Trip to Cincinnati and Father's Day (Almost 17 months and 30 weeks)

Brian had a business trip to Cincinnati on Friday.  Before he scheduled the trip, we talked about Austin and I going.  I was all for it.  It sounded like a lot of fun.  I really enjoy our short trips and it would give us some family time together.  When we are at home, it's easy to get caught up in things we have to do so we don't spend time as entire family.  Usually just one of us it playing with Austin.  However we do go grocery shopping every week together as a family and Austin loves it.

On Friday we left for Cincinnati around 3pm.  We stopped outside of Columbus for dinner at McDonald's.  Austin loves the parfaits there.  He got to run around a play for a little bit.  We arrived at our hotel around 7:30pm.  It was a nice business hotel with plenty of room.  We got Austin ready for bed and called it a night.

We had breakfast at the hotel in the morning.  Then I took Brian to work for the day.  I met up with my friend from college, Natalie, her husband, Danny, and son, Owen, at the zoo.  We walked around the zoo for several hours.  It was a lot of fun.  We did not see everything because the Cincinnati zoo is huge.  After the zoo, we all went downtown and had lunch at Johnny Rockets.  After lunch, we walked to an interactive water fountain that the kids could play in.  Austin absolutely loved it.  He had a great day.  By this time it was after 2pm and Austin was exhausted.  I drove Austin back to the hotel and he of course fell asleep in the car.   Around 5pm I went and picked up Brian.  Then we went out to dinner.  It was a nice dinner and we got Austin some macaroni and cheese and he loved it.  By this time, it was Austin's bed time.

On Saturday morning, Austin woke us up nice and early before 6am.  We got up and ready for the day.  We once again had breakfast at the hotel.  Then we were not sure what to do.  One of Brian's business men told us Blue Ash had great community parks.  We found it online and it was only 5 minutes from our hotel so we took Austin there.  Austin played on the playground for about an hour.  He had fun.  He enjoyed the bigger playground.  He loved climbing up somewhat of a rock wall.

After the park, we decided to take Austin to Todder's Otterville in Otterville KY.  It was about a 30 minute trip.  It is basically an indoor play area for toddlers.   Austin played with blocks, water table, and miniature grocery store. There was a small area outside to get wet.  I was hoping it was bigger but none the less Austin had fun and got wet.  We had some pizza for lunch there and then drove towards the hotel.  Austin did not fall asleep so we decided to stop and get some ice cream.  We got Austin a strawberry cone but of course he liked Brian's Cotton Candy cone better.  I got Buckeye ice cream which has peanut butter in it so he could not have mine.  After ice cream we went back to the hotel to swim.  We were disappointment to find out the hotel pool was closed for an hour due to maintenance.  We did not realize that until after we all walked down there in our swim suits.  Poor Austin was so sad and did not understand why he could not go swimming for a while.  Finally we went swimming.  After swimming we went to dinner at Skyway Chili.  It was surprisingly good.

On Sunday, we took Austin to the park then needed to drive home.  Austin once again really enjoyed his time at the park. I need to look into playgrounds around home but have not done so yet.  Once back at the hotel, we were finishing packing up and Austin was playing on the bed.  He somehow bite his tongue severely.  He does stick his tongue out a lot normally.  He really bit it pretty bad.  He started crying and blood was everywhere.  I washed his tongue with clean towels and tried to get the bleeding to stop.  We were not sure what to do.  Brian told me to load the car because we were leaving either to the hospital or home.  I took our suitcase down with some bags.  I left Austin's suitcase in the room.  Right after I left, Austin decided he needed to take down his suitcase to the car.  It was a great distraction.  The bleeding had slowed but not completely stopped.  We got some ice for him to have and decided to start driving back home.

When we got around Columbus Austin woke up from his nap and Brian could see a mouth full of blood.  We did not know how much it had been bleeding.  I told Brian to get to me the Children's Hospital in Columbus.  Luckily it was right off I-71.  We we got there I looked at Austin's tongue and it had stopped bleeding again and decided it was best just to drive the rest of the way back home.  I was keeping up with the speed of traffic and got home in about 3 hours.

Once home I called our doctor's office and asked what we should do.  Austin was acting like his typical baby self.  The cut though was pretty bad looking and very deep (at least 1.25 inches long and 1/4 inch deep).  Nothing really bothers him though.  We had not seen any blood since Columbus and after talking to the doctor we decided not to take him to the hospital.  The whole experience was scary but Brian and I remained calm.  This tongue looked really bad but it was not bothering him so we were glad we did not go the the hospital.  

Once home we ran to the store and picked up dinner.  We had to unpack which is a little harder to do with Austin since he wants to play too but it was worth it.  We just have Austin help us with things and he really enjoys that.  For example if I need to do laundry, I pick him up and he throws the clothes in the washer.  It keeps him happy and I am glad I get work done.   We had a great trip to Cincinnati and so glad we got to spend some family time together.

Video showing Austin's bitten tongue

Happy Memorial Day (16 months and 29 weeks)

Two weeks ago, it was Memorial Day weekend.   Brian and I had a three day weekend and it was great.  It seems like our weekends are always so busy and we are always running around.  It was really nice to have that extra day together and not have any significant plans.

Saturday morning Austin woke up at 5:30am.  I really hate when he starts the day off so early but there was nothing I could do.  I just had to get up and start the day.  So I decided after breakfast we were going outside to weed and cut bushes.  I really hate weeding  but unfortunately it needed done.  It was nice outside and Austin loves to be outside so it worked out well.  Austin and I weeded and had fun until he decided to eat some bird poop.  I could not believe he did that.  It was only a very small amount but still.  So I ran him inside to wash is mouth out and his hands.  He does like putting stuff in his mouth but he has been really good at not eating rocks but for some reason he thought bird poop was a good idea.  He did not like the taste so he should not be eating that again.  

Brian got up and came out to join us for some fun.  Brian needed to clean out the gutters so that is what he worked on.  Of course, Austin wanted to help him but that was not an option.  We worked outside for a bit and then all of a sudden I did not feel very well.  Austin and I went into the house and then I needed to go to the bathroom.  Brian was on a ladder outside somewhere and I did not have time to get him so Austin came with me to the bathroom.  Austin goes to the bathroom with me a lot (especially being pregnant) but when you don't feel good it's really not much fun to keep him entertained too.  But I had to do what I needed at that moment.  

I was worried on why I was so sick.  I had not been that sick since the day before I gave birth to Austin. I was nervous that Sydney was trying to come early.  Plus my stomach hurt.  It was not very much fun.  Sydney kept moving around like crazy so I knew she was fine (as long as she stayed inside me) but I really did not understand what was going.  Plus I have been constipated since becoming pregnant.  So I definitely was not use to any sort of diarrhea.  I decided to take a nap and relax and Brian and Austin played for the afternoon.  

I was still sick Saturday night and early Sunday morning but I was starting to feel better.  We decided to take Austin to see Thomas the Train and the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad.  We had never done it before so we wanted to see what it was like.  There were all kinds of kids activities.  There was balloons so we got Austin an orange fish balloon.  He loved it.  We went on the train ride.  It was a half hour which was just about perfect.  Too much longer would be too much work to kept him entertained.  It was a nice morning to do it.  

Sunday it was really hot so we took Austin swimming at the rec center.  We were going to use his pool but it started to thunder so we decided the rec center was best. Austin loves swimming!  It was nice because Brian worked out then he came and swam with us.  Monday was another really hot day in the 90's.  On Monday, we did go swimming in Austin's pool.  I love Austin pool.  It is the perfect size for him and us too!  Monday we kind of relaxed a bit and enjoyed the day.  

My parents were in Texas for my nephew Zach's graduation over Memorial Day.  We went to Texas in February so we did not go down for the graduation.  I felt bad but being pregnant it was best for me to stay close to home.  Usually we have a cook out or something on holiday weekends but no one was in town so we just stayed close to home and enjoyed our time together. 

Last weekend, my dad painted Sydney's room pink.  It looks so good.  I love it with the white baseboards and pink walls.  Then on Saturday, we went and picked up her dresser.  Her dresser is white and looks beautiful.  I am getting excited for her arrival.  We ordered her crib and that should be in this week.  Her room is coming together nicely.  

Austin now likes to climb the stairs holding on to your hand.  He no longer likes to crawl up or down them.  He also loves turning on and off lights.  He is an expert at pushing the garage door button too.  It is amazing what that little boy can do.  He knows where things go and he is always eager to put them there.  For example, we keep a wireless keyboard and mouse for our TV under the couch (to hide it from Austin).  If we leave it out overnight, first thing in the morning he will gladly put them back under the couch.  He knows the TV remotes go on the fireplace.  If he sees one out, he goes and puts it away.  He loves putting away the dishes from the dishwasher.  He puts the silverware in the drawer and likes it if you pick him up so he can put the plates away.   He also throws his own diapers away and if its poopy he knows it goes outside in the trash and he walks it out there and throws in the trashcan.   I hope he stays our little helper.

This weekend we are going to Cincinnati for a business trip.  I need to start getting ready for it.