Austen is super quick. When she’s interested in learning something new (blowing a kiss, sliding a knob from side to side, making a top spin, the sign for “all done”), she learns within days. When she’s not interested, she notices but refuses to play along and do what’s prompted.
Animal sounds and exclamations are Austen’s favorite vocalizations. “Quack Quack” “Yea!” “Ooooh!” “What’s that?!” “Hi!” “Bye!” “Woof Woof” “Baaaa” When being read to, she loves books with animals, animal sounds and enthusiastic dialogue. Touch-and-feel books are also a favorite.
Austen is more and more gregarious, greeting people she passes on the street with a cheerful “Hi!” She’s started recognizing her friends and their moms but is more wary of people who approach her, preferring to initiate contact. When she does, people love having a tiny (30 inch) person accost them with a big-eyed stare.
Of course, Austen understands many more words than she can pronounce. When Mommy tells her “It’s time to go … Let’s go!” Austen heads for the door. When Mommy says it’s time to eat, Austen heads for her high chair. When Mommy or Daddy say it’s sleepy time, Austen waves bye-bye and heads for her bedroom.
Strange but true. Austen still naps in her baby swing, although she sleeps at night in her crib. Mommy and Daddy are very concerned about her dependence on the swing because she’s already too heavy for the swing’s weight limit and her legs are hanging over the edge. Austen goes down for a nap in her swing with a full milk bottle, which she tosses after she’s finished. Before bedtime, she drinks a bottle of milk before being put in her crib.
Happily, Austen can now play independently for long periods of time (assuming she’s not hungry or tired). This works especially well if Sesame Street, Teletubbies or a Baby Einstein video is playing in the background.
In the car, Austen is calmed by her Music Together CDs. For long trips, she watches DVDs.
Austen thrives in classes and at play dates, enjoying the excitement, activities and company. She often breaks into dancing and clapping.
At restaurants, Austen regularly eats in a high chair now and often orders from the restaurant’s menu. At a recent trip to Starbucks with Mommy (no, not to get coffee), she sat in a regular seat while eating cheese and apple slices. Usually, Mommy and Daddy order Austen some chicken, fruit and corn. Toys are required to help her get through a meal without too much squirming.
Austen’s hair is growing so long that it’s now falling into her eyes, but she’s not quite ready for pigtails.
Believe it or not, although Austen is the second youngest of the four cousins (who are all over 12 months), she is the only one drinking cow’s milk — organic, of course. Mommy and Daddy mix it with some formula and she drinks it as if there’s no difference.
A great change: Austen is more affectionate than ever. Mommy and Daddy get kisses and hugs every single day. How wonderful!
Austen likes to get into baskets now. And buttons (such as those on the washing machine) intrigue her.
Throwing food is an issue. Mommy wants to take her tray away immediately but Daddy is worried she won’t get enough to eat and wake up too many times at night.
Austen snatches cold sodas from the fridge and pretends to drink them, emulating Daddy.
Austen loves to play with musical instruments and dance — she even hums the clean-up song. Although she can’t clearly say clean-up, she manages to belt out “eeee-up, eeee-up…”
Her eyes are almost as big as her beloved Elmo’s.