Austen Famous Rodey

Fun! Fun! Fun! On a spring-like October 31st.

Our Little Pumpkin

After countless Halloween parties, get-togethers and events, Austen finally got to go trick or treating. She got into her pumpkin costume (you may have seen a picture or two) and off we went.

We started by visiting our neighbors. The first few houses were a little scary; Austen was reserved and fussy. At the next few houses, she was comfy being held by Dada while being handed some candy. Several houses later on a different street, she started smiling, waving hi and bye and reaching in to the hosts' buckets and carefully pulling out a piece of candy. By the time we made it to the final round of houses, as soon as someone came to the door, Austen already had her arm outstretched ready to grab the candy, followed by some waving and babling.

Interestingly enough, several people instructed Austen to only take one piece. I guess they didn't realize she couldn't really understand them or even eat the candy. One person insisted that a baby like Austen must take take a Three Musketeers bar instead of a Heath Bar. Go figure! Austen just liked holding the crinkly wrappers.

Today while Mommy was singing a Music Together song, Austen hummed along with the correct notes! "Sing Rue, Sing Rue..."

Mommy predicts Austen will be the next musician in the family. She has about a one in four chance of being correct.

Eileen and Mia, our hostesses




Greeting Olga










Playing in Mia's room

Austen entered the costume contest and bounced around in the big bouncy house with the older boys.




Don't let the dragon get you!

Austen's take from the Halloween Pumpkin Pinata


With playgroup pal Nicholas


Bowling for babies


Playgroup kids and dads


Nancy and Connor


Two little pumpkins


Austen had a strong, sudden attachment to this chair.


Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin

Austen loves the class, walking and dancing around the whole time, smiling and interacting with the other parents and kids -- there are dads in this class! She even enjoys listening to the Music Together CDs in the car; Daddy and Mommy sing along. The only problem is during class when she has to put away the little sticks and instruments.








Austen wore her Halloween shirt for the Saturday class before Halloween.

Austen is developing a taste for pasta.

The MiddlesexUnionCountyNJMoms had a Halloween Party at JDC Partytime, which has an elevated tunnel system. Mommy and Austen have been members of the group for a while and have attended various group activities.

As Mommy posted on the group's message board:

Wow, I don’t remember ever seeing Austen so excited and captivated by everything around her – and she’s normally an extremely energetic child. She really loved being around all the kids, including the older ones. I see many parties in her future.

Thanks to all those who helped plan the party and brought all the yummy food.

Lucinda

Followed by a stop at Over the Moon Toys.



The Owl, an ancient Greek simple of wisdom, associated with Philosophia or love of wisdom.

Recently, Austen went to have some photos taken in her Indian outfit at a professional photography studio. The photographer was nice, accommodating and patiently waited for Austen to settle in. He also helped encourage Austen to relax, smile, strike the right pose, etc. Throughout the process, he kept affectionately calling her boo. Of course he was being caring and genuine but all the while, Dada was a little upset at the sound of someone calling his baby "boo." It looks like Dada will need to take up martial arts to sufficiently threaten all future male friends once Austen’s a little older.

Consider this fair warning…

Perhaps Austen prefers her Grandpas to all others because they never say "No!" to her, or try to pick her up when she doesn't want to be held, or force her to do anything. On the other hand, Mommy, Daddy and Grandma have to lay down the law: change diapers, strap her into her high chair, carrying her upstairs to change her wet shirt, lay her down for a nap, take away dangerous objects & etc.

Austen, as a spirited child, likes to always have her own way. Mommy likes to say she's the baby dictator. Austen has strong feelings about what she wants and what she likes.

Austen hopes they come swing with her soon.

Today Mommy read a passage in Harvey Karp's The Happiest Toddler on the Block that made her sit up and exclaim. "Now this is what I've been trying to say. She's just not like the other kids."

Mommy has been concerned about how strong-willed Austen is: when she wants something it's very difficult to convince her that she can't have it or that she has to wait. Austen's so full of energy that she seems to bounce off the walls -- so focused on her play that she's furious if a toy is taken from her before she's ready to give it up; so curious that she must explore every object in a room -- and then, after a few hours, she collapses in tears from exhaustion. Compared to her peers, she's more manic and constantly on the go, moving from extremely happy and friendly to frustrated in a flash. Austen even wears out Daddy, who is definitely not a low energy type of guy. At night, Mommy and Daddy used to have to reassure each other that they were going to make it through the next day without breaking down.

According to Karp, Austen is not a freak of nature! She's a "spirited child," part of a small minority of children. He says children are divided into three categories by temperament:

Easy kids (40 percent of children). These kids are flexible, active, not too intense, and open to new situations. [Daddy and Chacha probably fell into this category as toddlers.]

Cautious kids (15 percent of children). Hesitant, sensitive, even fearful, they don't like changes and surprises. They tend to be peaceful but are easily frustrated. [Mommy probably fell into this category as a toddler.]

Spirited kids (10 percent of children). These are the "more" kids: more active, more intense, more sensitive, more passionate, more inflexible, more moody, more impatient, impulsive and strong-willed.

No two children are alike, all fit into a "category" in their own unique way. In Austen's case, she's overwhelmingly happy and friendly and loves new situations (unlike some spirited children). Demanding and exuberant, she's a paradigm of tenaciousness and boisterousness, who fidgets and never sticks to one routine, except a regular bedtime. She welcomes new situations. As she's gotten older, she is much better at transitions, although she often needs a bit of encouragement and distraction to get through them. She is easily frustrated when tired but rarely complains about discomfort or hurt, bouncing back quickly from falls. Austen is still of an age that she can be distracted by a new toy; her attention span is very short. She is sensitive to people and animals around her and notices the sounds they make.

Learning about Austen's unique temperament makes Mommy feel both relieved and anxious. Spirited kids are reportedly the most difficult to raise. There are books devoted to helping parents deal with them. Karp says that parents of spirited kids are often looked down upon as bad parents by others who see their children throwing fits, but they are actually the hardest working parents around. No wonder Mommy is always saying she needs a break from Mommy time.

On the other hand, Mommy is proud that Austen is unique and special. Maybe she'll be an alpha adult, an innovator who accomplishes some great feat.

Mommy, Daddy and Austen went to Short Hills Mall for lunch at Legal Seafood, a stop at Tiffany & Co. for jewelry cleaning, and playtime at Neiman Marcus?!

Uncle Tod sent an e-mail that seems to include a new nickname for Austen (in addition to Babycakes, Little Pea, Sweetie, Cutie, Little Booger ... and all the other things Mommy and Daddy call her):

At this point, we expect dinner to be following:
-Mrs./Mr Anderson/Mr. Hunt (Morgan's Great Grandfather).
-Cin/Vin/Ten
-Holly/Tod/Morgan
7 adults 2 toddlers for dinner Saturday 6:00.

Jen/Mark/Emma/Erin are planning to attend b-day as well with a day-trip on Sunday.

Should be a fun/busy day!

Tod

Austen went to see the animals at Johnson Park in Piscataway. She greeted the cayotes and foxes with "Woof woof!" and greeted her friends and their mommies with smiles and waves. At the playground, she had a lot of fun running around with her little friends, swinging (with Mommy's help) and going down the big-kid slide all by herself. When she got home, Austen waved bye-bye to Mommy as she settled in for a long two-hour nap.

Mommy accidentally left the gate at the top of the stair open this evening. Austen walked down -- yes, on two feet, biped style -- a few steps by herself and then did a lot of talking until Mommy discovered her on the steps.

Mommy was sent an e-mail containing facts about New Jersey which don't seem very impressive to her but then again she considers herself more of a Marylander and New Yorker.

Here it is:

If you've every lived in Jersey, you'll appreciate this.

New Jersey is a peninsula.

New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as
metropolitan areas.

New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky.

New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana, Cuba.

New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US.

New Jersey has the highest cost of living.
[Hmmm...Daddy questions the underlying data that supports this claim.]

New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.

New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.

New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World."
[This is not a good thing. –Mommy]

North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius.

New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.

New Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns; some of the nation's most famous: Asbury Park , Wildwood, Atlantic City , Seaside Heights , Long Branch, Cape May.

New Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.
[Why does our tap-water still taste crappy? -Daddy]

New Jersey is a leading technology camp; industrial state and is the largest
chemical producing state in the nation when you include pharmaceuticals.
[This is not so good for the environment. –Mommy]

Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.

New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production.

Here's to New Jersey - the toast of the country! In 1642, the first brewery in America , opened in Hoboken

New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.

New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80 percent of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.

New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports (in Newark), Liberty International.

George Washington slept here, he slept many places it seems.

Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.

The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ , laboratory.
[This is right next door to us and IS very impressive. –Mommy]

We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.

The first seaplane was built in Keyport, NJ.

The first airmail (to Chicago) was started from Keyport, NJ.

The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ.

New Jersey was home to the Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic City.

The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on its playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City.

And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world, not to mention salt water taffy.

New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.
[This, again, is not a good thing. –Mommy]

The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the Watchung Mountains.

New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world in Union, NJ.
[Who cares? -Mommy]

New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City.

The Pulaski SkyWay, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway.

NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson (Holland Tunnel).

The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.

The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889. Rutgers College played Princeton.

The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ. They're all gone now.

New Jersey is home to 2 out of 3 of "NEW YORK'S" pro football teams!

The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson, NJ.

The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.

All New Jersey natives: Sal Martorano, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Joan Robertson, Ken Kross, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, Alan Ginsberg, Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Linda McElroy, Eileen Donnelly, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Ovi Garcia, Lauryn Hill, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Joe DePasquale, Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gorden McCrae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Zebulon Pike, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm.Halsey,Jr., Dave Thomas (Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Bob Reyers, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia, Kelly Ripa, and, of course, Francis Albert Sinatra.


Note from Mommy: Apparently, no respectable New Jerseyians goes to Princeton -- it's for out-of-staters -- so Austen considers herself not a New Jerseyian, not a New Yorker (where she was conceived and was supposed to be born) and definitely not a jingoistic American, but rather, as Socrates would say, "A citizen of the world."

Someday Austen is going to take both ballet and Indian dance. At least that is what Mommy is hoping for. If Dada and Chacha get their way, she'll probably be dancing hip hop.

While Austen was napping, Mommy spoke to Grandma Rodey and Beerinder about "Sunny" (aka Dada) and found out that his mom (Grandma Rodey) picked out his clothes until he was in high school. "He wore whatever I bought ... but Beerinder! ... oh, boy ... he insisted on picking his own clothes in 2nd grade." It's settled; Chacha is more fastideous about clothing. But Mommy thinks Dada is pretty cute in his Costco jeans. :)

Today Austen met the members of her MOMS club of Edison playgroup: Isabella, Natalie, Nicholas and Jackson. Mommy hopes Austen's energy and enthusiasm doesn't frighten the other little children. Maybe she should be placed with four-year-olds ... who wouldn't let her push them around.

And Mommy wants Austen to know: "We never fed you cat food, you stuffed it in your mouth and ran away from Mommy when she tried to take it out." At least it wasn't dog food?!

Dada or Da•da or da•da [dä dä]

n. 1. an informal term for Austen's daddy: Look, Austen, here comes Dada!
2. a term to describe Sikh men: While in McDonalds with Mommy, Austen identified another Sikh man by saying "Dada."
3. an extremely vague term for mother: After playing with Daddy, Austen became so excited to see Mommy that she pointed at her and proclaimed, “Dada!”
4. a term used to identify things that Austen-cakes can’t properly identify: Excited by all the animals in the zoo, Austen yelled "Dada!" while pointing at the llamas, pigs and goats.

v. 1. a term used while under the influence of the ‘fussies’: Not wanting to sit in the high-chair anymore, Austen became upset and mumbled "dadadadada."

Austen has taken a liking to stuffed animals: Elmo, Pooh, her tiger, her tan ducky and her brown bear. At night in her crib, she gently hugs and pets Elmo and Pooh. It's the most sensitive and touching thing Mommy and Daddy have ever seen her do. Amazingly, even Mommy and Daddy get hugs sometimes when Austen is sleepy, or has bumped her head, or hasn't seen one or the other for a while.



Although she's still talking up a storm, it's difficult to make out what Austen's saying. But, sometimes, when Mommy sings, Austen clearly jumps in with a word or two from the lyrics.

"That's Elmo's world"

Austen's emoting during 'Pop Goes the Weasel' also impresses the crowds.

Austen knows there are certain things Mommy and Daddy don't like her to do, such as picking something off the floor, checking to see who's watching, and then slowly moving the contraband toward her mouth. When Mommy says no, Austen smiles, tightly closes her mouth and runs away. Unfortunately, this "running from trouble" happens when she's out visiting the mall. Mommy gives chase and, at times, fellow mall goers help Austen by assisting her in opening doors and escaping Mommy. Must not be parents!

After several scratches on the arm, Austen is wary of Squirtcup. Mommy hopes they'll eventually play together. Austen still gets excited by cats and tries to pet them "Gently!" but sometimes she gets overexcited and lets out a really loud scream, which the kitties don't like. Although we don't have a dog, Austen loves doggies and gets excited when she sees them. She, almost coherently, shouts, "dog," "woof" and "arf."

Despite Mommy's wishes that Austen rise to the level of Nietzsche's Übermensch and be imperturbable, Austen gets very possessive of things, such as the beach balls at Gymboree. She even gets into non-violent scuffles with other little kids over who gets to hold the ball.



Austen does clever things like spying Daddy's shoes and trying them on. She understands a lot more than she is willing to display on command.

Television is a part of Austen's life. She watches public TV (Sesame Street and Teletubbies) and Baby Einstein DVDs. Sometimes Daddy has to use Teletubbies to help distract Austen while she eats in her high-chair.

Austen gets fussy not just when sleepy or hungry but when frustrated or bored, similar to a 2-year-old's behavior. She'll throw a toy offered her and then throw her head back. A change of scenery or singing usually helps calm the fussies.

Austen loves waving. She'll wave when someone waves at her, when someone says 'hi,' 'bye,' 'goodnight' or nothing at all. At restaurants, she unrelentingly waves at innocent fellow diners who are trying to eat their lunch in peace. It's okay, Austen. Mommy thinks every last wave is cute.

Daddy, Austen and Mommy all arrived safe at Gymboree, despite Mommy's bad driving. Austen enjoyed having Daddy around but also was excited to see her little friends AND their mommies. Austen definitely recognizes people, waving and even motioning to be picked up.

Tonight, when Grandpa Rodey came to visit, Mommy and Daddy got to go out to dinner where they had a great time ... talking about the baby. Is there anything else to talk about? When they got home, Austen wanted Daddy all to herself and Mommy was pushed away when she tried to join in for a group hug.

Mommy, Daddy and Austen woke up early for their first Music Together Class at the Edison YMCA. Most kids in the class were a year or more older than Austen. It was remarkable how very active she was compared to the other 12-month-old boy in her class, but, unlike the others, she got upset when she had to return the egg shakers.

Later, the whole family went to the annual Metuchen Street Fair. Austen tried the giant blow-up jumper castle with the older kids. With everyone jumping around, the castle was constantly in motion so Austen fell quite a bit but didn't complain. She also ate a lot of Thai garlic chicken and veggie rice while watching Flamingo dancers in action.

At Short Hills Mall, Mommy and Austen met with Kelly and Riley to see the stunning clothes at Neiman Marcus and eat yummy seafood at Legal Seafood. Austen kept trying to run away from Mommy but fortunately Kelly was there to help catch her. [Mommy has purchased an Elmo baby leash and plans to use it if Daddy will let her.]

During the trip, Kelly teased Mommy about her love of Fendi pocketbooks -- trying to trick her into believing there was a 50% off sale at the designer -- and Mommy told everyone about how she once surprised Grandma Judi with a Fendi during a shoping excursion on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Austen will have that special purse when she's older because Grandpa Earl let Mommy take it for her.

Today Mommy and Austen went on a trip to a Von Thun's Farm ... with the help of the GPS that always makes at least one mistake per trip. They picked a pumpkin from the field, visited with the animals, and tried the cornfield maze.

For dinner Mommy made pumpkin pancakes with the fresh pumpkin. And there are now three little painted pumpkins decorating the front patio.

www.vonthunfarms.com

Austen helps Mommy sing the ending by saying the name of the last Teletubby.

I did a search of our e-mail, looking for someone's address, and found a bunch of e-mails from my mom. I couldn't even open them. I remembered what it was like to read her cheery words and didn't want to accept that I wouldn't ever hear them again.

-Mommy