Austen & Gage

Austen organized her toys in a line stretching down the hallway.

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… by a man in the next booth (who never once thanked his own waitress for anything). Austen repeatedly said “Thank you” and “Please” and “Bless you” when Mama sneezed. She has her moments of beatific toddlerhood.

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Auntie Janet and Chacha stayed over after the big birthday bash and we went out for brunch on the following day.

We celebrated Mama, Dada, Auntie Heather and Grandpa Earl’s birthdays in one big party. We even had to get two cakes just to fit all the names.

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All day Mama and Austen discussed the fact that it was Dada’s birthday. They practiced singing “Happy Birthday to you…” many times, discussed blowing out candles and eating birthday cake, and went shopping for birthday gifts. For a while Austen insisted it was in fact HER birthday today and wanted “Happy Birthday” sung to her, but eventually she got on board and practiced singing the song “… dear Dada.”

All this talk of birth gave Mama the chance to talk about her mom, who Austen correctly identified as “Grandma Judi,” and Dada’s mom, “Grandma Mindi.” Mama also told Austen that Grandma Judi died. Austen reacted kinda strongly to this: wide eyes and an open mouth. She’s started to understand the concept of death, discussing Neely Fish’s and Scout’s and Nietzsche’s passings. Mama told Austen that she gets very sad when she thinks of Grandma Judi’s death, and Austen was sympathetic, “You got sad?” Mama tried to stay positive and return to the topic of parentage — which paid off; later that day, Austen repeated what she’d learned for Dada.

When Dada got home from work (in the white car), he was greeted outside by Mama and Austen, who were tossing a ball around. Inside, they gave him his gifts: a tool belt and billiard supplies (rack, set of balls and a cue). The three went to dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse in Piscataway, topped off with huge chocolate cake for dessert. Austen helped blow out the “candle.” She’d been anticipating this all day. The rituals of birthday celebration are so much fun when there’s a burgeoning toddler around.

L.L.F.R.

Austen went to the park today and played with Aaron, Timmy, Dean, Theo, Julian, Katie and Josie.