half-step toward walking...

our baby girl took a half step!! I don't think it counts as walking or anything, but it was very exciting and scary. She stands hands-free all the time now, and can stand up from the ground without holding/pulling up on anything. Two days ago she took the first step not holding on to anything, but barely put any weight on the moved foot before collapsing down to her knees and crawling instead. I am scared she is so close to walking, but also scared I am going to miss her first steps! She has gotten a lot braver lately, and I get terrified and grab her every time she looks like she is going to try and walk when there is a table edge or something nearby. I know she will be walking soon...I'm guessing maybe even within the next few weeks.

Another physical milestone- she can make it up stairs. I thought we were doing well with our top-of-stairs gate, but that doesn't do much to keep her from climbing up! Looks like we need a bottom gate asap. She made it up four stairs within about 30 seconds! I waited to see how she'd do when she started trying, but then grabbed her before she could fall. Then I went and got Mr. Beaver and had her do it again to show him and get a video :) Hopefully that wasn't encouragement of the behavior...

(gave the video a whole day to load and it didn't work. I'll try to post it later I guess!)

Age: 9 1/2 months... actually more- only a week away from 10 months

Stats/Size: She registers on our scale now, weighing 19.4 lbs. When I weigh myself holding her and then subtract my weight without her she is 19.6, so about 19 1/2 lbs now.

Sleep: Great if she gets her second nap... she even went 8+ hours two nights in a row! Sometimes she still wakes up every 4-5 hours to eat, but as long as she gets both naps during the day she goes right back to sleep. Last night she didn't, and was up for a while in the middle of the night...I'm exhausted! She is still fighting sleep unless we wait for her to be completely exhausted.

Eat: Excellent! A new favorite food: quinoa. She is already getting decent at putting a spoon of food in her mouth if I put the food on it.

Getting Around: Cruising fast. I know it won't be long before she walks... She has mastered walking while just holding one of my fingers with one of her hands. Now she has started running while holding both my hands...

New People: none lately, soon she will make some new friends at baby activities we are joining

Best moment this week: hmm. the half-step I guess? we were both there to see it which was nice.

Worst moment this week: one night after missing her second nap baby woke up and wanted to play for a couple of hours before going back to sleep... that was not fun.

What I miss: being able to hold my baby for long periods of time without my arms getting sore :)

What I am looking forward to: starting kindermusik and swim classes! And of course warm weather!!! I really, really hate the cold.

PS: This is why I don't post pictures... can't keep her still for a second! Poor thing didn't realize she was in deep, freezing snow when she decided to start crawling around. oops!