That’s my girl.

And that was my Facebook announcement on November 13. She’s since progressed to several halting steps in a row, but crawling is still her preferred mode of transport when she really needs to be somewhere. But. She’s getting so good on her feet. She wants to be up and is starting to realize how much she can do when her hands aren’t otherwise occupied in acting as stabilizers.

She’s a semi-walker. Her skills get madder day by day. And she loves it. I’m so very proud of my littlest girl.

Stand. On her own.

And then, instead of crouching back to her knees or bum when she was done, she simply steadied herself on the drawer again and went back to rummaging around in the plastic containers. Never once bending knees or going back into her default sitting position.

It’s not going to be much longer until we have a toddler on our hands.

She’s working on more bottoms, but man. She’s loving crunching up crackers. I started them on Goldfish–The Official Cracker of Modern Childhood–and there is much happiness from those biting teeth.

Your Mommy loves you enough to give you your very first cake to smoosh around and generally make a mess with.  It was all sorts of fun to watch as you first ate/licked all the frosting off the top, and then finally bit into the cake.  Then you got all frustrated when the cake broke apart and you dropped most of it on the floor before being whisked off to the bath while I cleaned up the mess. Don’t worry, you can thank me later

Happy Birthday Elise!

For Complete pictures of the event ** click here **.

Tomorrow you turn one and as I’m thinking about this milestone, and it’s a big one, I’m also thinking how far you’ve come this past year.

You were my surprise baby, my second twin girl and what a scare you gave us. You looked so chubby and perfect–except for that darn lack of breathing. Finally getting to hold you after a day (!) was so bittersweet. I sang to you and told you what a fighter you were destined to be, named both after the abundance of God and Charles the Great. We share warrior root names, you and I.

And you have done your names proud. You have an abundance of joy that spills over your face when you laugh and you are so physical and fearless I have to fear for you. You practically jump out of my arms in the morning, so eager are you to explore your world.

You and your big sister Maia are trouble makers that keep this household on its toes. But you always brighten my day with your ability find joy in every movement your body makes and every sound you can squeak out of that impressively loud voice of yours.

It’s a joy when you slow down for a snuggle or roll over in bed with a lovie and a paci. I am already gearing up to keeping up with the walking running you soon to come. I hope you continue your fearless exploration of the world, because the world will be better for knowing you, my dear warrior girl.

I love you with all of my heart,

your mommy

Valerie suddenly exclaims, “look at Elise!” and I half expect she was about to slide off the bench, but, instead she’s standing next to me, hands on the table, with a big-ole-grin of happiness. Her first time every pulling up on to her footsies without any assistance.

Elise has popped her upper left canine tooth. Looks like she’s working on the right one as well. She’ll be my little vampire child until her front ones come in. Cute!

I’m thinking her “lazy baby” status is much like Maia’s. She just doesn’t do things until she can do them. She doesn’t spend much time in the pre-stages, I guess is what I’m saying. Friday morning after changing her diaper I was watching her get up on her knees one moment and the next she had taken three little steps forward on hands and knees.

Today, just over a week later, she came scooting out of the playroom (looking for lunch I think) slap-slaping her little hands across the floor with knees not far behind. She can go several feet now and it will only get, um, better? from this point on.

Now I have to hurry up on a better baby-proof of the house. Elsie is a very mouthy child. After her crawl across the living room floor I managed to pull a cat-hair wad (ick) and a rubber door stopper out of her mouth. Sigh. So this is what “normal” babies are like.