It is hard to believe that fourteen months ago Austen was still doing cartwheels in Ashlee's belly. She seems to do so many things before her sisters did and we think it is because she is trying to be like her older sisters. She took her first unaided steps just shy of nine months and was running and climbing on things at eleven months. She suprised us by drinking through a straw at around six months. At twelve months she started using a spoon to feed herself. Now at thirteen months she climbs up onto the couch, she shakes her head yes and no and points to things she wants, and she understands most of what we tell her and a lot of what she overhears. If she overhears us talking about going somewhere she will imediately run and get here shoes. The other day she heard me ask Ashlee if I should bring her out to play on the trampoline in the backyard and she ran to the backdoor and started trying to reach and turn the handle. If we ask her where something is she will go look for it. She also loves to dance and twirl. She enjoys doing squats and tries to jump. Yesterday I was chasing her and she ran into our bedroom where it took me a few minutes to find her, she was hiding behind the head board for our bed. She also climbed into the bathtub yesterday after bath time and got her socks and jammies wet. Much like her sisters she also went through the stage of dropping things from her high chair and saying "uh oh". If I am sitting on the floor her favorite thing is to go get a book, hand it to me, and sit on my lap. She listens patiently and points to the pictures while I read almost as if she already understands what I am reading. She loves her mommy and daddy but she has always been a mommy's girl. Kaylee and Daphnee were always more like daddy's girls until lately it seems like at prayer time they want to sit by mom or want mom to do things for them. Another way she differs from her older sisters is that she is really shy with strangers and everyone seems to be a stranger except for mom and dad. Kaylee and Daphnee have never been shy, in fact, they will talk to random people at the store or other public places. I guess I should end this post. Ashlee just asked me if I am writing a novel. I just really love my girls and hope that this gives our extended family an opportunity to read about what Austen is doing. I am sure her Aunt Stephanie will appreciate it.
