Sitting and Playing Alone

Austen sat and played with toys by herself on the carpet in Mommy and Daddy’s bedroom while Mommy took a shower. This was a first, usually Mommy has to bring Austen into the master bath and set up a playmat for her on the floor.

In her Exersaucer, Austen squealed and almost seemed to jump to reach the dangling toys, all the while doing her trademark big-mouth smile.

Mommy and Austen went to Kids World (exit 13A, across from Ikea) to buy some toys and supplies. On the ride home, Austen started complaining about being strapped into her car seat but when Mommy gave her a rattle to shake she calmed down.

At night, Austen was very tired and thus very fussy and unable to calm herself down. Daddy rocked her to sleep.

Swinging, but not on a Dolphin

On the last day at the farm in Maryland, Mommy had trouble waking in the morning but Austen was raring to go. She posed for photographs with Grandpa Earl on his tractor, even took the wheel. [See separate blog entry] Then she visited Cousin Grace and Cousin Susan at their white window-filled home on top of the breezy hill where Mommy used to go sled-riding.

Out back under the deck, Austen tried the infant swing and gave it a big open-mouth smile.

Mommy will soon be ordering her the highly-recommended Dophin Swing. Also visiting were Daddy, Tod, Holly, Morgan, Mark, Jen, Emma, Erin, Earl, Heather, Zack, Mike and Jonathan.

Austen and Emma on Jeff’s three-wheeler:

After Mommy and Daddy tell Emma that Austen’s going to eat her – Austen has a tendency to open her mouth very wide:

Just before leaving the farm for home, Austen sat with Aunt Margaret and Uncle James, who commented on her new sunnier disposition and talked about Jeffrey and Jonathan’s first skiing experience. Austen can’t wait to become a Ski Wee herself.

Back home, Austen did some Wee Exercise, successfully rising to a standing position from a seated position on Mommy’s leg. She was able to stand, without holding onto anything, for about 3 seconds, and then toppled over.

Austen’s Family on the Famous Side

First Column (top to bottom): Cousin Zack Gross, Aunt Jennifer Famous, Cousin Erin Famous
Second Column: Great Aunt Heather Lloyd (Grandma Judi’s sister), Great Aunt Janet Lloyd (Grandma Judi’s sister), Uncle Mark Famous, Cousin Emma Famous
Third Column: Daddy
Fourth Column: Mommy and Austen
Fifth Column: Grandpa Earl Famous
Sixth Column: Aunt Holly Anderson, Cousin Morgan Famous
Seventh Column: Uncle Tod Famous

Memorial Concert Weekend in Maryland

Friday:

Long day of packing for Mommy and Austen. Smooth drive to the Famous Farm in Maryland. Grandpa Earl greets Austen, who’s half asleep in her car seat.

Saturday:

Morning visit with Reverend Benjamin who is so impressed with Austen’s friendliness that he tells Mrs. Benjamin she has to come over and see baby Austen. She brings with her a beautiful cake.

Susan, Grace and Jeff visit.

Mommy, Daddy and Austen go to pick up pizzas and shop at Klein’s (Uncle Mark’s alma mater).

Party at Grandpa Earl’s house with the Bairs and Morrises and Grandma Judi’s former students. Aunt Gloria and Uncle John stop by.

At Abby West’s Thomas-the-Train-Engine-themed birthday party …

Austen meets Daisy …

… and stands on her own in Abby’s pink jeep.

Daddy needs to buy Austen a battery-powered jeep:

More partygoing at Grandpa Earl’s, hanging out with Aunt Janet, Aunt Heather, Mark, Jen, Emma, Erin, Tod, Holly, Morgan.

Sunday:

Special service at Emory. Austen manages to smile at every single member the Emory congregation. Afterward, Austen lays flowers at Grandma Judi’s grave. (See separate blog entry.)

Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra concert dedicated to the memory of Judith Lloyd Famous. [Scan program] Austen dresses in her beaded silk gown from India and gold jewelry from Grandma and Grandpa Rodey. Grandpa Earl is astonished at how Austen entertains herself with a board book on cows for 20 minutes and even enjoys the music, focusing on the section of the orchestra making the most sound. There’s no crying or shouting thanks to strategic use of the pacifier. Daddy and Mommy don’t want to press their luck, so Austen spends the second half of the concert in the hall napping in Daddy’s arms.

A dinner and awards reception follows. Grandma Judi is given a lifetime achievement award from the SSO.

The family reassembles at the Famous Farm to hang out with the babies. Morgan resists the “Da cuddle.” You’ll have to ask her about this someday, Austen.

Monday:

(See separate blog entry.)

Austen sitting with Mommy at Great-Grandmother Emma’s piano

This is an announcement that Mommy helped Grandma Judi write when she donated the piano:

On December 10th, Judith Famous, along with her family, donated a [insert type] piano to Emory United Methodist Church. Placed in the sanctuary of the church, the piano is meant to serve as a memorial to her mother, Emma Lloyd. As a doting grandmother of Judi’s children Mark, Tod and Lucinda, Emma was a regular visitor to Mill Green and embraced the entire Famous clan. While in the neighborhood, Emma became a part of the Emory congregation and enthusiastically participated in services… she was often “caught” singing with the Emory Choir.

Emma grew up in a small row house in Southwest Philadelphia, which was shared by three generations of her family. For the family of recent immigrants, German was the primary language spoken and music was always present through song. As a child, Emma longed to learn to play the piano. With limited funds, this was not possible. Emma attended West Philadelphia High School where she received many honors, especially in business courses. From childhood until her recent death, she was a member of the Woodland Avenue Presbyterian Church and even met her husband-to-be, John Lloyd (“Jack”), at the church’s youth fellowship. Emma’s husband served the U.S. in World War II. As soon as he returned from the war, he and Emma started a family. Emma worked most of her life doing bookkeeping for ice cream companies. Her grandchildren’s earliest memories include the smoking, dried ice packages loaded with Abbott’s Ice Cream that she and her husband brought down to the Famous farm on almost every visit.

Emma’s daughters, Judith, Janet and June (“Heather”), were always surrounded by music. Records, songs and free concerts were a part of their daily lives. Funds were still limited but luckily for the girls there was an instrumental music program at their school that provided free lessons and the opportunity to purchase instruments through regular payments. It was through a pastor’s wife that Emma was finally able to get piano music in her life. Her daughter, Judi, was given access to a piano and lessons in exchange for babysitting. Over the years, Judi became a competent piano player. It took Emma 40 years, but she finally got a piano! Her lifelong love of the instrument has been passed down to her children and grandchildren, as well as many others whom she influenced and supported.

Throughout Emma’s life, the church was a powerful force. She served it in every capacity possible: as deacon, as teacher and, of course, as loyal choir member. She planned her evenings and weekends around church activities. Emma gave freely of her time and talents to the church.

It is because of her love of piano music and devotion to the Christian church that a piano given to the Emory community was chosen as a memorial to her. Hopefully, Emma will live on through the music the piano provides in the worship of God.