DJW Update

Whew! Quite a few milestones to report in the last 12 days!! It's like my boy is on fast forward! On Sunday the 23rd, Daniel figured out the push toy. I don't know what these things are officially called - babies push them around while they walk. Anyway, that Sunday was the first time he could control it so that he could keep up with it. Previously, he'd come close to face planting because he pushed it too fast for his little legs to keep up. Basically, he could navigate in a straight path. When he hit a road block, he'd yell for us to turn him around.

Well, that just set the course for the rest of the week! By Wednesday, he was walking back and forth using the furniture for support. He really gained confidence and would move from the couch to the chair to a toy and back. On Thursday, I was watching my Tivo'd version of my favorite show, "Project Runway" while Daniel was playing with his legos. That means he takes them all out of the container, bangs them together, and then throws them around the room. He looked up at the TV when he heard the dogs barking. Daniel LOVES dogs. He squealed and then clapped his chubby little hands! I got so excited I almost scared him! On Friday, he started to wave at himself in the mirror! On Saturday, all you had to do was SAY the word "clap, " and he would respond with applause! He knows the word! By Sunday, our living room had become the Indy 500! He was circling our downstairs with the push toy like a chariot racer! Today, I watched him BACK UP! Yes, take two steps backward.

I never really appreciated these advancements in other children. All babies do this stuff eventually, for the most part. Why is mine now so much more special? Other than the fact that he is BRILLIANT, of course, it's because I have seen him every day since the beginning. The moment he was born all he could do was blink and cry and flail his arms and legs. Here we are, just 10 months later, and look at Daniel!

One would think that all of this activity would wear him out and he would sleep like a rock. This is where we are having some issues. Moms out there who are reading, speak up! He wakes up screaming! At least twice per night. Is it teeth?

From My Point of View

Dear Friends,
I love to type. When my mom is typing now, I crawl up in her lap so I can, too. I can get just about anywhere I want to these days. I am a charging, crawling maniac. I can pull up on anything or anyone and I'm learning to move along as I do so. Dogs and children fascinate me. I will squeal to get their attention when we are out and about and I will yell and flap my arms at them so that they know I can see them. I also love to crawl up to our front storm door and watch the cars and people pass by. I bang at the pedestrians, and sometimes, they wave to me! I have three bottom teeth and my mom is pretty sure my top ones are coming now because I am a drooling mess again.

Last week, I got to go to Nashville for my mom's sorority convention. Gramps and Gigi came and entertained me for the week. It was great! They gave me all kinds of food my mom is too scared to give to me. I loved the grits! I can eat some things on my own now. I just stuff it right in my mouth - it cracks be up to blow raspberries while I am eating and get food all over my parents! I went to a Chinese acrobats show and LOVED it. We ate at the Rainforest Cafe, and for once, I didn't go after everyone's plates and silverware because I was enthralled in the decorations.

So far this summer, I have been swimming twice. It is great to splash in the water!

My mom has been slow on the blog because she can't be on the computer while I play anymore. I am way too fast to look away from these days! My mom thinks I am so smart because I look for things now. Yesterday, I was pulling the magnets off of the refrigerator and one went underneath. So, I squatted, then laid, down on the floor and tried to reach it underneath. Impressive, huh? No one can snow me over any longer! No hiding the bottles, or unsafe objects, without me noticing! I have been known pitch a big fit if you take something away that I like. Which reminds me that I am back to not liking my car seat anymore. I was okay with it for a while, but now, it is just b-o-r-i-n-g. Unless we are going above 45 mph, I get agitated!

I will have a new picture of me posted by the end of the week, promise!

Love,
DJW