Austin's Very Own Blog!

Austin now has his very own blog! It'll mainly be devoted to the videos we take of him as he grows up.

Check it out...

www.austinsawesomeadventure.blogspot.com

Austin Rolled Over!

Yes, last night after we put him to bed and turned out the lights, after we left the room, so that we could not see, Austin rolled over in his crib from his belly to his back.

How do I know this? Simple, really. Brett put him down on his belly to sleep (don't gripe at me all you back-to-sleepers, its the only way Austin will sleep for longer than 30 minutes at a time). Austin was almost asleep. Then, after he turned out the light and shut the door, we heard Austin talking to himself (cooing and gurgling, really, but you get my point). After a few minutes we heard him go "oh" and get really excited. Then he started fussing a little. So, I walked in to try and calm him. I turned on the light, walked over to his crib and there he was, lying on his back, smiling at me as to say "look what I just did!"

I called to Brett and asked him if he'd laid Austin on his back, very well knowing what the answer was. He came to see why I'd asked such a question, very well knowing why himself. We both stared in amazement at our growing little boy.

We pulled him out of his crib and placed him on the soft, carpeted floor and cheered encouraging words and clapped our hands all for the sake of trying to get him to do it again...to no avail.
After a little while we called it a night and finally put Austin to sleep in his crib (this time with no contest from him).

Maybe next time he'll decide to roll over in front of the camera. ;)

Christmas Pictures

We went to Tulsa again for Christmas. We had such a great time! Keith's brother, Cameron, and his wife, Alice got to come too. It was great to finally meet them. They're a great couple.

Anyway, I'm not blogging much about Christmas. I'll let the pictures do the talking...







Well, I guess these pictures don't really say a whole lot, so click here if you want to see more.

For Time and All Eternity

'Til Death Do You Part - is the famous phrase for many newly weds and families around the world. It holds a certain heart-felt warmth when they think of the lives they'll lead together. They'll come home to each other, 'til death do they part. They'll raise children together, 'til death do they part. They'll enjoy grandchildren together, 'til death do they part. And they'll grow old together, 'til death do they part.

To these families I would like to ask, what if there were something more for you? After this life, I mean. What if there were no "'til death do you part"? What if you could enjoy motherhood forever? What if you could be with your soul mate forever? Think about what it would be like to spend a lifetime making all these wonderful memories with your family and then suddenly the bonds that tie you together are dissolved. Could you stand being just friends with your most loved ones for the rest of eternity? Does it really make sense that you would be just friends after this life with your family?

Heavenly Father is our Father. Jesus Christ is our Brother. We have a mother in Heaven, too! And before we came here to Earth we were all spiritual brothers and sisters, every one of us. How could we even fathom a measly friendship with those we swear to spend sickness and health with in this life?

There IS more. Families can be together forever, through this life and beyond death. We can keep those same ties that bring us so close for eternity.

Could you imagine if everyone had an eternal marriage? The whole world would be family! Doesn't it seem like God intended it to be that way in the first place? It just makes so much more sense than "'til death do you part".

Brett and I had the very special opportunity on Saturday the 20th to make our bonds with Austin eternal. Brett and I were married in the Dallas Texas LDS Temple back in August 2001. There, we pledged our love and devotion for all eternity. Had we been able to conceive Austin on our own, there would be no need to take him to the temple. But, not regrettably at all, such was not the case. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful experience! So peaceful and serene and...heavenly. Perfect. Surrounded by close friends and family, we made Austin ours forever. He will forever be our son, the love of our lives, beyond the grave. How peaceful it is to think that, if anything should ever happen to any of us, we'll be together again as family.

After Austin's sealing on Saturday morning, we all headed to one of the closest church buildings where the Dallas 9th Ward meets. There, one of the Bishopric was nice enough to open the chapel and allow us to have a private name and blessing ceremony for Austin. His blessing was like most. Mission, temple marriage, etc. But two things stood out from the usual. One, Austin was blessed with clarity in recognizing the Holy Spirit. And two, he will be a natural leader. How comforting it is to know such things.

Now that Austin is legally(we finalized on Thursday) and eternally ours, it all feels complete. I feel like he's completely mine now. And I love and adore him more and more each day. :) What a perfect Christmas this has turned out to be!

Here are a few pictures we took after the sealing & blessing...









wanna see more pictures?

Kingrey Elves!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The Weather

How awesome is it that the snow is clearing before we leave for Dallas and only returning after we get back home?
Seriously, I was looking at the weather forecast to see if there's any chance of Austin's sealing & blessing being delayed and...nope! Snow today, Ice tomorrow, rain for the next couple of days, some sun over the weekend, and the snow returns next Wednesday. Dallas? Same partly cloudy weekend!
Lets hope the weather sticks to the forecast. ;)

Austin Update

So, we went for Austin's 4 month check-up the other day. The diagnosis? He's a happy, and very healthy baby boy! He weighed in at 16.5 lbs (75th percentile) and stretched to 26.5 inches long (90th percentile). :D Our baby boy makes us so proud! (I feel so goofy saying that.)


So, funny story...
Brett watched Austin on Tuesday Evening while I went to Yellville to teach my Hip Hop classes. He wasn't feeling all that great (darn cold), but offered to watch him anyway. After dance, we headed to church for a Relief Society Christmas Dinner, where the three of us played Baby Jesus, Mary & Joseph in the program following the dinner. (Pictures to come later.) But that's not the funny part.
When we returned home, and I went to change Austin's diaper in his room, I noticed this smell. It smelled like dirty diaper. I have a Diaper Genie and it works really well. But thinking that there may be a hole in the bag, I changed it and turned the fan on to get the smell out. A couple of hours later, I put Austin to bed and the smell was still there, and a little more pungent. I looked around the diaper genie and around the changing table to see if I dropped a diaper & just forgot about it. But I saw nothing.
The next day, I noticed that the smell was even worse. As I went to change Austin's diaper later that morning, I opened up the top drawer, and the smell hit me like a ton of bricks! I looked over into the right portion of the drawer, and there it was. A dirty diaper...a dirty, stinky, poopy diaper in the top drawer of the changing table. I called out to Brett and asked him about it. Turns out he was a little more tired from his cold on Tuesday than he had led on.
He kind of felt bad about it, but I had a good laugh. ;)

Austin was so sleepy one evening, he fell asleep in my lap.

Daddy & Austin playing

Take a close look at this picture. Austin is doing this really funny thing with his pacifiers lately. He looks like he's trying to put the whole thing in his mouth when he does this, but I think he's just trying to chew on the hard part because he's teething. Have I mentioned that Austin is teething? Infants Tylenol & Baby Orajel are our besties right now, but we do try to limit the use of them. That's what teething biscuits are for anyway, right?


Austin loves goin to town on his rice rusks. Yes, I do know about the choking hazard these things present. But I watch him the whole time and remove the pieces that start to give him trouble.



We got a Bumbo for Austin! I've been eying these at Target for a while and finally got one on ebay for $15 less (shipping included) than they sell at Target. It took him a day or two to get used to it, but he's been sitting up a lot better ever since we got it.
A friend of mine cautioned me against getting one because her baby kept tipping over in her's. But I had already bid on it and I won. I'm not worried about Austin tipping just yet. He's hardly top-heavy sitting in it. When he exceeds the weight limit for it, then I'll put it back on ebay. Until then, I'll just keep a close eye on him. :)


Anyway, that's all for now! Hopefully, next time I post will be about our adoption finalization and sealing! Until then, here's hoping you have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

The Chicken or The Egg?

You know those questions we all have that nobody but God knows that we just can't help but ponder anyway? You know, like "Which came first? The chicken or the egg?" Or "Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons?" Ok, maybe not everyone wonders about the belly button, but you know what I mean. ;)

Well, one subject I just can't help but ponder is the widespread phenomenon of increased infertility and increased unwanted pregnancies lately. Are they related? Did God make so many women have fertility problems because there needed to be women like me who would need or want to adopt? Or did He let many young ladies get pregnant because He knew that so many women like me would experience infertility? Or maybe He created women like me, because He knew that Lucifer would tempt many young ladies into certain situations.

I just wonder, if I had been born into the same family 50 years ago, would I still have fertility problems? Would Austin be there for me to adopt?

I realize that everything happens for a reason. My life is the way it is because that is the way it is supposed to be. Things are the way they are because of God's plan for us. But I just can't help but wonder...

Please understand, that I don't mean to offend anyone by my curiosity. I'm just so ... curious. :)

Thanksgiving at the Prescotts

Oh, we had such a great time at the Prescotts for Thanksgiving! What a great trip! :D

We arrived late Tuesday night and we're immediately greeted by the whole Prescott family!



I should say that the Prescotts are related to us by way of Brett's sister, Dana...for those of you who aren't familiar with them. :)
As soon as we got there, Austin woke up and demanded a bottle. And Aunt Dana was more than happy to oblige. So, while she fed him, we all gathered 'round to chat and ooh and aah at how cute and cuddly Austin has gotten, and how much he's grown since the last time we were there.




Austin was even happy to show off for Uncle Keith how well he can stand up. ;)



But after chatting a little while, through yawns and eye rubs, we all reluctantly said our goodnights and went to bed.

The next morning was full of hustle and bustle. After Austin's 5am bottle, Dana and I went to pick up some last minute groceries at WalMart before the mad crowd arrived. Thankfully, the parking lot didn't really start filling up until we were headed out the door.
Arriving back home (the Prescotts') after an hour-long detour at Walgreens (seriously, the chick said it would be only 15 minutes), we began pulling everything together for the big meal!...but not without playing a little with Austin...





Soon after we got the food going, the Taylors arrived carrying with them the the fabulous Spice Rats! They had 3 adorable rats called Ginger, Nutmeg, & Pepper. (Side Note: Taylors are related by way of Stacey, Brett's older sister...she's the eldest of the 4 Kingrey sibs. - Not calling you old, Stace, just older than the other three.) ;)


Thursday, we made the rest of dinner and then dug in! What a meal! Turkey, ham, homemade mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh green beans, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, homemade rolls, and a plethora of desserts. Mmm mmm mmm! Just the way I like it. I must say, though, that I do need to find a different dressing recipe. The one I made just wasn't up to par in my book.


Anyway, Friday Dana and I got up bright and early to hit the Black Friday sales! But instead of joining the insanity at Target, Walmart, or even Circuit City (huhuh), we headed for the mall, which was a lot less busy than we anticipated. We found some great deals at Macy's, Express & Gymboree. I got a $60 pair of jeans for $25 & Dana and I both got a free pair of pink lounge pants with our purchases! Gymboree was pretty busy. We probably shopped for 15 minutes and waited in line for 30. But that's what you expect when you shop on Black Friday. ;) We also wanted to check out Aeropostale, but the line looked an hour long. I'll brave Gymboree, but you can keep your Aeropostale. Haha!

So, after we got back home, we said Hello to Larry & Sharon who had just arrived and Farewell to the Taylors who were about to head out the door. But in the meantime, we played...





After the Taylors left, we watched my poor poor LSU Tigers lose to those aweful, wretched Razorbacks. (Big Sigh) I'm really hoping LSU finds a better QB for next year.


Saturday Sharon, Dana, and I went to see Twilight the movie...VIP style! I know the movie only got mediocre reviews, but I loved it. I can't wait until New Moon comes out! Ah!

After we got back from the movie I found these two dudes layed out on the sofa. How sweet!


Saturday evening brought an itch to decorate for Christmas, which put everyone in the Christmas spirit! We had Christmas music playing while we pulled out a new tree and boxes full of decorations.



Even Austin seemed to enjoy the new aura that filled the air...




Then Sunday we packed up and reluntantly headed home. We had such a great time at the Prescotts that we didn't want to leave. :) Maybe we can talk them into a New Years Eve party...hehehe.


Well, hope ya'll had a Happy Thanksgiving! And here's hoping you have a very Merry Christmas, too. :)

'Tis the season for giving Thanks!

I realize that everyone is blogging about what they're thankful for.  I almost didn't do this post because of that fact.  But I changed my mind because it's always good to write down (or type) what you're thankful for.  It makes you realize just how many blessings you take for granted everyday.  :)

So here is my list...

I am thankful for:

 - Brett and the wonderfully fun and eternal marriage we've been able to enjoy since August 9, 2001.   Ok, so it wasn't alway bliss, but the hard times were well worth it.

 - My beautiful, happy Austin who fills my soul with delight each and every day.  I have waited 27 years to become a mom.  He is my baby sweet.  He is my dream come true.

 - Trials that, even though we don't know why we've been given them, make us stronger and appreciate things and people so much more than we would have without them.

 - Austin's beautiful, graceful, happy, generous, noble Birthmother.  I love her more than I ever thought I would.  I will forever see her as a sister to me.

 - My Mama, who put up with my teenage antics, and loved me even when I ignored her for so long while she was inactive in the church...sorry, Mom.  I've always loved you, I have.

 - My Daddy, whom I have so much respect for.  He always took the time to teach me how important the scriptures are and how interesting the topic of the Second Coming is.  We share a fascination for it.  :)

 - My Big Sissy, who carried me on her hip everywhere we went together when I was little.

 - My Lil' Sissy, whom I love because she's my sister, no matter what she does.

 - My mutts, Clyde & Macy, who helped me cope with my infertility, who keep my spirits high, who love me unconditionally, who keep coming back home every time we let them out of the back yard for a "run," and who accepted Austin with open paws & slobbery puppy-dog kisses.  :)

 - Brett's family, who took me in and accepted me as their own  from the very beginning.  I love them as my own family.  :)

 - The Prescotts living so close.  I really hope Austin grows up getting to spend a lot of time with his cousins.  He seems to really fit in as one of the boys.  I like that.  :)

 - The temple and the opportunity to be a family forever.  I'm very much looking forward to December 20th!

 - Modern technology.  ;)  Without it I'd have no iPod, CRV, laptop, blogger, facebook, or ebay

 - Modern medicine such as Mucinex, Tylenol Severe Congestion, and Infant's Tylenol, which I'd be very miserable without right now

 - Friends in a town where I never expected to meet so many people my age

 - teething rings

 - cell phones

 - a warm cozy home on my own little piece of Heaven

 - big family Thanksgivings

 - pink and red Christmases with twinkling white lights

 - the ability to smell so many wonderful fragrances such as freshly cut grass, honeysuckles, turkey in the oven, banana bread, real christmas trees, and babies  :D

 - and finally, this life God has chosen for me.  Sure, I'd change a couple of things from my past, but not for all the wealth in the world would I change my present.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for these things and so much much more.

To Cabot We Go, We Go, We Go

Austin and I recently made a trip to Cabot to hang with my best friend, Dawn, whom I haven't seen since Austin was teeny tiny. We were definitely due for some time to catch up on things. We went down, just Austin and me. Brett was away on a camping trip with the boys.

When we got to Cabot we met up with a good friend of mine, Linda. For those of you who don't know, we used to be co-workers when I was designing kitchens and baths in Little Rock. We talked about everything under the sun, especially Austin. She was there when first found out about Austin. We became great friends. Shortly after I left Little Rock, she left the kitchen and bath showroom and went to work for a luxury horse trailer dealership. She also does bookkeeping for the ranch that the same guy who owns the dealership has. Anyway, every time I make my way down to Cabot, Austin and I try to go to lunch with her to catch up on things.

This trip she took us to the Ranch and gave us a quick tour. Austin got to see some show horses up close. (The rancher across the street from our house has show horses too, but we've never gotten this close to them.)

H&P Ranch

Linda, Austin, & a really big horse :)

About this time, Austin was getting a little fussy, but I just had to indulge. :) I love horses!

I don't think he knew what to think about the horses.

After lunch & a tour of the Ranch with Linda, we headed over to Dawn's house where we stayed for the next couple of days. Austin took quite a shine to Deserae. I think Des liked Austin too. :) She's gonna be a great mom, when her time comes.

Deserae with Austin

She held him for as long as Austin would take it. She's such a sport. :)


Des and I dressed alike on Saturday, so we had to get a picture. :)



Talin wanted a picture too. ;)

After we got home on Sunday, we relaxed and napped before repacking our bags to head to Little Rock with Brett for a Facilities Masters Conference he needed to attend.
I didn't get many pictures of the trip to Little Rock, but one that I did get was with an old high school friend of mine. Jessica and I were more acquaintances than friends in high school. But meeting back up with her in Little Rock (she actually lives in Cabot [isn't that funny?] but works at St. Vincent's) it made me regret not being better friends with her sooner. We're hoping to get together more often now. :) Funny how, when you mature, you see people in a different light. :)

Jessica & Austin (at Chic-fil-A)

We had a great time with family and friends last week. It was tiresome, traveling a lot, but nonetheless we had fun.

Now that we're all rested and back on schedule, its time to pack up our bags again to head to Tulsa for Thanksgiving. (Big sigh)...I mean, YAY! ;)

My Eternal Son

As I think about the coming holidays, I'm elated and happily overwhelmed. I have to take a deep breathe. Mmmm...the smell of fresh bread coming from my kitchen fills my nose and reminds me that winter is already here. And now I hear Austin stirring...

Ok, I'm back...with Austin watching me type. :)

So, back to the holidays. I'm very excited about Thanksgiving. We're going to Tulsa where my older sister-in-law, Stacey, will meet Austin for the first time. It'll be us, the Prescotts, and the Taylors gathered around to celebrate the season with turkey, ham, and dressing. Brett's mom and dad will be coming up the following day. Larry has to work on Thanksgiving Day, but we'll get to spend time with them on Friday and Saturday. I'm just excited about spending time with the family as I am about eating the scrumptious food...well maybe a little more about the family. ;) Thanksgiving will be great this year.

But the holiday I am most excited about coming up is Christmas. Not for the presents, not for the food, and not for the decorations, but for a very special event centered around my son. On Saturday, December 20th at 9am Brett and Austin and I will all be sealed together as a family for time and all eternity in the Dallas, Texas Temple. Austin will finally be ours, eternally. :D I was hoping that this would be able to come about a while ago...like, back in August. Little did I know how long finalizing an adoption would take here in the state of Arkansas. But the day is at last fast approaching and I can't imagine a greater gift for Christmas than an eternal family.

My mom originally made this adorable heirloom blessing/sealing outfit for Austin. Its a one-piece collared outfit with a vest attached and satin ribbon on the vest and down the side of the pant legs...so adorable! But we decided to make it in 0-3m size because we thought that finalizing would be quick and painless. Needless to say, Austin is no longer in 0-3m. So, my mom is currently working on a white baby tuxedo that looks similar to this cute little one...


He'll wear it for his blessing, too. We're so excited!

Pic I Last Posted...

I thought I'd add a few pictures that I posted last before the great destruction of my blog...sad, sad, sad.
Anyway, here they are...