I thought I'd start Austin's birthday week off with a 'Top 10 List' of my favorite things about our little guy, whether they're characteristics or little moments that we have shared. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard to narrow it down to just 10! I know I gush about him quite frequently on this blog, but I just can't help it! And I cannot believe that he will be TWO on Saturday!
#10- I love how you have made so many friends at school. It seems you have become a bit of a teacher's pet. You love to hang out with one of your former teachers and help her clean her room at the end of the day and she treats you to cake or extra snacks. And you love to go with your current teacher to get the snacks from the kitchen, take the dirty rags to the laundry room, etc. But my favorite part is when I drop you off or pick you up and you say hi/bye to your little friends by name and give them a hug. Such a social butterfly already!
#9- I love how you're like a little monkey, literally. Monkey see, monkey do. You watch us say or do something, and you can immediately mimic it. This is particularly convenient when I want you to say funny things. Lately, when your Daddy passes gas, you immediately yell, "Daddy, you tooted!" and laugh. All it took was to say that one time, and you were hooked. And you're the coolest kid in town when instead of giving a high five, you give knuckles. :)
#8- I love how lately you like for me to raise up my shirt, you raise yours, and we rub our bellies together and you laugh hysterically. I haven't decided yet if you actually know that a baby is going to come out of my growing belly in about two months, but I have faith that you will be a great big brother. I see how you play with Brady and love on him, and even though he's just a dog, I know you'll be great with Chase.
#7- I love how independent you are. From the very beginning, you were never one of those babies who cried if I left your sight for just a moment. Now, you're great at playing on your own, just roaming the house (which is finally 95% baby-proofed) and entertaining yourself by coloring, reading your books, or riding your bus through the house. This makes it so much easier for Mommy to get dinner started in the evenings, so thank you! But your growing independence makes me a little sad at the same time.
#6- I love how you know when it's the weekend. When I finally arrive in your room to get you out of the bed, you shout, "Nonuts!" (donuts) and 'Chocky Milk!" You have obviously picked up on our weekend routine around here. I'll also throw in here how you love to sleep, almost as much as I do! I thank God everyday that you're not one of those kids whose up at 6am on Sundays. I can usually get you to sleep til 9am or so, sometimes even later. :) Any kid who lets Mommy and Daddy sleep in on the weekends can eat all the donuts he wants!
#5- I love how you think the vacuum, broom, Swiffer, and dust pan are the best toys ever invented. I've never had a toddler yell at me, 'Mommy, need to caccuum!" so much, as you go to the closet to get it out. And you seem so content Swiffering the kitchen floor for a good 20 minutes. Oh, you are going to make some woman very happy one day! But until then, I should probably start paying you for completing your chores around the house.
#4- I love to watch you with your Daddy! He definitely lets you be 100% boy when you're with him, too. And as I watch you grow, you act more and more like him, along with looking more and more like him. You've become kind of a mini-me of him. Even with those little Fred Flintsone toes that he has 'blessed' you with. They're cute on you now, but by looking at your Daddy's, they won't stay that way forever. :)
#3- I love how when you don't want to go to sleep, you always talk me into rocking you in the glider in your room. I cherish this 'special time' we have, since I know you really don't even need to be rocked anymore. But my favorite part of this routine is how you proceed to brush the hair out of my face and say, "Pretty Mommy!". Melts my heart every time!
#2-I love how after Daddy and I put you to bed at night, you proceed to yell "Love, Love!" at least 5 or 6 times even after we've shut the door. "Love, Love!" is mine and your Daddy's special way of saying "I love you" (picked up from a Ben Stiller movie, nevertheless) and we're glad you have picked up on it!
#1-I love how the moment I saw you in the operating room for the first time, you had me wrapped around your little finger. We had waited so long to meet you, and it was truly love at first sight. It doesn't matter how bad a day I have, your bright smile warms my heart and makes everything else seem so unimportant. It's true what they say; a child changes your life forever.
I thought I'd start Austin's birthday week off with a 'Top 10 List' of my favorite things about our little guy, whether they're characteristics or little moments that we have shared. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard to narrow it down to just 10! I know I gush about him quite frequently on this blog, but I just can't help it! And I cannot believe that he will be TWO on Saturday!
What a difference a year makes! Last year at Halloween, Austin wasn't walking, we pulled him around the neighborhood in a wagon, and he had no idea what was going on. This year, he totally got the concept! I had been brainstorming the past few weeks on what he should go as. I went back-and-forth between a skeleton costume I had bought him and just putting together a Handy Manny outfit. 
Of course, two days before all the festivities started at his school, I decided I needed to put together Handy Manny! I bought him some work boots, did some iron-on magic on a shirt, painted a toolbox, and pulled out his tool belt. All done! He was the cutest Handy Manny I had ever seen!
