There's no better way to start a new week than with a new blog. I had a wonderful weekend with brothers Chris and John. Saturday we headed out to D.C. and cruised the mall for a bit. We started the day at the Asian American Museum of art where we viewed an amazing exhibit of the Japanese artist Hokusai. Austin especially loved the zen reflecting pool, note the picture.



After the museum we walked through the gardens and saw a Cherry Blossom tree in bloom, a stunning sight, but only one of the first. I can't imagine how gorgeous it will be when they're all in bloom. We're looking forward to when the trees are in full bloom, hopefully sometime this week. Since we were there on the first day of the famous Cherry Blossom Festival, D.C. was an absolute zoo!

... may I introduce to you ...

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, may I introduce to you Maryland's newest licensed real estate agent!!!!! Who-hoo, I passed thanks to you all. I totally felt the vibes when I went in for my test this afternoon. Breezed through everything and passed both section (state and national) on the first try!!! I don't think I've ever studied so hard for anything in my life, so I must say how sweet it is, how sweet it is. I actually feel like I've spent a year in captivity and now here I am being freed into civilization again. I have a ton of pictures I've taken of Austin and ... well of Austin and I can't wait to share them with all of you. Not to mension the million other things in my life since this studying took over. No more I say! There will be no more of that nonsense!!!

So before I get carried away, my favorite thing I must share with you tonight the most wonderful super and sensational hubs in the world whom I refer to as Chris. He is the reason why I passed my exam ( besides all of your loving prayers a good vibes) and for several different reasons. Not only is he emotionally supportive and blah, blah, blah (fill in every sentimental and kind thing a husband does for his wife ¨here¨) ...But I acted in a bearish way the entire time I was studying and actually never once heard a peep out of him and how in the world, I ask you, how in the world does he put up with my crap? So yes he is my favorite thing, along with raindrop on roses and whiskers on kittens, snowflakes that fall on my nose and eyelashes ... la la la la la la la la la-la ... these are a few of my favorite things. My dog doesn't bite so I'll stop it there.

Posting a few new pics of my cutie-cutie baby-baby. If you're thinking "Geeze there sure are a lot of pictures of little Austin in a highchair!" well by-gosh darn your right. Just feeding this child is a full time job so I would have to say he spends a pretty good part of his day eating and playing his high chair. Hopefully this weekend I will be able to capture some pictures with a little more variety. We are thrilled to be hosting not one wonderful brother, but two. Both Chris and John have decided to come and visit for my little old 27tbirthdayay, I'm so excited I might just wet the floor when they walk through the door. Should ruanddn straighten up a bit before they get here. Hope you are all well. Thanks again for the prayers and good vibes. Miss you all xoxoxo Liz xoxoxo

This one's going to be quick only because I have massive amounts of studying to do. I am asking all if you who read this to pray or keep your fingers crossed for me, I just know I have my exam right around the corner and I need all of your good vibes to get me through it. I may be getting very excited here this weekend as my brother may be coming to visit me for my special 27th Birthday.

So I haven't really put much thought into my favorite thing to share with you guys this time, so I am using the most obvious in my life right now, the bottoms of little baby's feet. Just take them, both of them, in your hands and rub them along you cheeks, so, so soft I'm telling you it's sure to put a smile on your face, that's a promise. Try it with your baby if you haven't already and if you do not have a baby you can use mine anytime. Austin loves it and I don't know of a baby who doesn't love having their feet played with, little mush-bellies. Speaking of mush, I have to try to squeeze some more crap into my mush of a brain. Love to all of you! xo Liz xo

So good day, great weekend!!! The weather wasn't quite as beautiful as it was last weekend, but we were able to enjoy the outdoors a little more with Austin feeling better. I've started on a running program, still in the beginning stages, but I'm doing well with it. It's a little more of a challenge pushing a baby-jogger around, but it works my upper body as well as the joy of being with Austin while I work out. He has a sunroof in the jogger stroller that he enjoys watching mommy suffer through the workout, and he laughs, he loves to laugh especially at his goofy momma.

I've also been working the Yoga thing and thank you to miss Leah I have some wonderful instruction from Rodney-yoga-stud via DVD. Man does he ever work me over, I've been using the DVDs for a couple weeks now and still can't get through the whole thing, yeah I know I'm out of shape, but I'm working on it right?

So I've decided to dedicate this post to the little lady in my life, Hannah-the-wonder-dog. Can I just tell you, this dog is so wonderful. She was once the center of Chris and I's universe, everything revolved around her until baby-baby entered this earth. Never have a seen a person none the less a dog, take the back seat more gracefully than Hannah did. What a love my pup is. Yaaaaay for Hannah everyone!!! Okay I'll tell you about one of her wonderful ways, and won't bore you with the rest. Whenever Austin is in a cranky mood, Hannah plays chase with us throughout the house, barking and pouncing all over the place, in a Tiger from Pooh sort of way. It's literally the only thing that can cheer Austin up when nothing else works. Our little Hannah love what a gift she is everyday.

Okay so seeing that I am completely sucked into the newest Grey's Anatomy episode, my favorite thing to share with you all is such, the fabulously entertaining program that rules my life every Sunday evening. So I must apologize if this post is a little wacky, my attention is on the tube. So was thinking about it, baby number two is not even a thought right now, but I really like the name Adison, she's the one who messed the whole romance up between Dr. Grey and "McSteamy." McSteamy is this real stud of a doctor who was having a thing with Dr Grey (Meredith) without telling her that he was actually married to Adison. But McSteamy had every right and really wasn't being unfaithful to Adison, because Adison had left McSteamy for his best friend, that nasty girl. Until Adison decides to try to work things out with her husband. So McSteamy being a good husband goes back to Adison, even though he's really still in love with Meredith. So you see you're left still totally in love with McSteamy, he never did anything wrong, right. Regardless I still think the name Adison is beautiful. Okay wrapping this up for now went way overboard with this one. Watch Grey' Anatomy, just try it once okay?

Our little guy is feeling a lot better today. Chris is working swing shifts right now so I'm enduring odd sleep schedules and a house that needs tending to, and that's putting it lightly. The weather once again is just delightful. Hopefully I'll have some pictures of the park for you all tomorrow. I would love to spend the entire day outside, I just don't want to push the little man into doing too much.

So that's a little of what's going on today in our lives. I've been thinking about it and there are so many things we discover in life, that brings a little smile to our day. So I thought since I have your attention anyway, I'll start posting those little discoveries that bring smiles to our faces. You may agree with me, or you may not. They're just little things I'd like for you all to discover as well. Hopefully they'll bring a smile to your life as they have done for mine.

Yerba Mate, it's wonderful, it's good for you and best of all it contains more caffeine than a venti Starbucks coffee. I must say, one may not like the way it tastes all that much, eventually you will, it is an acquired taste. It contains more anti-oxidants than green tea as well as a load of nutrients. You can order mate at www.mymateworld.com I find that rather then drinking it the traditional way (gourd style) it steeps quite well in a french press. The tea usually comes loose, but if there's a Trader Joe's near you, they sell the bagged stuff there. For 2 lbs of loose tea you pay just as much as a dozen tea bags, so there is a big difference in price. I really like my mate with just honey. Miss Leah tells me honey and milk is her favorite way to mate. Brother Chris actually discovered this wonderful deliciousness for me in Paraguay and telly me it's just as good cold as it it hot. Chris also says that adding a natural form of cocoa powder with milk and mate is the most enjoyable deliciousness mate has to offer. I hope to try that next. So if you enjoy tea and caffeine give this stuff a try. Let me know the wonderful ways you learn to indulge in the mate. xoxo Liz xoxo

I want to write, but what to write? I know I want to keep a blog because I just don't feel that in touch with all our friends and family. I wish there were more time to email everyone individually. I'm hoping this may serve as a better way to keep everyone informed. Not that you want to know what's going on with me, or Chris even, but I know you all are very interested in knowing how our little man is growing, learning and just coming to his own. We have enjoyed many adventures together since we've moved to the East Coast and can't wait to tell you all about the wonderful places we discover and explore. After all, I do believe Austin's favorite place to be is driving in the car. Oh dear, it seems I've forgotten to mention Hannah-the-wonder-dog. She as well loves traveling in the car, but doesn't do as well walking down busy streets, so we've been going to the park more frequently to let her do some exploring of her own.

This weekend was absolutely beautiful here in Annapolis. We were lucky to have our friends Sam and Beth visiting from Cheyenne, it gave us a great excuse to get out and tour around a bit. We drove out to the Eastern shore and found a couple quaint little towns, had lunch on an outdoor patio. We couldn't resist taking in the sun and its warmth. Austin has been teething pretty good the past few days and although he continues to be a very well behaved little dude, he's been out of sorts and not quite himself, fussing a bit more than usual. I'll wrap this up for now.