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Kelly, Riley and Sanjiv came for a BBQ. Mommy and Daddy made chicken wings, burgers and corn on the cob. Austen and Riley tested out the railing on the deck by practicing their pulling-up skills.

Austen says “Da” all the time. She also tries to say “Cat” when she sees one of the kitties, “Clap” when she’s clapping, and even “Duck” when Mommy reads her a book on ducks — as well as many other consonant/vowel combos with no meaning in English. However, she doesn’t say “Ma.” Mommy thinks this is because people around her don’t say “Ma” with the same enthusiasm with which they say “Da.” These people shall remain nameless.

On a totally unrelated topic, yesterday Davinder’s parents suggested that they drive Austen to the store with her sitting on Mrs. Rodey’s lap. Mommy and Daddy had to try to convince them that there are laws requiring the use of car seats. Mommy added, “Regardless of the law, it’s not safe.”

Weight: 16lbs 15ounces
Height: 2’3″
Head Circumference: 17.5 inches

When Mommy told the doctor about Austen’s developmental milestones, including her strong interest in standing and cruising, he said, “What’s her rush?” Maybe Austen needs a more ambitious pediatrician.

Austen finally received her six month shots, after several delays due to illness and such, and is now up to date with all immunizations. She won’t get shots again until her nine month appointment.

Austen now eats spinach, peas, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, pears, rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, and sweet potato veggie puffs (which she feeds herself). Mommy and Daddy want to start proteins like beans and chicken soon.

Today, Austen said something that sounded like “Caaa” when clapping. We think she was attempting to say “clap.” After all, that’s what everyone else says when she’s clapping. “Clap, clap, clap!” And clapping is currently her favorite activity. Whenever she’s happy, she claps.

Austen recognizes her name very well at this point. She almost always turns her head in the direction of the person calling it.

Austen understands the word ‘milk’ and starts making hurry-up grunts if she hears it when she’s hungry.

There are times when Austen copies Mommy and waves “Hi!” accompanied by a “hhhah” sound.

Austen slept through the night for the first time. 8pm to around 7am. Thanks, Grandma Rodey, for playing with her and giving her a bath before bedtime.

The only trouble is that Austen now gets up and crawls around her crib, then pulls herself to standing. When she gets sleepy, she does a nose dive and drifts off to sleep in strange bent-over positions. Sometimes Mommy and Daddy sneak in while she’s asleep to adjust her onto her side. Austen sleeps in a sleep sack with no blanket and no stuffed toys in her crib because of her tendency to doze off on her stomach now.

Austen’s infant friends and their mommies joined her for a Jane-Austen-inspired tea party. Mommy got out the fine china and bought some scones and Devonshire cream.

In attendance were Miss Eileen and her daughter, Miss Mia (“The Birthday Girl”); Miss Kelly and her daughter, Miss Riley; Miss Nancy and her son, Mr. Connor; Miss Hema and her daughter, Miss Nithya; Miss Heidi and her son, Mr. Dean; and Miss Reshmi and her son, Mr. Ayush. Mommy’s not sure why she’s insisting on using ‘Miss’ so many times; it must be a Jane Austen thing.

Mommy’s attempt at Jane Austen decor (helped by Mozart playing in the background):

Daddy and Mommy took Austen to Gymboree and she impressed Daddy by climbing one step up a ladder.

Austen uses crawling not as an end in itself but as a means to get to places where she can pull herself up to standing. Her primary interest is standing.

Austen’s first tooth broke through last night. The front right.

When Austen wakes up in her crib, she turns over and starts crawling around. Often her arm or leg falls through the railing.