Why'd the Duck Cross the Road?

Answer: to get away from Elizabeth's reckless driving

Baby Steps

Elizabeth's taking baby steps to becoming a stepping baby!

Little over two weeks ago she started pulling herself up in her crib, and now she's obsessed with standing up whenever, wherever (assisted, of course).  She always wants to grab my hands, sleeves, pants legs, and try pulling herself up.  And she doesn't much allow you to sit her down; little girl stiffens those legs and insists on standing!  And the little daredevil has no qualms about letting go of her support to bend over and pick up a desired object (toy cell phone, Curious George, my iphone), which usually involves some quick response on my part so she doesn't land on her head.

Yesterday evening she was in one of her "I'm absolutely thrilled with life" moods: laughing and happy screaming, smiling from ear to ear, doing her little dance (shaking her head from side to side and moving her little body). Last night she added a few new moves -- stomping her little feet up and down (almost like a little jump). And lo and behold she actually took a few little steps ... backwards.  Yep, one foot behind the other. The kiddo definitely has her own way of doing things. She did her moonwalk twice last night.

Which leads to tonite's milestone: she took about 5 steps (supported, of course) forward! She and I had just finished playing together while she sat in her rocking chair when Ed came home from work.  I stood her up on the floor, and he came over to greet her and took her by her hands to see if she would walk to him. And by golly she did!! Proud moment for all 3 of us.  She did it two more times this evening. I think she was pretty pleased with herself.  I know I was!  I do believe we're skipping the evolutionary step of crawling and heading straight to the walking.

Pretty soon this gal's going to be all over the place. Ay caramba, not ready for that just yet. Gotta get those gates up.