Halloween and the giggle box.

Went to a Halloween party Friday night. You knew one of us was going to be wearing a wig.

These guys are who Josh and I are dressed up as. They both are friends of ours that work at the University hospital. We joke that our kids get Josh and Jerry confused all time because they are both bald. "Jerry's" name tag said he specialized in free mammograms. Travis, the guy I am dressed as, has an antibacterial lotion problem, so I wore some around my neck. He asked to borrow it several times that night. I ended up just giving it to him

Here is our little Tigger complete with his baby shocks on. We figure between Josh and I he is going to need all the help he can get with his "ups".

This is the only thing I do that makes Austin giggle uncontrollably. I apologize for it being repetitive and annoying, but hey, whatever makes him laugh.

On the move.

Snoozing...Why he likes to get himself in the most confining position? I have no idea. Also, love the hair?...He is holding on to that last patch as long as possible.



Austin, rollin' in his first set of wheels.

Later he started singing Ice Ice Baby while he was crusin'. He was all like, "Girlie's on the stand by waiting just to say hi....Did you stop?..No I just rolled by. Kept on, pursuing to the next stop...." Ok, he didn't really sing that. But it would have been cool if he did.

They grow up so fast.

Just another beautiful day here in Iowa. A warm 53 degrees with just a slight haze in the air. Might be getting the ole' suit on later and catching some pneumonia.

















Amazing how much they grow in such a little time. I have been reminiscing with pictures. Today Austin's new trick was rolling over in the middle of the night. I forgot to take his stuffed animal out of his crib, and this morning I found him completely turned around, laying on his doggy like a pillow, head to the side singing and squealing.









Just some look how big he is getting pictures. Love this one of him and Josh....fast forward a few months...it was like a wrestling match trying to get him to sit still for the camera, obviously didn't work.




















Ahhh bath time, so sweet with my yellow child with a separated cranium. Be very gentle, not too much water...what a relaxing experience.













Now it's like....OK, hold still, no more splashing....water is all over the place, quit putting the wash cloth in your mouth...it's like the fastest bath in the Midwest...partly my fault since I have been putting off the real tub as long as possible, but alas it's time. sniff...my little boy is all growsed up.

Postpartum depression study: Uh, will this be multiple choice?

I guess some perks of living in a college town is the opportunity to participate in lots of research studies. I vaguely remember someone at the hospital after Austin was born, telling me that people might contact me to see if I would be willing to take part in these projects. I was called last week asking if I would answer some questions about postpartum depression. At first I was like, uh, how long is this going to take? She said just a few minutes, and they would pay me $5. Hey, 5 bucks is 5 bucks. I mean that's a Starbucks ladies. So, of course I agree. Then they might call me again for a follow up. Which would be a little bit longer...$20. Hello new part time job. :)



So fast forward to the second interview. Now if you would have asked me before all this began if I had suffered from postpartum depression? I might have said...sure, I mean at the beginning. Just adjusting, and finding a niche after baby, I'm sure I had some feelings of "depression", but obviously not the Family Guy episode portrayal of postpartum depression...when Peter is constantly dunking Stewie in the water, and he says...look Lois, I'm sad about stuff...love that show...Anyway, don't want to harm myself or child...no. Have I ever been so frustrated with my child, that I could maybe throw like a pillow across the room?...sure.



So, I get into the more in depth interview, and I'm thinking the talk is going to be focused on like right after having the baby. I was really surprised that she was focusing more on this past month. As she is asking me these questions, I'm like...yeah, I've been feeling this way. Yeah, I've been anxious, and sad, and tired, and moody, and unmotivated....I just thought that was called being a girl. So, $20 later, I am now having a personal interview. If they feel like I am still a candidate for the study, then they will put me in a treatment program that is part of the research as well. So, been kind of interesting for sure. Will keep you posted.



On the other side of things Austin was asked to be in a movement/memory study for babies. He didn't get paid, but he did get a free toy, so that was kind of fun. Loving the college town.

If you have made it this far, I guess you could call this my postpartum depression problem solver.

The question being...What happens when you find your son in the morning hungry and crying, but he has managed to pee all over himself and the crib?

Answer: You throw the first outfit you can find on him...take it all in the shapes, the colors, it was early and dark....and only later that morning did I realized the heinousness that is this outfit.

I couldn't resist.

My neighbor was having a garage sale last weekend, and I had to buy these pants. They were so ugly, they were cute. They are like western themed "zuba" pants. Josh thinks they horrible, but whatev. And his shirt says I love "moomy" with a cow on it. I was laughing the whole time I dressed him. It's the little things...

Getting ready for our morning walk. It was chilly out there.

Scary monkey video and blowing spit bubbles...good times.