Changing and growing...

It is amazing me how incredibly independent and fearless Addison is becoming. She wanders all over the house and yard without worrying about where Mommy or Daddy might be. She thinks the stairs are to be conquered, and now lunges at them with gusto if she sees me coming for her. Last weekend she got bored exploring our front yard and instead decided she wanted to see what the next door neighbor's yard was like. Without a second glance, up the sidewalk she went, not caring who followed her.

She is quite bothered by the harness on her swing and in her stroller, and would much prefer to be able to sit freely. I made the mistake of helping her walk up our slide, and now that is the only way she wants to get to the top. Once reaching the top, she flings herself down with a screech and giggle. Sometimes on her rear, more often backwards on her belly.

Once in a great while she'll reach for a hand while walking, but as a general rule she can "do it all by herself, thank you, very much". She now tries to climb the stairs with her cup in her mouth and a toy in each hand...and does a pretty good job of it.

She still feeds herself with her fingers quite a bit, but thinks she is really hot shit when she successfully navigates her fork or spoon. She has opinions: blueberries, good - chickpeas, yuck.

She truly is becoming this amazing little person, I, at times, feel bad when I call her baby, because she is pretty darn sure that she is a big girl.