Crawling!

Leah has started crawling. I told someone that today and they said, "She has officially moved out of baby". Waaaaaaaa! I love my little baby! I can't believe that she is wanting to be mobile now. She is at the same age as Michelle was but it seems like Leah is so much smaller that I remember Michelle being.
Of course now that Leah can crawl, Michelle and Carolyn think she should start racing! They will get down on the floor next to her and say, "ready, set, go!" They are disappointed that she is not moving fast enough for their game. "Podo, why can't you go faster?" (Carolyn started calling Leah "Podo" one day and it has stuck ever since.)
Leah also can pull herself up on the table, couch, me, toys, and on and on and on...... I watch her as she stands at the table, trying to grab for things knowing that she is going to fall at some point and wondering if she will cry when she slips off or will she just ignore it and try again. This is the time I cringe for them. Well, one of the times anyway. I know they are going to hurt themselves but I also know that they will have to learn!
I can tell that the girls are getting even more interested in her now that she has more "tricks" that she can do, although they are not liking the rule that now they have to pay attention to little stuff on the floor. I have a hard enough time getting them to clean up the big stuff and they are not happy about the little stuff for sure!
Now I have to start shopping for gates for the stairs again. It's only a matter of time before Leah finds them!

Slow Down!

Leah is getting so big. She learned to go from laying down to a sitting position while I was in DC 2 weeks ago. Brian was bragging that he got to see something first, before me. Well, I should let him have it. It's only fair that he saw it first since I did leave him with all three girls for the first time!!
Then this past weekend she has discovered that she can pull herself up in her bed! Wait a minute, now we have to take the mobile down, lower the mattress and start checking tables that she can get to! I have enjoyed not having too much stuff child proofed or baby proofed I should say. But now I am going to have to really pay more attention.
Soon enough she is going to be crawling and so now I'm having to think about a baby gate for the stairs! It's all coming too fast. She looks so little and I can't believe that she is 7 1/2 months old! It doesn't feel like it's been that long.
She smiles when someone looks at her but then she cries if you leave her. I like that even though I have to hear her cry when I just have to get a refill on my coffee! I love having our Tuesday and Thursday to just the two of us while the big girls are at school. She gets to snuggle with me before her nap and she just looks into my eyes as she sucks her tiny thumb. I am so thankful to have this beautiful little baby to love and I am trying so hard to soak her all in before she grows up. Slow down Leah!!!