Friends!

We have been having more computer issues. Last Thursday our Dell just died on Chris. Wouldn't start at first. He finally got it started in safe mode, has been able to successfully copy all our data to a external drive and needs to reformat it now. Needless to say, I have had little access to the Mac this week.

Yesterday we had playgroup- a small group. It seems like it has been months since we have all been there and not been sick. Someone or many of us have been sick. But this week we hosted 2 other family units. Austin had a great time with Bree...the best time I have ever seen him have with a friend. I think he is growing socially! They played really well together, laughed a lot and Austin had a good time. He also has been talking more with adults. We had a doctor's appointment last week and Austin was very polite and talked a lot with the doctor. He even told him to call him Boston (in a nice way). He has started responding more to adults who ask him questions (he still screams occasionally or says "bu yao xiexie") though and not resisting conversation with people he doesn't know as well. I was encouraged at these steps of growth...right as he turns a year older.

Austin and Bree playing horns or flutes of some sort and laughing a lot.

Wow, everyone was into Legos for a few minutes...they are a great toy!

Here are Austin and Bree playing together...Austin was having a great time.


Austin has still been challenging behavior-wise, but has taken an unusual tactic with discipline the past two days. He likes to correct Bennett and often takes this "responsibility" way too seriously. Several times lately I have disciplined him for yelling at Bennett to stop doing something he shouldn't or that just bothered Austin (like pulling up to stand with a chair Austin is sitting on) or pushing Bennett away, etc. Yesterday and today Austin raised his voice at Bennett but I didn't immediately punish him. A few minutes later Austin had disappeared into his room and then reappeared announcing "mommy, I went and sat on my bed because I screamed at Bennett". He was punishing himself! This is our sensitive, conscientious little guy. He often resists discipline of course, like anyone, but this was something new.

In other news, last week both boys had their annual check ups. Bennett remains 75 % for height but slowed down at 50% for weight...22 pounds. Austin moved up to the 40% for height (from 7% at age 2) and about 25% for weight (28 pounds). Bennett's allergy still remains a mystery, though the doctor said I was doing the right thing with this elimation diet. It is possible the eczema on his face is not a food allergy too, so we will see. All right, I think that is enough for one post.