A's walking for her birthday!

Tonight, A started really walking! While she had taken up to 4 clumsy steps at a time before, this evening she started to get the hang of it, and was really proud/enjoying herself. She kept smiling even though she'd take some steps, then trip or even spin and do a little flip (on the rug usually, luckily), she'd get right up again and try it again. Over and over... And she learned to clap today too (as Sarah joked, A must have a little checklist she wants to accomplish by her 1st birthday tomorrow).

C had a blast along with us, watching and laughing along with A at her first walking antics. She didn't have a very happy day today, so it was great to see her in such a good mood tonight. Maybe she's been especially cranky because she wanted to walk and hadn't quite figured it out until now. Watch out world, she's going to be going places now...

For her birthday, Sarah read about a nice tradition of creating a wreath, in this case out of grape vines, that would hang in her room. Each year for her birthday we'll make or buy things to hang from the wreath that remind her of that year of her life (small things, mind you, ornament sized, or it will fill up too quick). She made the wreath a few days ago, and it came out really well...

Sarah decided to make a tiny fleece sling to hang on it out of the same material she made A's real slings out of, that she loved this first year so much (and still likes to be in for comfort, even though she really doesn't fit any more). You'll now understand the pirate father with baby in sling photo--C wanted one for his pirates after seeing how cool A's ornament sling was!

C made a very creative little book, with about 10 pages total, modeled slightly off of the "Happy Baby 1-2-3" book that was her favorite for part of this year. His book had different pictures and different numbers of items on the pages, but also had hidden objects and activities "can you find the green and black heads?" and so on...

I made a tiny swing, the wooden outdoor kind that she loves/is obsessed with right now. It's made with popsicle sticks, and isn't quite finished, but should be by tomorrow.

We decided to let her open the presents from my parents today, as tomorrow will be busy with a Roots and Shoots meeting in the morning (we'll be outside a good part of the time, weather permitting, so A should enjoy it), and then a party for her at Sarah's parents in the afternoon. As you might expect, she enjoyed the ribbon/wrapping first and foremost, but then got into the toys and book eventually too :)

-Dan