AUSTINAustin is four and a half years old and in pre-k this year. He likes school and has made some good friends. He loves to learn and learns quickly, and is doing better about sitting still and paying attention. The first day was the hardest of my life this far, I couldn't believe my baby was going to school. He was so brave and hugged my neck, and then walked slowly with the rest of his class to his classroom, looking back several times. I was in tears and wanted to make sure he was ok, so went to peek in on him in his new room. He had walked to a corner by himself looking lost, and was silently crying. I was heart broken. I immediately went in and hugged him again, and stayed until he was able to let me go again. I went home crying hysterically and told my husband about it. I then put Aubrey in her car seat and drove back to the school, to sit outside in the car for the 2 and 1/2 hours he was in there. He came out smiling and laughing. I am pretty sure I cried the whole time. To say I have a hard time letting go is an understatement! He is growing up so fast.
Austin loves baseball and the Red Sox. He has been playing baseball since before he could walk, and impresses anyone who will watch him play with his swing and his accurate throws. He loves to hit the ball over the house. He knows the Red Sox line up and could name all of the players before he could name his colors. I used to tease Brian about that, his defense was that Austin was learning the 'important things' first. Austin's favorite story about our annual Red Sox trips to Texas to watch the games is when the Big Papi threw him a ball, and mommy caught it for him.
Austin is also very much into dinosaurs. He has loved them for as long as we can remember and has renamed most of his dinosaurs to suit his life. There is a daddy and mommy dinosaur, an Austin and now an Aubrey dinosaur as well. We think this started with "The Land of the Lost", the 70's show that was on for a few years that as a child Brian really liked and has shared with him. About the same time he got into dinosaurs, he got into King Kong as well. He has a stuffed gorilla he sleeps with more often than not, and used to love to re-enact the movie. Daddy and I would buy our imaginary popcorn and drink, and sit to watch his 'movie'. He is a very creative boy. His interests are now including superheros (spiderman, superman and batman), Rocky, as well as ghosts and ghost stories. He likes to go ghost hunting with his daddy and often finds one somewhere in the house. He likes to read "The Three Investigator" books with daddy too, another interest Brian has shared with him. As you can imagine, he is a total daddy's boy. The two are inseparable.
I worried about how Austin would do with his baby sister before she was born. I shouldn't have, as he is such a caring, loving, and sensitive boy. He was really involved with the pregnancy and would love to feel her kick and move. At our first ultrasound he asked if we could take her out so he could play with her. He also asked if she was a Red Sox fan. Austin adores his sister. He kisses and hugs her anytime she will let him, and sometimes when she won't. He loves to make her laugh and tells her all the time how much he loves her. It is very sweet to watch him with her. I hope it continues even when she begins destroying his stuff!
AUBREY
Aubrey is 6 months old. She loves to smile and laugh, her first smile was at mommy-her eyes just sparkle and her whole face lights up when she smiles. It will melt your heart. Out of all of us her brother makes her laugh the most. She loves to follow his every move in whatever he is doing. She also loves to "talk" and babbles a lot. I love to just watch her as she is learning about her world. It helps me to remember how Austin was as a baby as well. Today she spent a good 10 minutes trying to figure out how to get a sticker off of her hand. And into her mouth. She is really starting to develop her own personality. For the most part she is easy going and laid back, as was Austin. About the only time she will cry is if she is not being held and wants to be, and she is held a lot! She loves to cuddle with mommy, and is a great sleeper. Both of my kids started sleeping through the night by 2 months. When she is really tired she will play with her hands and hum to herself. She likes to pinch my neck when she is cuddling with me too. She is a mommy's girl...right now, and will cry if I walk out of the room. I know this is normal baby behavior, but it makes me feel good. Austin was a mommy's boy until about 1, since then he has been totally about his daddy. I am sure she will follow suit. I can't blame them, their daddy is a pretty good daddy. She has two teeth on the bottom, they came in at about 4 months. She has just mastered sitting up and rolling over both ways, and is starting to wiggle backwards. It won't be long and she will be on the move. It all just goes too fast.
I have great kids. I love being their mom, and wish I could keep them little forever.
