Big Enough

I was just reading through some really old posts on our blog (which by the way, I don't know how to only show recent posts like the way everyone else's is and not the entire blog from the very beginning), when I read the post about Austin and Levi being best friends from March 2007. "Austin" mentioned that he couldn't wait until he was big enough to play ball with Levi and daddy. Well, he's big enough! Playing ball is pretty much all he does from the moment he wakes up until he goes to bed - throwing the ball, swinging his bat, and running bases! He's recently discovered Andy's baseball glove and loves playing catch! He has his first glove waiting for him from his Poppa Nix....he will be so excited!

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Well, maybe for us it was the Not-So-Great Pumpkin Patch. Yesterday, our plan was to meet up with a few other families (Allens, Goodsons, & Kings) to go to the Great Pumpkin Patch about an hour away. Although, as we were getting things ready to leave, I began having incredible Braxton Hicks contractions, one right after the other. I get them pretty regularly and had them throughout my pregnancy with Austin, but these were out of control! We were very late meeting every one, and we ended up leaving not too long after getting there because the walking around was making it worse. I rode home stretched out in the back seat and spent the rest of the evening on the couch drinking water and gatorade, which helped tremendously.

I did get a few pictures before we left. This is pretty much all we did....talk with our friends and went to the petting zoo - no hay ride, pumpkin patch, or anything else. Pretty sad, huh? I felt so bad, but Austin won't remember we gipped him of the fun stuff, right? :)

James and Austin - such BLUE eyes!

Petting Zoo

Our cool dude on the ride home

"Bye"

Several weeks ago my sister, Heidi, had a photo shoot with Austin for his 2 yr pictures. We went out to Botanical Gardens early one morning, during that week that the weather was so cool around here. She really captured his "Austin-ness" in her pictures! This was one I thought I'd share on the blog. He was waving bye to one of the grounds keepers as we were leaving. He's really into telling people bye....and every car, plane, train, etc.!

Sweet Huffstetlers......

Saturday when we came home from the hospital, the Huffs were so sweet to bring us dinner (and wonderful Panera bagels to have for breakfasts) so that we would have one less thing to think about! They also brought Austin a big stuffed elephant, despite their affiliation with that other school...now that's friendship!! :) We insisted they stay and eat with us since we had been cooped up in a small hospital room for 48 hours. We very much enjoyed and appreciated their company and had fun watching Austin and Evelyn get to know each other more!

Here are some pictures I got of the cuties.....(Jessica thought these will be perfect to show at their rehearsal dinner! :) )

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For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways....(Ps 91:11)

I have prayed this verse over Austin many times. In fact, we had Jessica Huffstetler paint it over his crib before he was born. Since last Wednesday, I have been so keenly aware of (and so thankful for) the faithfulness of this promise....

Wednesday I found the front door open and Austin standing on the front porch! And as many of you know, our front door is only a little more than a car length away from the street.

Then Thursday night, 15 min after we put Austin to bed, he had a horrible allergic reaction (possibly anaphylactic), for which we took an ambulance to the hospital, where we stayed for two nights. He responded immediately to treatments, but stayed to be monitored.

The Lord is so good and so faithful...not only in His protection over Austin, but also in His peace given to Andy and me.

Austin's hives...they were from head to toe!

After treatments, waiting in ER to be put in a room.

October 1st??

Yesterday was the 1st of October, but here in the south it sure doesn't feel like October 1st. Although , I have lived my whole life in the South, and I'm not really sure what October is supposed to feel like. I guess perfectly beautiful warm weather is was it is supposed to be down here....and I LOVE it!! I've been getting Austin outside as much as possible lately....playing at the park, blowing bubbles in the back yard, and having picnics! Here are some pictures I took of Austin yesterday while we were enjoying the weather. (I had been wearing 2 shirts and took one off, so of course he wanted to take his shirt off!)