Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Once a year the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo comes to town. This is my first time to go, but I know I will be going for many years to come. I saw so many animals, including this cow. She is a milking cow, and I learned to say "moo" when I saw all the cows and heard them. I also got to take my picture with a real live cowboy. He let me get extra close to this cow.

A real, live pony ride!

Mommy and Grandma took me to ride a real live pony at the rodeo. I had such a good time. I am a natural cowboy, and I loved to bend forward and pet my pony's mane. I loved my horsey, and I am a regular Lone Ranger!

Boot scootin'

At the rodeo there were all of these huge boots! One day my foot just might fit in one this size at the rate I am growing.

No cabinet is safe from me!

If it is a cabinet you don't want me to get into, you better put a lock on it. I am an expert at opening cabinets, and I love to crawl inside. Mommy left this kitchen cabinet with things in it just for me, but I take the things out and try to get in myself. I know you like looking at my caboose!

Here a chick, there a chick...

Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick chick! I saw so many cute, fuzzy, baby chicks at the rodeo with Grandma. When I saw the chickens, I let everyone know by saying "bock, bock."

The plane, the plane!

No, I am not a Nazi! I am pointing to the airplane in the sky. Not a single airplane goes by that I don't tell you it is there. I think this will be my seat on Daddy's boat when we go on the water. I can't wait!

A Ship Out of Water

I got to go hang out on Daddy's boat. We didn't take it in the water, but I didn't care. It was so much fun. I can't wait to go fishing with him. I already know what a fish is, and I call them by name..."ish."

Truckin'

I love riding in my Daddy's truck. He listens to the best music, and I can see for miles in front of myself! I have got to get a truck just like it when I am big enough to drive....or maybe Daddy will give me his?

Yee Haw!

Mommy took me to the mall and I got to ride a horse on a carousel. I thought it was so much fun. I only wish he bounced up and down more.

They call me the fireman...

They call me the fireman....that's my name! Makin' my rounds all over town puttin' out old flames. (It's a great country song by George Straight for those of you who don't know). I loved driving this firetruck with my buddies, Bert and Ernie.

Who knew 50 cents could be so much fun?

Coffee Table or Fort???

Coffee Table or Fort??? You decide...

Puzzled???

I am sooooo good at taking puzzle pieces out. You should see me. I am the BEST. I am not interested in putting them back in. I am way too good at taking them out.

Bubbles are magical

I can't believe there are such amazing, magical things in this world as bubbles. If you look closely you may see a few of them around me. I am also wearing my Valentine's shirt (a little early). Don't worry Emma, you are still my Valentine, but Mommy is my number one Valentine.

Elmo!

I have to say, that if you don't have an Elmo, you MUST get one. I LOVE my Elmo, and I give him lots and lots of hugs. Mommy may need to find a back up Elmo just in case this one ever goes missing. Thanks to my good buddy Will who gave Elmo to me (and Oscar) for my birthday. I rarely go anywhere without my buddy Elmo.

I'm all boy!

I am all boy. I love dirt. It feels good in your hands, in your hair, in your mouth, and anywhere else you can put it. I love dirt!

The Up Slide of Things

Crawling up the slide can be almost as fun as sliding down.....almost.

Weeeeeeeeeeee!

I love, love, love swinging at the park! Bring on the Spring weather, I am ready for the outdoors!

Rock Star Baby

Rockin' in the bathtub!!

Gotta have a blackmail bath photo

Mommy said that I may not like the fact that she has a picture of me in the bathtub later, but I don't mind sharing a picture of my favorite time of day with you.

Still Loving to Read

I am not losing any interest in books. I love this book from my Great Aunt Sheila and Great Uncle Tom. It is about Noah's Ark and it has finger puppet animals. How fun!

Exercise is Exhausting

I love to climb the stairs, but man, is it exhausting. Sometimes you just have to put your head down and take a breather on your way up. WHEW!

Adventures in Dinner...Part 2

Adventures in Dinner...Part 2

Mommy found out that I will eat a vegetable (so far just sweet potatoes) again if she lets me use a spoon. It takes a little practice, but you know, this spoon thing isn't so hard. Mommy says it is definitely something to try at dinner since I have bath time right afterwards. I don't see what the big deal is, I only got a little food in my hair and on my chin. It will dry soon enough.

Adventures in Dinner

Mommy calls this my "Adventures in Dinner" time. I guess I am pretty picky about the things I eat. I am really only into pasta with cheese and tomato sauce or grilled cheese sandwiches. I'll sample other things, but I usually spit them right out. Mommy gets frustrated for some reason at dinner when she cooks something and I won't eat it. I mean what's the big deal? If she would just make me lasagna or grilled cheese every night, everything would be fine. I guess I can add to my list of things to eat: ANYTHING sweet (cookies, cake, fruit, ice cream), cheerios, and pretty much any sweet breakfast foods. I am definitely like my Mommy here. I guess she ate too many yummy cupcakes in New York when I was in her belly. Here I am showing you just how much I love my pasta!

Ninja warrior

Sometimes when you are learning to walk, it is easier if you call upon the ninja warrior to help. See, you just hold your hands in a ninja pose, and it is so much easier! Hi Ya!!

It's official....

I am now an official toddler. Yes, when you turn one you are no longer a baby, but I was by no means "toddling" until now. At thirteen months old...I am walking! Look out world...lock up your daughters, I am now on the move. There is a whole new perspective from up here, and I like it.

Ride 'Em Cowboy

Howdy partners, for my birthday, my Aunt Lisa and Aunt Jennifer gave me this awesome zebra to ride. He bounces up and down, turns around, plays music, and has lots of fun things attached to him. I like to get on him all by myself and ride until the sun sets.

Ball Pit!!!

Ooooohhhhhh boy! Santa brought me something I really, really, really wanted. A ball pit! This one is Thomas the Train, and it has so many balls. I am an expert and crawling in and out of it, as well as taking balls out, and putting them in. You have never had fun until you have been in one of these things I tell you!

Christmas morning

Here I am on Christmas morning. Santa brought me toys at my new house. I hear that I was a good boy this year, so he brought me lots of goodies, including what I asked him for!!

A New House

Santa brought my whole family a new house for Christmas. I LOVE having all the space to crawl around. I can really go anywhere I want, and I have my own bedroom, my own game room, and my own bathroom! Wow, I have really come far since New York, where I used to share my bedroom with the living room!

YYYYYUUUUUUMMMMMMYYYY!!!

What.....what....on Earth is this??? Why have you people been holding out on me? I can't believe that there are things in this world that taste this good. Cake you say? Is that what it is called? I think I need to learn how to say this word quickly so I can tell everyone that all I ever want from now on is cake.

Birthday presents

Here I am with a few of my buddies opening birthday presents at my party. It was so much fun! Of course loved all the boxes that I got for my birthday. My Mommy and Daddy said that I had as much fun with the boxes as I did with what was in them.

Special Pancakes

My mom made me a special pancake in the shape of a one for my first birthday, and she and Daddy plan on making this a tradition from now on! I do like my pancakes!

Austin's First Year

Mommy put together a slide show of my first year, but it is still kind of a work in progress. Here is what she has so far! You may have to copy and paste it to your address bar.

http://beta.photoshow.com/watch/Zx4hR3aT

Austin is One!

Today is your birthday sweet boy. It is so hard to believe that a year has gone by, and you have changed so much. Each day we love you more and more, and it is impossible to believe that this love could grow any bigger, but it just keeps growing. We are so proud of you, and we know that you are going to grow up to be a wonderful person, but we want you to stay little for a long time! You are so close to walking, and it stirs up mixed emotions. Yes, we want you to walk, but once you do that you won't need us as much anymore, so we don't know how to feel about that! You started out in this world 9 lbs. and 6 oz. and 21 1/2 inches long. Now you weigh about 26 pounds and are close to 31 inches tall! My how you have grown. Stay as sweet as you are, and always know just how much you are loved.
Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Me and Santa

Mommy and I were just shopping at the Galleria one day when we met this wonderful person named Santa. I had no problem sitting in his lap and telling him all the things I wanted for Christmas like ..... world peace, some balls to play with, a Harley of my own, some sweet potatoes, balls to play with, a new house, balls to play with, a bike, balls to play with, and many more...but I won't bore you with the details.

Tunnels are so much fun!

I got this tunnel for an early birthday present, and it is so much fun. I love to crawl under anything that I can fit under so this tunnel is perfect for me. It has windows that I can look out of to see my dogs looking in at me. Jack loves to run inside it with me. I just love to crawl from one end to the other, and back and forth, over and over! Tunnels are so much fun!

Gig 'Em Aggies!

On the day after Thanksgiving, Mommy and I watched a really great football game. I sat in a special chair and was wearing all my special clothes, and Mommy kept saying all these different yells for her team. The only one I could say was "Aaaaaaaaaaa" as I am doing here. We were really excited when her Aggies beat the Longhorns this year.

Vroom vroom!

Pops showed me all the important information I need to know to ride a Harley. Uncle Chris even turned his motorcyle on and I sat on it. Man, are those Harley's loud! I can definitely see myself on one sometime in my future.

Thanksgiving is Great!

Turkey, ham, and sweet potatoes....oh my! Pumpkin pie is to die for! Why can't I eat like this everyday? Yummmmmmmmy!

BIG BROTHER

That is right....I'm going to be a big brother. I totally understand "big", I mean everyone is always calling me big. But "brother", I have yet to figure out what that means. I am not sure I want to know, but I think it has something to do with why Mommy is acting so different lately. She says that as I have learned to go 70 miles an hour, she has to slow down and go 5 miles an hour. I guess I am hard to keep up with. I wonder what all this big brother stuff means. I guess I'll find out the first week in June!