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On Christmas morning, Austen got to open her stocking gifts and a few other presents with Mama and Dada. She enjoyed ripping them open to see what was inside and quickly got into the opening-gifts groove.

Then, we went to visit Auntie Heather and Cousin Zack at their house. Austen loved playing with the kitties and especially with Rex, Zack’s 10 year old boxer, who was very friendly.

Mama and Dada rocked out with Zack playing guitar hero on the PS2.

Auntie Janet also joined in and read several books to Austen.

Mama baked some gingerbread cookies in preparation for the upcoming celebration and Austen helped to decorate them afterwards. Just to make sure they were okay, Austen also served in a quality control role by sampling some of the products.

Mama, Dada and Austen visited the farm a few days before Christmas to visit the family. Lots of people came over to the farm and we exchanged gifts.

Austen enjoyed seeing her cousins and friends. They ran around, played with many toys, ate together, read some books and had a blast.

It was a short day visit but it was action packed.

More pics.

Austen’s good friend Mia hosted a party, where several of Austen’s friends gathered. Austen enjoyed eating food and snacks while playing with her friends. They ran around the house, jumped on each other, read books with each other and even climbed on top of Dada for another book reading.

Mama and Austen paint some new decorations. Austen chose an ornament-size christmas tree to be hung on her actual christmas tree while Mama made a colorful Merry Christmas sign.

Austen has named her faux fur white jacket (given by Auntie Heather) the “Polar Bear Coat.” When Mama first heard this, it came out of no where – we hadn’t been discussing animals, only putting on a coat. Mama laughed with astonishment. Maybe Austen will have a way with words, aphorism and non sequiturs like Dada.

Not showing much interest in letters, except for spelling her name, Austen can count the number of little yellow duckies that Mommy places in front of her.  Ten is her maximum at the moment but maybe learning the Twelve Days of Christmas will change this.  (Note:  sometimes she miscounts by recounting a duck several times:  imaginative counting, we’ll call it.)

Mama can now discuss cause and effect with Austen and try to explain to her why she isn’t allowed to do something.  Reasoning with her seems to help ward off the degree to which Austen complains.  However, reasoning with Austen does not mean waiting for her to accept the reasons before enforcing the rules.

Our stair gates are still up, at the top and bottom of the main staircase, but now they are more for corralling Austen (either upstairs or down when needed) instead of for safety.  For a few months now, Austen has been all right going up and down the stairs by herself, sometimes when Mama and Dada aren’t even watching, or are in another room.

Austen said this last night, much to Dada’s chagrin. Mama and Austen had gone to a sale at a local toy store to purchase Christmas gifts for the Famous cousins.