Austin is responsible for...

food preparation



cleaning his own room



and sorting the laundry.



Sometimes you just really have to get in there to do it right.

Bringing the Heat

We had some visitors from Arizona the week of Memorial Day. They brought some nice warm weather with them and evidently took it back home. It's nice not to have the air conditioning on in the middle of June. ha ha! suckas!



This is Austin's cousin, Ava. Can you see the tension in their faces? They share other things but books are a prized posession.



Austin's cousin, Megan, was ever the helper. She'll make a great babysitter.



Ryan knows how to have fun with a ball. He also mowed our lawn for us while they were here. I guess we like to put our guests to work when they visit.



A better view of Megan and Austin.



We all went up to Snowbird where Austin met this lovable dog - the shed-free kind.



Mike's sister, Melissa, took this picture of us in the snow. Sadly, but typically, I didn't get my camera out enough so this is all we've got. No pictures of the Aunts - Melissa or Michele. Michele made us a darling book with the photos she took so at least we have some photos to remind us of their visit. It's always good to have family come and Austin sure loves his cousins.

Growing Up in West Jordan

Austin helped us plant a garden last month.


First he helped clear the area by tossing the red bark out of the box.


Then he helped get the box level.


The new plants needed watering.


Now he's a pro. Such ease.


More water please.

Making the Cut

Shortly after Austin's birthday we got his hair cut. And by hair I mean little baby wisps. Here is a good before picture with his hair all messed up after a bath so you can really see how long it was. Sometimes it curled. (He is trying to take his dad's gum.)



The deed. The hair stylist kinda looks like Austin's Uncle John, don't you think? He actually did really great. We thought he would scream having someone invade his personal space. (If you've spent much time around Austin you know he has a large area of personal space.) He laughed sometimes and studied himself in the mirror and just checked everything out.



Here is playing with the sprinkler after with his big boy haircut.
He's still my baby even with his little wisps gone.
I love my cutie.

Do you not understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?

So, my cousin, Jocelyn specializes in child language development. After my report from Austin's last check up she sent me a lot of really useful information on the topic. I've been working on some of those basics. I've also been paying much more attention to what is actually coming out of Austin's mouth. There were a few times before the doctor's visit that I thought maybe he said something but I've never been very good with baby talk. For instance, Gama, when my mother in law was visiting. But since those words were not regularly repeated I thought it was just a fluke. However, now that I'm actually listening for words I realize that he is trying to say a lot more. Today I am positive he said "run, run, run". (I repeat "run" as I run through the house or yard with him all the time.) I'm also relatively sure he called me mama and was not just babbling. Some other words are hi, bye-bye, oof (woof), ball, amen, some (as in "I want some") and maybe even down. I was awfully cavalier about the talking thing before but now that I am working on it I think it is really fun. And there is so much more to come. I can see why Jocelyn likes that career field. So, thanks, Jocelyn! I also want to try to teach him some sign language like my grandma suggested as I think he would really like it. I checked out a website someone told me about but will have to see if there is a less expensive alternative. Maybe at the library?

Sliding Backwards

Today was Austin's 1 year check up. He seems perfectly healthy with 1 exception. Maybe 2 exceptions. He lost weight. That's right LOST. He is now thinner than he was at 9 months. Taller but thinner. He is 30.5" tall (75%) and 17 lbs 9 oz. (Fallen off the charts.) Other than the drop on the charts Austin seems very healthy. So the doc still thinks it is probably just genetics and increased physical activity.The doctor wants to keep a closer eye on it just to be sure we're not missing something. We are to give him PediaSure instead of milk or formula and limit the amount he drinks to encourage more solids although he eats a fair amount as it is. We'll take him back in a month to see if he's put some weight back on.

The second exception is that he doesn't really have any words yet. Most children have a couple of words by a year but it's not a major concern. He suggested using baby talk. It's supposed to be easier for them to hear and repeat. Who'dathunk? He does repeat sounds such as when you take a drink and say "aaah" or when you cough. He'll mimic that kind of stuff. And he can follow simple directions like turn on the light. He's doing great in all his other developmental milestones.

All these things to think about. I mostly just am happy that he's breathing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Austin turned 1 on the 28th and we celebrated twice. We had fun with Grandma and Grandpa Duncan on the day of his birthday and then celebrated again with the Jared Lawrence family on Saturday. It was all a lot of fun and we are SOO glad to have Austin in our family. I feel like the luckiest person alive. We love, love you baby boy! It was hard to choose which photos to post but here you go...



mmmm... this is all new and interesting.


Here, try some Gama.


Whew, I'm exhausted already and I haven't even opened my presents yet!



What's this?


Faster, Dad, Faster!



So fun!


This is a great book from Grammy!



Chillin in my new bean bag chair.


Balloons with cousin, Sarah.





Yum! That cake was good.