Road Trip (Part I)

I'd like to apologize to my fans for my lack of posting the past couple of weeks. I was on a road trip with Mom and Dad. They drove me to the east coast! I went to five states (IL, IN, OH, PA, NJ) on this road trip, and I just flew to my 6th state (WA) with Mom!

Here's the first installment of pictures from the road trip to Philly. I'll have more soon as I get back to my home computer.

Here's me and my cousin Anna with Great-Grandma Louise:


She's almost 90! (but I'd say she wouldn't pass for a day over 70). I'm pretty impressed that she can shuffle 15 lbs with both hands (meaning me and Anna).

She promised to teach me Pinochle, but if I'm anything like Dad, I'm sure I'll get confused. He told me of the time G-Grandma tried to teach him Pinochle. I think the conversation went like this:

Daddy: "What's a meld?

G-Grandma: "Whattya mean? You know, King-Queen, A run with extra marriage (A, T, K, K, Q, Q, J)"

Daddy: "I know that, but what's a meld?"

G-Grandma: "Look, I just told ya ... KQ, A run, A run with extras, you know"

Daddy: "Ok, I got that, ...but ... what IS a meld?

G-Grandma: "Kristina understands, Alex understands ... I don't understand why you don't understand"

Daddy: (sigh)

I think that is when Daddy gave up Pinochle.
Here's a few more of Great-Grandma, my cousin Anna and me.

We stayed with our cousins Jeff and Kim (Anna's parents). They are super cool and here's us at the menonite market:

Is fried ham kosher?

This is my great grandma, Louise Brill, singing about fried ham. There's really not much else to say, except "watch the video" :

Eureka! I found my hands!

So, the other day, I 'discovered' my hands!
Ever since, they have been the object of my mouth's desire. Everytime I see them, my saliva glands go into overdrive! I will say this though...it is so frustrating to not be able to get my entire fist in my mouth! Maybe one day I'll learn that I should just use a finger or two ... or a thumb.

It's been a long time since I posted!

Also, it's been awhile since I posted, so I have some major updates...lots of visits from lots of people!
Me with Bebe


Me with Uncle Alex


Me and my buddy Reis (and his Dad Mike)


Me, my favorite friends and my cousin Jeff


Me, Mommy, & Daddy - I'm awake! ...................and Asleep

I'm super happy! ......... and ......... Exhausted

My Trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo

Today, Mom & Dad took me to the zoo. We met up with Mom and Dad's friends and had a pretty good time. Here's pictures of my friends:

Amy, Truman, and Jason Danek

Matt, Colin, and Shannon Hart

We saw tons of animals, but my favorite was this tiger. He had no diaper! Just as Mommy took a picture of the tiger it was OBVIOUS that he needed that diaper most! Of course, Daddy (funny man that he is), had to make the picture look like the tiger was pooping in his hand...silly Daddy!

All them animals made us sleepy. Here's me and Colin chillin in our strollers

and Truman, since he can walk (I'm so jealous!), was playing in the garden

Of course, after a while of all this playing, Colin and I were getting hungry...
and after my 2nd lunch, it was time for a burp. I wasn't happy at first...
...but after a few pats on my back, everything was ok...
...and I was back in my stroller ...
All in all ... a pretty good day!

And when I got home... I was happy!

To Mack Brown, Head Coach of the University of Texas Football Team,

You may not be aware of me right now, but I'd like to introduce myself because you'll know my name soon enough. I'm Austin Mitchell Laves. Right now, I'm about 23 inches long and weighing in at around 12 lbs, but don't you worry. I'm drinking lots of milk, and by the time the 2026 football season rolls around, I will be a force to be reckoned with. I've been practicing daily on tuning my fine motor skills, and I hope to be among one of your full scholarship athlete elites.

Hesitant? Why sure, you should be. My Dad is short, balding, and has the football skills of cookie monster, but I promise; I did not get those genes. My mother, on the other hand, comes from a long line of Swedish Viking warriors. My great-great grandfather was even a very high ranking Swedish naval commander. That's respect; and I promise to demand that same level of respect as my ancestors.

Just to prove my abilities, I have attached my first video scouting report (done by my father). I already have full range of motion in my arms, and my legs have the power of a 3 months old, and I'm only 7 weeks old!!! Also, you can see the respect I have for your superior program, as I already proudly wear burnt orange on a daily basis.

So, don't just circular file this message. Save it. Save me ... don't walk away from this great offer as I could get snatched up by some Pac 10 team, and you and I both know we don't want that!

High Regards,

Austin Mitchell Laves

At the end of a long day...

Sometimes at the end of the day... when you want to nap, but just can't ... all you can do is... YAWN.
Ofcourse, Dad had to record this one...(sigh)