This guy is NOT Santa!

 

Holiday kiss

A lot of teething this week. Looks like Santa will be bringing her two front teeth. She also figured out how to climb the stairs. I followed behind her to see her technique. She did well, except for the times when she fell backwards, and I had to catch her. Just as I suspected. The saftey gates are up, so don't worry. She won't be climbing un-supervised. 

Erika's 1st Birthday Party!

She was quite hesitant to approach a cake with a stick of fire on it. Probably a good thing.

Erika is serious about cake. 

Lots of friends came to help with the wrapping paper. 

Cupcake toddles

Erika has not done any appreciable walking ever since we left grandma's house this weekend - until tonight. Tonight she was standing up, leaning with her back to the couch holding a hat, of all things, in her hands. She was very concentrated on the hat. Then she arched her back, pushing off from the couch and started walking across the room looking like a chubby businessman puzzling over the Wall Street Journal while walking down the sidewalk. Those were her first true steps of independence. She doesn't seem that worried about the stopping part. I had to grab her before she crashed into some wooden toys, but from then on she wanted to walk on her own between Jackie and me. We spent at least an hour laughing and hugging and toddling back and forth. It's quite amazing to see her on her own feet out there in a sea of carpet. So much for all those who told us we had to make her crawl for some reason.