Austen & Gage

Dada took Austen for her eighteen month check up today. We waited and waited and waited to be seen (almost an hour), probably because there were so many sick kids in the “sick waiting area” and this was a last-minute rescheduled appointment, but Austen was entertained looking out of the window at cars, reading magazines, climbing on chairs and greeting new kids as they entered.

Once we went into the doctor’s office, things changed quickly. As is par for the course, Austen immediately became upset and cried. Dada smirked at the nurse’s futile but well-intentioned attempts to distract Austen. Refusing to sit on the scale, the nurse weighed Dada and Austen, then held Austen (kicking and screaming), while Dada weighed himself. After some simple math, the results were in: ~23 lbs.

Next was her height check. No chance in Austen standing still so we laid her down on the table. The nurse quickly made a pen mark above her head, then we attempted to hold her down flat and mark at the bottom of her feet. The nurse measured the distance between the marks and came up with 32″ although there was too much squirming for that to be very accurate.

After the nurse left, Austen calmed down a little but still clearly wanted to leave the room. Shortly afterwards, the doctor entered and the screams started up again. The nurse and Dada had to restrain Austen while lying down (yes, it takes at least two people to hold her down) while the doctor checked her ears, throat, etc.

Finally, after that torturous 10 minutes, Mama came in and rescued Austen and after a meeting with the doctor to review the details, took Austen to a scheduled Saint Patrick’s Day playdate (but that’s another blog entry).

While watching one of her videos on the computer, Austen identified herself and Chacha, saying “Babee” and “Chacha.”

well, almost!

Austen can now WALK up and down steps with ease. She loves to climb. Today at Chuck E Cheese, she climbed in and out of almost every ride and tried to climb onto the snow mobile while it was occupied by a little boy who was none too please. Watching the older kids play basketball (at the park and at Chuck E Cheese) fascinates her. Maybe it’s her game? Right now she just manages to steal the ball once in a while. Her increasing height must be helping her with climbing. The last time we went to a play area, she wasn’t as good at climbing into rides on her own.

Mommy knows it’s time to go when Austen starts running away when given a command (such as “Stay in the toddler area.”). When Mommy threatens a Time Out, Austen shakes her head and says, “NO,” I don’t want Time Out. For the most part Austen gets along well with older kids, but she sometimes takes advantage of little ones. It’s undeniable that she shows a preference for older boys, who seem to fascinate her most. What does it all mean? Who knows? What’s for certain is that she’s assertive and gregarious and prefers to initiate contact with others (rather than have them approach her) — thus her preference for people like Grandpa Earl.

Taking advantage of the semi-good weather, we decided to visit the local zoo. Austen loves animals so the slight chill in the air didn’t bother her at all, as she oooohh’d and ahhh’d at animals, big and small.

Couldn’t believe our eyes when way up over our head, up in the trees, were two black bears, chewing on leaves.

Austen enjoyed the animals, especially the farm animals such as horses, chickens, goats and sheep. When we saw some exotic birds — peacocks and cranes — she proceeded to talk to them with enthusiastic peeps.

She was bundled against the cold except for her cheeks which were exposed. Afterward, they turned bright red, along with her nose.

The cougars didn’t look so happy as they paced in their cage. Mama says they were the most beautiful as she wondered about them escaping and unleashing their rage.

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

Austen now says “No” regularly to communicate when she doesn’t want to do something … like take a nap or eat. Fortunately, her “No” is gentle and sweet sounding, unlike her crying. 🙂

Austen can now do all her animal puzzles and she can successfully shape sort squares, stars, circles, triangles, rectangles, pentagons, octagons, diamonds and ovals. Mommy will have to find some more advanced puzzles.