Austen Famous Rodey

Everyday Mama has to negotiate with Austen to get her to do things, like hold still for dressing, clean up, finish playing in the sink, or follow Mama downstairs. It's a tricky situation because Austen wants to feel like she's in control and making at least 50% of the decisions. Having learned to be more amenable after being around Austen so much, Mama lets Austen make some decisions and persuades her (sometimes bribes her) to get her to go along with Mama's suggestions. Similarly, Austen negotiates to get what she wants, such as videos or chocolate milk. In the car, Austen sometimes screams about wanting to listen to her music, but mostly she says please and tries to convince Mama that it's "Austen's turn" to listen to "Austen's music."

A typical exchange:

"Let's go downstairs!" says Mama, as she walks to the door of the master bedroom.
"No. Upstairs," says Austen, defiantly.
"But we'll get a snack. Do you want a snack?"
"No! Watch 'eo [video]. Barney."
"Okay, we'll watch Telletubbies downstairs, and Mama will check some e-mail on the computer."
"Okay! Work on the concuter [computer]. Austen plays Elmo game!?"
"Not right now. Later."
"Later!? Just a minute?"
"No, not right now."
"Not today?!"
"Yes, today but maybe later."

Another typical exchange:

"Piece of chocolate!" says Austen, seeing the box of Godiva on the counter.
"Okay, one piece."
Austen eats chocolate.
"It's so yummy, huh?" asks Mama.
"Another one?"
"Just one piece."
"Last one! Last one!"
"No, not right now. You can have chocolate meeka later."

Austen yells this when you try to persuade her to do something she doesn't want to and she feels pressured. You gotta love the originality of toddler syntax.

Mama asked Austen to put on her socks but, not wanting to, Austen hid them in the coat closet instead. When Mama asked where the socks were, Austen fessed up and showed her where they were hidden.

Austen enjoyed a lunch at Menlo Park Mall with her friend Ryan, followed by driving a fire truck. Oddly, Austen enjoys it best when it's not in action (free!).

Austen made a few special Valentine's Day gifts for Grandma Mindy. Among them a special painting and a painted heart jewelry box. Grandma gave Austen a gold necklace (what else!?) in return.

Austen spent 2 hours playing outside in the snow with Mama and her neighbors. She stomped around in the snow, threw snowballs and best of all, joined some 'big girls' in making and decorating a snow man, using a Snowman Building Kit that Mama got as a Christmas gift from Kelly.

Austen really enjoys the sit down dinners with Mama and Dada now that we got a new kitchen table. It also helps when the main dish is Mac n Cheese, one of Austen's favorites.

Mommy (she prefers this name but hasn't convinced Dada and Austen yet) is always inspired by Austen's enthusiasm -- if not always by her rowdy behavior. It's fascinating to watch her. Everything she chooses to do is done with such spirit and interest on her part. Checking out a dog on the street. Trying to find the moon. Counting the number of blue cars in sight. Today, when she finally got into soccer class, she pushed around the goal and kicked the ball in a way that was always exciting to watch.

For the past few weeks, Austen regularly wants to read Disney's story of Pedro. In particular, she loves to yell out the scary mountain's name: Aconcagua.

Not surprisingly, Mama and Dada (especially Dada), start laughing and only encourage the behaviour. It's just a funny word, made funnier when exclaimed by a 2 year old.

Lately Austen has been channeling Fargo and doing a Frances McDormand impression.

See it on YouTube: "Oooo, yaaa!"

Mama and Dada surprised Austen with tickets to Sesame Street Live in Madison Square Garden, NYC. The excitement began as we took the train into Manhattan and continued throughout the show. Austen also befriended another todler while getting snacks in the lobby before the show.

Austen enjoys feeding Neely fish. Neely (which means blue in Punjabi) is a siamese fighting fish (a.k.a. betta fish) so he can't be with another betta lest they start attacking each other.

Wow, there were like a zillion courses at the Chinese feast. Austen did incredibly well, trying lots of new dishes like shrimp crisps, baby corn and hard-boiled egg. She screamed for Devan half-way through dinner and got a lot of attention for her questions about what he was doing. "What's he doing?" "He's sleeping?" "Where's Devan?"

Mama and Dada enjoyed spending time with Daljit, Kimball and Angie. And, boy, those Indian kids have great hair. (All Devan's cousins were in attendance.)

It was cool seeing Austen strolling around Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Mama wants to get her a Chinese New Year pendant: 2005 was the Year of the Rooster.

...while we drive in the car. She can be rather demanding but usually asks nicely ("All around the cobbler's bench!"). It's unbelievable the way she can recognize that we've forwarded to the right song after hearing only a few notes of music. She's got a gift. Uncle Mark, after failing to note Lucinda's musical background, is gonna be impressed.

Cha Cha was here to accompany Mama and Austen to Gymboree and lunch at Tinga. In the evening, Dada returned from his leadership conference and found a table full of gifts. Mama got a beautiful beaded necklace and tulips.

Mama is so relieved to have help. Austen enjoys playing with Cha Cha in the mornings, then she, Cha Cha and Mama go out in the afternoons for yummy meals and hanging out at the local stores. During soccer class and Gymboree, Austen clings to Cha Cha and isn't as active as usual, but she loves storytime in the evenings. "Acangagua!!" she yells, when reading her current favorite story, Pedro.

While Dada was away on training for a few days, Chacha visited and took Austen to MyGym.

Austen is reconciling herself to time outs for unacceptable behavior (hitting, screaming too much). She even walked herself to the steps and went through the motions ALL BY HERSELF when Mama told her she was getting a time out. Dada was amazed. Both Mama and Dada are worried she's not taking it seriously but often she gets pretty upset just because you tell her she's in trouble and she's getting a time out.

Austen is reconciling herself to time outs for unacceptable behavior (hitting, screaming too much). She even walked herself to the steps and went through the motions ALL BY HERSELF when Mama told her she was getting a time out. Dada was amazed. Both Mama and Dada are worried she's not taking it seriously but often she gets pretty upset just because you tell her she's in trouble and she's getting a time out.

Austen and Mama looked over the Grandma Judi Album (which Mama has been working on for a while now). Her favorite parts were saying "Grandma Judi," spying Emma and baby Morgan in a photo, and seeing a picture of "Grandpa."

L.L.F.

Austen gets the hang of things after her first soccer class, which consisted mostly of older kids (5-7 yrs old).

Austen loves to keep an eye out for red and green traffic lights, reminding you when the light is green and that you can go, and when the light is red and that you have to stop. She gets so excited, she demands a 'nother one, so she can wait it out again.

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.



But once Austen was ready, it was non-stop running, jumping, tackling and we're not talking about the game on TV.





As usual, there was plenty of food including home made pizza pies coming out of the oven at an incredibly fast pace. Austen also enjoyed some big glasses of her favorite drink -- "choco mika."


Gary & Timothy flipping through one of Mama's scrapbooks.


Raven was also having an active evening, regularly walking around the house, checking everyone out.


Austen really enjoyed playing with Meghan & Timothy.



We had to leave early in the 3rd quarter. Mama was driving and started to get tired so she tuned in to the game and got so into it that she woke up Dada.

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.