Month: November 2005

Click on pic to see the video.

Mommy and Austen had their first real tete-a-tete today and Austen did wonderfully.  First, they dropped off Morgan’s birthday gift at the Metuchen post office.  (They probably won’t be able to make the ten-hour round trip drive to Morgan’s birthday party on the weekend.)  Then they went to Main Street to pick up bagels and to have lunch at Brewed Awakening* where Mommy ate quickly as Austen watched with big brown eyes.

After lunch, Austen went for a stroll down Main Street to Amboy Avenue in her Peg Perego baby carriage.  The weather was balmy for late November.  Stopping along the way, Mommy picked up info on a day care facility, a music school, and also a playgroup – she’s excited at the prospect of getting out of the house on weekdays.

Driving home, Mommy noticed a sign for Lucinda Court and looked in the rear view mirror to find Austen sleeping contently.

Austen barely fussed at all during the four-hour excursion and when she did she was easily calmed by jostling her stroller.  Mommy was so happy and proud.

Unfortunately, Austen became a bit cranky after she got home and had trouble eating, a strange recent phenomenon where she cries when you try to feed her even though she’s very hungry.  Eventually, she gives in and eats, which sooths her.  Up to this point, Austen has been an avid eater.  Play and other distractions are taking on a greater roll in her life; now she is at times too focused on a novelty to bother with eating.

Tomorrow, Mommy plans to make some phone calls and sign Austen up for a class at Gymboree.  While in Ayer for Thanksgiving, Austen went to Morgan’s music class at Gymboree, and Mommy became inspired to try to take Austen out for short jaunts while Daddy is at work.

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* This is the sandwich shop Mommy and Daddy went to with Grandma Judi only days before her stunning cancer diagnosis.  On that day, Grandma Judi also toured the house in Metuchen for the first and only time – it was not quite finished.  Grandpa Earl was there too.  Grandma Judi was in good spirits although her leg was bothering her.  Mommy was very enthusiastic about the house that day — much talk was of Grandma Judi’s future visits after Austen’s arrival.  Mommy also discussed pregnancy-related issues and concerns with Grandma Judi.

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Austen spent her first Thanksgiving at Morgan’s new house in Ayer, Massachusetts. She started off a little cranky, probably because of the 5-hour drive throwing off her schedule and Mommy & Daddy not realizing she was very hungry but too wound up to eat. Fortunately, Austen eventually allowed Mommy to feed her a bottle and went to sleep just before it was time to sit down for dinner.

As usual, dinner was excellent, so kudos to chefs Uncle Tod and Aunt Holly. Ample dishes, all cooked to perfection, encouraged everyone to eat all their veggies. Of course, the dessert, pumpkin cheesecake prepared by Uncle Mark, was equally great.

The four cousins had a good time playing en mass. Emma took turns “playing” with the younger ones, perfecting her “cheeeeky cheeky” tickle. Morgan was busy crawling and walking around the house — when she wasn’t sitting in her Bumbo chair watching language videos. Erin and Austen enjoyed staring at their older cousins and spent a lot to time on the play mat and in the swing.

Not to miss out on the entertainment, there was a lengthy poker game played by the daddies, Zack, Rin, and Mommy. There were some tense moments, particularly in the later hours as people became impatient with the dealer’s lollygagging. In the end, Mommy, an amateur at poker, nearly won it all before becoming too tired to go on. Surprisingly, Zack and Rin, the two poker “experts,” didn’t fare as well as they should’ve.

The night after Thanksgiving, we played poker ounce again. This was a much more relaxed version, with candy and popcorn serving as the main incentive to stay up. Emma couldn’t sleep so she was allowed to stay up with the adults … provided she remained on the sofa. This turned out to be too much of a limitation for her, especially after candy was spread out on the floor and Emma learned what really happens in the night after little girls go to bed. (Just as during the game the night before, Mommy dominated at Texas hold ‘em and quickly took out Rin and Daddy, although she felt kinda guilty about this.)

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone again for Christmas but hope they don’t expect such an extravagant culinary experience, unless Uncle Tod loses some bet at poker and ends up having to cook again. 🙂

Here are some really cute photos of the cousins (and their minders).

The remainder of the Thanksgiving photos can be found here.

Austen has improved her head control and enjoys her Bumbo chair a little more now.

Austen visits her newest cousin, Erin, who is was just 9 days old.

Austen is just starting to be able to grasp and hold a rattle, which she immediately moves toward her mouth for tasting. She still loves her pacifier and is soothed by it many times each day.

Austen now holds her head up 90 degrees above the ground during tummy-time – although she dislikes being on her stomach for very long. She can also turn her head from left to right in the process, although with a bit of a wobble.

Occasionally, Austen is able to roll from her stomach to her back, although she hasn’t mastered this skill. Mommy & Daddy are in no rush because they like to be able to leave her on the center of the bed once in a while without worrying she’ll get herself into trouble.

Austen has a strange love for diaper changes. If she’s crying or fussing and you put her on her changing table, she calms down almost instantly and even starts smiling and playing. Remarkably, she enjoys having her diaper changed even when it’s not actually soiled.

Smiling is one of Austen’s favorite activities – a close second to flailing her arms and legs and batting at toys hanging from her play gym. Daddy often gets a big “welcome home from work” smile. Austen smiles when a bottle of milk approaches her mouth but immediately screams LOUDLY if you mischievously take it away before she’s full.

Speaking of LOUDNESS. Austen cries loudly almost every time she transitions from play to sleep, or from eating to playing, or from sleeping to eating. This is apparently her way of telling you she needs your assistance ASAP. Correspondingly, she also coos and talks loudly and likes to hold back and forth conversations in baby talk. If you walk up to her, bring your face close and speak, she’ll usually either smile or say something back to you. Mommy was elated the first time Austen smiled back at her when she rushed over in response to some fussing.

Austen’s first party was Emma Famous’ 3rd Birthday party, where her pacifier was swiped by Cousin Morgan Famous – see the exciting caught-in-the-act video footage soon to come. She had a good time napping in people’s arms and playing on Cousin Erin’s play-mat.

On the weekends, Austen is often babysat by her Rodey grandparents who never let her out of their sight for even a moment.

Real Mommyhood is setting in. Mommy can’t leave home for more than a couple of hours without experiencing a painful longing in her stomach for this face.

Daddy also starts missing baby during the day, especially when he sees one of her photos on someone else’s desk.

Austen dressed up in a pumpkin outfit for her first halloween. Although there were only 2 trick-or-treaters, as far as Austen’s concerned there could’ve been dozens!

She played with Daddy.

She flew in the air with Dadddy.

And then Daddy carried her off.