Ready, Set, Go!

My girl looked like she'd been getting ready to crawl for a couple months now. She'd get up on all fours, but could never get coordinated enough to actually make any progress. Sometimes she'd manage to go backwards (she's a talented one), but no luck on the forward motion.

I tried enticing her with various toys. I tried calling her name enthusiastically. I tried clapping and making silly faces. Nothing worked. Until I put the InStyle magazine I was reading down on the floor. I don't know what that foreshadows about my baby, but I'm hoping it means she'll be a girly-girl and will enjoy all the dresses and bows I plan on putting on her for many years to come.

But since Grace has learned to get up and go, she's been keeping me on my toes. No longer can I put her down and expect her to be in the exact same spot I left her. Maybe one day she'll be mama's little helper, but for the moment, she's actually the opposite of that. She's been making me earn every penny of my stay-at-home mom pay lately. And she's made me realize that our house is not very baby-proof.

I don't mind the extra work one bit though. It's such a pleasure to see her explore her world. I can see the excitement on her face when she sees something she wants and I can feel her accomplishment when she can get it for herself.

I've been enjoying every moment of Grace's babyhood. I just wish the moments wouldn't go by so darn quickly.

Here she is happily undoing the basket of clean laundry I just finished folding.

Making a mad dash for mommy's favorite red shoes.

This is her reaction when I have to put her in her crib so I can get something done without worrying about what she'll get into. You'd think I stuck her in prison or something! Sorry, Lola- I know you don't like to see your baby cry, but now that the extra help is gone, there are times when it's inevitable.