapped in his towel as he runs all the way through the house, pausing only a moment to catch a glimpse of Sesame Street.

Given that Mommy was feeling able-bodied and desperately needed to do some cooking for Zay…it was an occasion to get the baking supplies and rice out!

The amount of time and amusement a few bowls, cups, and spoons will give a two year old is remarkable. Grateful! 

Yes, there was a mess to clean up. A few lost grains of rice on the kitchen floor…and living room…

...and probably more to be discovered later, but a great deal of fun while it lasted. 

On to the markers.

Zay desires to sit down and color at least a few times a week. Mainly with his markers, but sometimes we throw in some crayons and/or finger paint.

There are days when I marvel at the fact that they actually make little boy’s shirts in white. Really? Can these two pictures above justify that it shouldn't happen! (Note: this shirt was not purchased by me...it was a gift and this is probably only the second time he's worn it...eek!)

 Peace out, ya'll...it's naptime! Have a splendid day! :)