Been lax lately.

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I don't really have a good excuse.

For Austin's twelve month appointment, he weighed in at 23 lbs 14 ozs, putting him in the 50th percentile. He was 31 1/2 inches tall for the 90th percentile. Despite being a big boy, he has a small head, only in the 25th percentile at 18 inches in circumference. She was pleased with where he was developmentally.


We have had a lot of firsts for Austin. First parade and fireworks in PTC for Independence Day. First steps! Austin took 6 steps by himself on Monday, July 7. By Wednesday of the same week he was off! Now he is running, albeit a bit wobbly. Austin's first trip to the swimming pool occurred on Father's Day. He didn't much care for it. We tried again a couple of weeks later and put him in a float that Nana and Grandpa got for him. He loved it! Splashing is a must when Austin gets near water. He started trying to eat with a spoon by himself. He mostly holds the spoon upside down, but somehow he makes it work. I sit with him and feed him with another spoon so he can actually finish a meal in a reasonable amount of time. He enjoyed watching his first Olympics, he seemed to enjoy diving the most, he even knew when to clap. We turned his carseat around on August 15 for his first ride in a convertible. He went to the beach for the first time on August 17. He didn't much care for standing at the shoreline while the surf hit his feet, but he did like being in the ocean (even without a float) and he enjoyed playing in the sand. He is also dancing now. It is very cute, he shakes his head and hips and swings his arms. If he is in his carseat, he just shakes his head.

He has a number of favorite songs. Topping this toddler's charts are 'Old MacDonald', 'This Little Christian Light', and 'Read Your Bible, Pray Everyday'. He sings and signs along. About the only 'words' he is using right now are 'Ee-ai-ee-ai-o' and 'Moo'. Even when I read Good Night Moon, the part when the cow jumps over the moon, he moos at me. You pretty much can't say cow without him mooing. It is really cute seeing him pucker up when he says it. If you ask him to show you his Christian light, he will hold up his index finger on his right (and his middle finger on his left, we are working on that), he particularly enjoys the 'Don't let Satan 'poof' it out' verse.

Austin is starting to communicate a bit more, but he still isn't using words. Keith, Linda and I aren't real big talkers so I think that may have something to do with it. We know when he likes something, because he will point to it. Trees and fans are particular favorites. When we went to Disney last week, he pointed at just about everything. He does the sign for more when he is hungry (tip for other mommies trying out signing, don't only associate food with the sign for more). He gets fussy when he wants his sippy cup, despite me showing him the sign for drink many times he won't sign it. If he isn't ready for the next bite of food when I try to feed him, he shakes his head no. If he doesn't like something I try to feed him he will shake his head no and push it away. When he particularly likes something he is eating he will say 'mmm'. If I ask him if he needs his diaper changed (still working on this sign as well) and he does, he will start walking to his room or reach up for me to take him. If he wants to sing Old MacDonald, he will come to me and say Ee-ai-ee-ai-o. If he wants to sing 'This Little Christian Light' he comes and holds his finger to his lips.

I'll stop here for now and post pictures and a Disney report later.