Austen Famous Rodey

Austen grew this with Grandma Mindy's help. ...at least it's organic.

Today Austen took a shower by herself, buckled herself in her seat in
the car and insisted that she wanted to stay home and watch Gage BY
HERSELF.

At dance class today, Austen kept screaming, "I only like to dance
with boys." Ugh!

I was shocked that Austen wouldn't dance with me at her birthday dance
party. She turned away and grabbed one of her boys' hands to dance
(Calvin and Aaron in particular).

Gage was happy to dance with Dada and loved all the company and
commotion.

- Lucinda

Mommy came home from Walmart tired and annoyed -- what's up with all
the Mercedes in the parking lot. I'd picked up some plants in order to
decorat the deck. Trying to arrange them in a simple pattern of
alternating burgundy and gold, I got huffy when Austen started moving
things around. She even started crying when I told her to stop. I gave
up and went inside, frustrated that I'd have to go back and rearrange
them when Austen went to bed.

But as I studied her arrangement of the plants the next morning I
realized I liked it better.

Austen seems so grown up as she approaches 4. She buckles herself
into her car seat. Changes her clothes all by herself in the morning
and evening. She talks and explains her feelings when she's having a
meltdown, instead of just screaming. "You made me sad because you
didn't get me a quesadilla. I need to watch Curious George so I can
calm down."

Her questions and insights often stun mommy, who is no dunce. About
Gage facing backwards in car, "Gage could watch the video too, if he
turned his head" and "Why does he have to face that way?"