Austen can dress herself head to toe and is very proud of herself when she does so. Shirt, underwear, pants, socks and shoes. “I did it all by my big girl self.”
When in a hyped up, overexcited mood, she still has a tendency to refuse to help get herself dress, squirming around and ‘playing’ instead of cooperating with dressings. Mommy is overheard using many threats: no princess videos, etc.. However, Austen seems to be, for the most part, over the fighting and kicking stage when getting dressed. Of course, all bets are off if she’s overly tired; in which case she’ll fight you over ANYTHING because her rebellious, independent side goes haywire. Mommy and Dada love the way Austen appreciates her own appearance now — not in a vain sense but in a “I want to do it” sense. Just yesterday she checked out her new hat the mirror at a coffee shop and seemed quite taken. The striped, pink hat became “goat ears.” For Halloween, Austen was thrilled with her princess, flower fairy and chicken outfits. Looking at herself in the mirror inspired her to keep the outfit on, even when it wasn’t 100% comfy.