Go Giants! or Go whomever! depending on who you ask. A few people (Dada, Meghan, Connie) at this year’s party didn’t really have a team to cheer for. Mama however was cheering for the Giants, along with the majority crowd although perhaps not for the same reason. Mama didn’t like Brady and called him a “cheater” because of his personal life indiscretions.
Austen’s nap was cut short and she was noticeably not happy about it. It took her more than 30 minutes to get into the groove including some special cuddle time with Grandpa.Nap with Mama
Believe it or not, this is a first! Mama took a short twenty-minute nap with Austen in Austen’s bed. Wow, Austen sure is peaceful and baby-like when she’s resting — her little cheeks are so adorable.
Usually when Mama or Dada try to lye down with Austen she squirms so much that no one get rest and it turns into wrestling and/or tickling. But Austen was tired and after some forehead petting she closed her eyes and dozed a bit.Austen likes to go to bed with a bottle, but this is causing problems …
She and the bed keep getting soaking wet. She only drinks water but she’s very attached to soothing herself with a bottle.
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First Joke
Austen’s first joke happened recently when she crumpled up a piece of paper, shaped it and then showed it to Mama, saying, “Look, a flower!” Then she laughed.
Her second joke was putting her hands over her diaper area and saying “Look! A hand diaper!” Mama and Austen laughed at this one.Every night, Mama or Dada read stories to Austen before bed.
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Right now she’s preferring “the princess book” that’s a collection of stories including Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and The Three Little Pigs — Austen loves the huffing and puffing.Community Nursery School
Austen signed up for a two-day nursery school in the fall. When she saw the kids riding bikes and painting, she didn’t want to leave. Hopefully she’ll be as enthusiastic in the fall.
L.L.F.Classes and Activities
This winter Austen has been enjoying her Gymboree Art II class, her My Gym Gymsters class, and the MOMS club of Edison playgroup. (She’s taken a two-month Christmas break from Music Together but starts up again tomorrow.)
Along with classes, Austen enjoys shopping with mom; going out to lunch with mom; and lunches and playdates with her “Gymboree” friends and other local pals.“Auntie Heather’s Nuts!”
After first trying herbed almonds at Auntie Heather’s house, Austen now enjoys eating nuts (no peanuts) almost everyday. When you hand her some pistashios or cashews, she says, “Auntie Heather’s nuts!”
To which, Mama and Dada reply, “Yeah, she is a little crazy.”Memory and Consequences
When Austen did something bad at a play date, she remembered exactly what she had done and told Dada about it later in the day when he asked about her day. No prompting. Dada was surprised by her ability to recall what she’s done wrong.
When Austen asks to watch a video, Mama can explain that she doesn’t get to because, for instance, she hit Mama in Art Class earlier that day. And Austen gets this. It even deters her from hitting, although not every time.
It’s so much easier to explain things to Austen, even when the consequences are longer term. And she knows a lot about what she is and isn’t supposed to do, even if she intentionally breaks the rules at times.
“I gotta go to bed now,” she said sleepily.
Chacha stayed here for a week while taking a computer course in Edison. At night, he would sometimes put Austen to bed. Regrettably, he often wore her out with so many bedtime stories that SHE had to end the bedtime reading session herself.
“I gotta go to bed now,” she said, pointing to her big-girl bed. Poor girl.
Was it Chacha’s monotone reading? We kid, we kid!
[Add picture of Austen’s bed or video of her doing her bedtime routine, Dada]
L.L.F.