Mr. Independent

Austin has really been trying to assert his independence lately. Sometimes it results in a temper tantrum when he cannot really do what he wants to do . (Such as when he wants to "help" carry something that is too heavy - i.e. the milk jug in Target which resulted in his first public meltdown) A lot of times, though, it is something that he can achieve if he works at it. I know he is a long way off from being independent, but it is bitter sweet to see him beginning to need me a little bit less for certain things.

Austin has been wielding a fork for a couple months, but now he is also insisting on feeding himself with a spoon. For lunch today, he managed to eat his applesauce without too much of a mess. (I define that as not requiring a change of clothes ;-)
This morning, instead of having me read to him, he insisted on "reading" to Mr. Monkey instead. (I thought I had a genius on my hands when he pointed to the black square and said "black", but then I realized that he was pointing to every page and saying "black" ;-) On a completely different subject, the picture below is of the best $2 I ever spent. We lucked upon these blocks at a yard sale in our neighborhood, and Austin absolutely loves them.