Trading Austin for Austin

I didn't have a choice in the matter. But this year, I had to trade Austin for Austin.

That is Austin, Texas, where the South by Southwest festival was going on, for my son, Austin.

Michael was away at the NCAA tournament last weekend, so I had to fly solo with Austin for five nights. Meanwhile, my sisters were in Austin seeing Kanye West, D.J. Shadow and Echo and the Bunnymen. (OK, maybe I'm still brooding a little bit.)

Still, baby Austin and I had some fun while Daddy was away. I took Austin to the Orange County Zoo in Irvine Regional Park. Here, he's looking at a deer, wild pigs or coyotes. I couldn't get both in the picture, but as you can see, he really likes animals.



After, Austin and I headed to the playground. He tried to climb up the slide, but it didn't really work.



He played on and under the horsey, too.



On Saturday, our friends, Fermin and Laura, had a prime-rib dinner party. Our friends are starting to have kids all of the sudden. Austin enjoyed hanging out with Ellia, Jimmy and Talitha's daughter.



Ellia kept following Austin wherever he crawled or walked (clutching my hand, of course), calling out his name.



She even cried when we went outside to get something, thinking he was going away.

Austin also met Ellia's new little sister, Claira.

Sorry, no photos of baby Ella this time. But these two photos are courtesy Ella's mom, Ellyn.

Before Daddy left, it was St. Patrick's Day. My little leprechaun. Not sure why he is clutching his foot.

Recently, we tucked Austin in the laundry basket under some pillows. He liked it when we slid him across the floor.

Now that Daddy is home, hopefully we'll get back to normal.

Even though I was sad to be away from my sisters, everyone knows I wouldn't trade Austin for anything.