Living in the zoo

I have felt a little like we live in a zoo lately. We have a guest staying with us for three weeks (who is working with Chris for a short time and is very nice and helpful and babysits), Bennett sleeps in our bathroom which means the rest of us use the guest bathroom, we are potty training Austin, Bennett crawls around and gets into everything and we have had quite a few dinner guests and a music practice here. BUT, this reference to the zoo is about Austin's new favorite past time.



Both he and Bennett get in Austin's crib and Austin pours all of his stuffed animals in with them (plus a sleeping bag and his animal container) and says that they are in the zoo. One day he went fishing in the zoo for fish and cake (he got this idea from a Curious George book), he often pretends he is "Mr. Noodle" of his Elmo video and does silly things like stand on his head and pretend that he and Bennett are animals. Bennett mostly goes along with it and laughs at Austin (and sometimes cries when Austin is a tad too affectionate or yells when he is frustrated). But it is fun to see them playing together and it even allows me to leave them (for very short periods) to chop vegetables or put away laundry. I am looking forward to the day they entertain each other for hours. :)

Here is an action shot - Austin likes to somersault off the red container or sit on it to "fish"

In potty training news, it is going GREAT! I am so surprised and impressed. It is Saturday and Austin's last accident was on Wednesday. He now pees in the potty (or the grass outside) every time, except for sleeping times when he still has a diaper. Still no poop, that seems to always happen at nap, but it is really going well. We have barely left the house though so I don't know if we are ready to go out in public yet when the nearest bathroom may be hard to find or non-existent. I don't know how long he can hold it yet. But a great week still.

I could not resist this photo - Austin stripped completely down for this potty break and then went to wash his hands, which he now likes to do "all by myself".