Ahh! Don't get my toes!!

Here Austin and Papa Ross are playing "the up-down game" where Papa Ross holds him in a sitting position and lifts him up and down with varying heights and speeds. Austin thinks it's the greatest. Here's a variation in which Papa Ross pretends to eat Austin's toes and Austin is using all his little leg muscles and balance to keep his toes "safe" while still balancing. We get lots of giggles from this game.

So sleepy, but so sweet

Austin was crawling around discovering the hair on the floor waaaay in the corner behind the table and was getting really sleepy (see those red little whites of his eyes?). But amidst his busy schedule and pending need for a nap, he still managed to squeak out a smile for Momma :)

Baby boxers

So with Austin not in diapers for much of the time and with summer coming up, Nana and I undertook the mission to find cute undies that would fit his wee bottom. So now Austin has a bunch of cute sesame street briefs and we couldn't resist his cute bottom in a pair of boxer-briefs....somehow it becomes that much cuter when the "brief" reaches his knees with only a 2" inseam.

Rebozo Love

The natives of many south american and other indigenous cultures use a wide piece of fabric called a rebozo (http://www.rebozoway.org/). I'm actually using a big sari Katie brought back from her stay in India as one for a winter walk but had to quick catch a picture of Austin happily in his rebozo first. I've managed to shovel our entire driveway, rake leaves, wash dishes, take walks and a nap for him all while he's happily in this piece of fabric on my back. I love wearing Austin :)

Austin's first steps!

On Feb. 8th, Austin decided to go for it. Here are his first steps going back and forth from Nana to Mom. The next day Nana and I went to a learning center open house and he decided he was done with all this finger-holding nonsense and was off and running (or walking rather), pushing buttons, giving baby dolls snuggles, watching kids build blocks, and hiding behind the teacher accessories displays. It was so fun. We just walked behind him the whole time as he explored the whole store. The inflatable planets dangling from the ceiling were enthralling, the battery-operated button-pusher toys were fantastic, and the plastic food at the mini store was shared by all (of the kids). It was definitely a defining moment of momma-dom to watch him interact independently with lots of kids instead of the constant shadow he's needed up until that point. Very cool.

Peeking

Austin discovered how to peek under things a few months ago and it was so cute to see him stash a toothbrush or a car under the bed or sofa and then look at you in surprise as though it had disappeared....then peek....AHA! Here he is looking for some lost treasure :)

A little Daddy time

Pete and Austin....can't quite tell if Pete's telling him a secret or Austin's trying to eat his finger....he he....maybe both....