People still comment on her “beautiful eyes and eyelashes” although now only parents of older kids call her a “baby.”
It seems Austen has been eighteen months old for a while now, although she just officially turned 1 1/2. Most of her friends are older but she fits right in and seems to be the same age. Her vocabulary and understanding of English is amazing. Her vocal chords, mouth movements and pronunciation are a work in progress. But when she speaks, it’s always with emphasis; her most common expressions are exclaimations, “Ooo!,” “Yea!,” “Uh oh!,” “This!” “Buh Bye!” “Hi!” “There she is!” “No!” and the numerous animal sounds she loves to repeat (such as deep-voiced “Quack Quack!” “Moo!” “Rarr!” “Meooow” “Woof woof woof!”) If you ask her what sound an animal makes that she doesn’t know, she often responds with some made up sound such as a coughing sound for a giraffe.
Although she has a lot of potential lung power, thus far she excells most at the physical (over the verbal). She can walk UP and DOWN a slide at My Gym, like a three-year-old. She can climb up monkey bars, as well as hang on them. She climbs on and off of Mama and Dada’s high bed with ease. She can climb onto dining chairs and then onto the dining table. On the trampoline, she gets lots of wicked air. On the balance beam, she exhibits caution, moves slow and never falls, except for her awkward “dismount.”
At eighteen mouths, Austen loves to draw with crayons and her magnetic doodlers (large one at home and travel size for car rides). She also likes painting, stamping, using stickers and stacking blocks.
She’s thinned out quite a bit (loosing most of her baby fat) but she stores extra emergency weight in her cheeks.
Several times a week, she sleeps through the night, but often she gets up once or twice for soothing and a few sips of watered-down milk.
Austen still naps in her swing although she’s pretty much outgrown it. [Record video] Note the dangling legs. Fortunately, at night she sleeps in her crib.
Top Thirteen Quirky Facts You Probably Don’t Know About Austen:
1. On a good day, she says “Oooo” at least 200 times at everything that pleases her.
2. When a song ends, she claps and yells “Yea!”
3. She can play by herself for over an hour, especially if a Baby Einstein video is playing in the background.
4. She eats some type of berries and ham practically everyday. Only occasionally will she let someone spoonfeed her (e.g. yogurt cups for breakfast on the weekend with Dada).
5. Austen gives Mama and Dada kisses and hugs everyday (although Dada’s sure he gets less).
6. When she wants to be read to, she finds a book, walks up to Mama or Dada, turns around and backs into Mama’s or Dada’s lap, butt first.
7. Austen loves to run, jump and dive around in just her diapers on Dada and Mama’s bed (especially when she’s changing into PJs for bedtime). She becomes giddy with joy when Dada puts on the music and lets her jump around, dancing on the bed.
8. She’ll randomly poke you in the face and identify your facial features — “eyes! head! mouth! ear! nose! chin!”
9. Austen starts dancing to cheesy music in pop-up audio books.
10. If you leave them out, Austen will find your shoes and walk around holding them while saying “Shoes!” Then, she’ll try to wear them and sometimes get upset when they don’t properly fit her little feet.
11. Austen rarely just walks. Mostly she struts, prances, sashays and runs.
12. The best way to get Austen to do something is to convince her that SHE wants to do it. Forcing her hand is very difficult.
13. Austen now plays ball. Sometimes Mama and Dada make her the monkey in the middle and she has to chase after it. She can also kick, throw and almost catch a beach ball. Her dream is to join the guys on the basketball court.
With Riley
Clapping, dancing and trying (very hard) to share at Music Together class