Last night Austin and I went to a housewarming for my friend Dominica and her lovely family, made up of Xiomara (a beautiful nine month old girl) and her husband Carlos (who recently bought a how-to guide for home plumbers....and their first house). Since I had just finished stuffing more cheese than even cheese making monks in Belgium could ever hope to see in their storage facilities into our own, I was, to say the least, tired. I did a lot of sitting and social smiling but not so much talking. Our family was represented by Austin in the talking department. He babbled, squealed and pointed a lot. He also left a trail of rice, which made it easier to find him when he wandered off.

The highlight of the evening for both Austin and I...and in this case I am just guessing that Austin found this part the highlight...was when Austin decided to follow the big kids out back where they were playing catch. He played catch! With the other kids! With no help from me, the mom! As you all know by now Our Little Choogler is a good thrower, but I think I have failed to mention that he is also a good catcher. Austin would expertly catch the ball every time it was thrown to him (okay, rolled to him) and then he would throw it to some other kid. It was sweet, let me tell you, so sweet to watch.

I also found out, unfortunately, that as a mother, I am a hover-er. I was hoping that I was not, but alas, I am. I'm even hovering right now, while Austin is asleep as I am lying on the floor in the bedroom, typing. Apparently I am super hover-er, just hovering away, as you read this. Hover.