Walking!

Goodbye, babyhood. Hello, toddler!

I have to share the story behind her first steps yesterday, caught on film by Daddy later that night (below). My nice UPS guy had just dropped off a package from Shoes.com, which I knew by the size of the box were Mimi's birthday present for Stella. Just to check for size, I put the shoes on her and started taking a few photos for Mimi, since she just happened to be in an outfit she bought her as well. Stella has had these shoes on for all of 1 minute when she decides she wants to check out the camera and she WALKS over to me! I could have handled it better, I think. I screamed and grabbed her and started laughing hysterically over the magic shoes. Was worried for a second there I'd scare her away from ever walking again but she thankfully she kept on trying it out all day yesterday and this morning - with and without the magic shoes.

In the first walking video she's making a fish face, which app. Rob taught her how to do yesterday afternoon. Also uploading a video of her eating a sandwich on Tuesday, just b/c it's cute.

Walker

Walkin' and talkin'

Some recent photos

11 month update

Just thought my readers were due a Stella update. Here are a few things going on with our little munchkin:

• She's on the move! Her highchair, play table, and walker are all used to help her 'walk around', as are Mommy & Daddy, of course. She can stand on her own for 5 seconds or so, just as long as it takes for her to remember she's not holding on to something and... down she sits.
• She's quite the mimic. Her verbal repertoire of mama, dada, bye bye, uh oh, and ladle ladle (we're not sure what this means but it's a very popular word) are supplemented with the noises she makes to match the coffee grinder (hummmmm), Rob's Indian warrior noise (she can even do the hand to the mouth effect), and 'singing'.
• She dances. Play the Mozart Music Box or the CD's Nana gave her and she twists side to side holding her hands together to the songs she likes best. I've been trying to get this on camera but she thinks the video camera is HER toy!
• Her favorite toys right now are puzzle-type things that have blocks or balls she can put inside of something else. She's really into putting something into a container, taking it out, and doing it again about 50 times. Great with me!
• She's growing. We're *finally* about to size out of the 9 month clothes and transition to 12 month. We'll be there just in time for her birthday, I think.

Here's a pic of her conked out on the flight to Austin.

Austin

Hi folks,

We're back from a long weekend in Austin, where we had a great time with our dear friends in a VERY sweet house in the Texas hills. I just took a few photos (below) but Melissa took more. The flight both ways went great - Stella was fine as long as she was allowed to socialize. She walked the aisle of the plane and climbed up to chat with our neighbors over the seat. We turned the corner this weekend on a few things - she can now climb stairs, she eats meat (salami and turkey are favorites), and loves lemonade. What a little toddler she's turning into!