Walking

It's finally happening! Sophia has taken her first independent steps. Well, she's taken one step several times, and two steps a couple of times. She stands up in the middle of the floor all by herself, and congratulates herself with huge smiles and clapping. Then she plops down and laughs. Thank goodness for all that padding- there's a lot of falling in this stage! She walks to daddy and then turns around and...well, by that time she's usually so excited, giggling and laughing clapping, that's it's more falling than walking back to mama. But it's just so much fun to see her starting to let go of that one finger that she usually pulls all around the place, and start taking a step or two by herself. Watch out world! Another toddler on the loose!

She's loving swimming lessons too. Today she took her first few paddles swimming from the teacher to mama, all by herself. She was so proud!

And climbing! One of the great things she's learning from swimming lessons is to climb. We teach her to climb out of the pool - elbow, elbow, tummy, knee, other knee...yay! (Yes, it does take quite a bit of time!) And she's using that skill in other places now too - playgyms and parks, slides, small chairs...she gets a bit grumpy that she can't quite climb up on our couch by herself yet.

All of you lovely people in Minnesota that we're going to visit - we can't wait to see you. Only 19 more days now...and I am counting down! Any tips or suggestions for travelling ( a REALLY long way) by myself with an energetic toddler just beginning to walk? Any tips for packing, entertaining, preparing, etc? please post! Now, if only I could be motivated to write all my report cards and do all my school paperwork...when all I really want to do is play with my daughter and plan and prepare for the holidays! Any suggestions for that?!

And when is Thanksgiving? I'm lazy and don't have it on any of my Aussie calendars here. Isn't it next Thursday? Or did I already miss it? Anyway, wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving - whenever it is/was.
Loveyou,
alicia