Austen & Gage

Tonight Dada overheard Austen talking to Mama, reminding her of when Gage was in her belly … as if she would ever forget the torture of pregnancy. Mommy reminded Austen that she too was once in Mama’s belly. Earlier in the day, Austen told her friends that Dada and Chacha were once in Grandma Mindy’s belly. Babies are on her mind.

Gage is growing fast, gaining about 2.5 pounds in a month. He’s still an easy-going guy who is quickly soothed with a pat and a cuddle. He loves to be held and wrapped in blankets and enjoys sucking on pacifiers — although Grandma and Grandpa try to take them away from him. Believe it or not, he actually sleeps in his crib (see big sister’s blog — she never slept in her crib) and is out for up to four hours, usually three. In the car, he’s fairly happy bundled up in his Bundleme and car seat. As big sister Austen tells those who ask about Gage, “He just sleeps all day.”

Grandma and Grandpa talk a lot about Gage playing (read: being awake). It’s true that he focuses on people, staring intently with a peaceful look. It’s reported that he talks and smiles, but Mommy is still looking for evidence of this. [Note: After consulting with Grandma Mindy, Mommy got to see the cute little open-mouthed baby grin. Why is it that Mommy gets mostly cries for milk?]

Gage is very strong. Already he has pretty good head control — he moves his head on his own. The nurses comment on how well he can push you away with his hands. As for tummy time, he does it willingly and can lift his head and move it fairly well. He’s a “bruiser,” as the delivery nurse said at his birth.

Austen now has an opinion about what she wants to wear. A “princess dress” (which Mommy says is actually a Little House on the Prairie dress) with yellow stockings and black patent leather shoes? Perfect! Austen’s reputation for being a forward-thinking snazzy dresser (Chasing Fireflies Catalog) is going out the window.

We’ve been using those expensive chlorine-free diapers as pee pee teepees. Why, you ask? Well, obviously because Gage needs teepees to prevent spraying. And the chlorine-free diapers are size 1, WHICH GAGE HAS GROWN OUT OF ALREADY. Beefcaaaaake!

Gage’s awake times are longer now, over an hour at times, but he can be kinda fussy. He tries to move his head, which sometimes butts into you, and his hands explore, sometimes scratching. He seems to get a bit frustrated like baby Austen, who was never satisfied with her immobile infantile state.

It’s really cool when his eyes lock onto you. He has such a curious expression, like he really wants to understand who you are and what you’re saying. Mommy thinks he recognizes her. He really seems to enjoy when Grandma and Grandpa speak to him.

Joy!

OMG!!!! Mommy couldn’t believe her ears today at the pediatrician’s office.

Austen told Davinder he wasn’t allowed to get his ear pierced and Mommy couldn’t help but notice that her emphatic ‘No!’ sounded a lot like Mommy’s. The little dictator is good at telling people what to do in a an extremely authoritative tone. Of course, she’s shy and reserved around “older” kids (read: six year olds).