10 months!

Oh look at that.  Two months have gone by since my last update.  Shocking.

So. Much. Is. Happening.  E is FULL ON crawling.  Everywhere.  Always.  Here's a video I caught of what I think was her first time crawling!

She now crawls on all fours and this weekend she started climbing stairs!  We were at a friends for a cookout and she just started climbing up their stairs on the deck. "I'm just climbing these stairs. No big deal.  Yinz guys just keep eatin' yer burgers."

She can also pull herself up just about anywhere.  She prefers the one piece of furniture that isn't very steady so she can chance fate and see if it comes falling over on top of her.  It doesn't stress me out at all. :|  Sigh.  So I bought a strap to anchor it to the wall. 

She's not standing on her own yet, but she's close.  When she pulls herself up she'll hold on with one hand.  And if you try to help her she'll push you away!

When I was a kid my first phrase beyond single words was "What's that?"  I said it enough that my parents made a little t-shirt with "What's that?" on it.  E can't say "What's that?" just yet, but she's pointing at things and making noises that sound similar to "What's that?"  It's incredibly cute how curious she can be.  She's still saying dada and mama (mostly dada) and sometimes it seems intentional (again, mostly for dada).  She also seems to be trying to say dog, Izzy, kitty and sometimes she'll make a Sssssnake noise with me when we're reading books with a snake in it :)

We took her to two events recently--the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game and the National Aviary.  She seemed to really love the baseball game, mostly because there was a lot of clapping (see photo below).  We shared a soft pretzel, enjoyed some fireworks and E watched mom inhale ice cream and not share even one bite (hey, until she's one desserts are all mine). 

Next we took E to the National Aviary.  It was so much more fun than I had expected!  They have penguins out in such a way that kids (and adults) can get up close which E seems to love.  There was a special show that we got tickets for called "Talons" a show about predator birds.  They put you in a small auditorium and had bald eagles, hawks, vultures and other predators flying around.  It wasn't until they closed the doors that we thought "Is this the best place for a baby?"

Luckily it was.  I thought E might get a little scared since it would get dark and the birds actually flew really low.  But nope, she seemed really engaged and curious for the 20-30 minute show.  "A vulture is 4 feet above my head?  What else is new."

Steve is mid sentence telling me that cameras are not allowed in the Talons exhibit.

And finally, Aunt Jeni came for a visit!  E was not spoiled at all.  Nope.  Not at all.  I mean, she has a whole new wardrobe, but spoiled?  Naw. :)

She's whispering "Gucci, Prada..."

Beyooootiful.

Beyoootiful :)

She just needs her little cell phone (she has two) and then she can have her own "Texts from Emilie"

A sweet moment with dad.

 I know folks want to know what's going on for her 1st birthday.  Unfortunately it's going to depend on this LA business.  We'll have something no matter what (obviously), just what exactly will depend on what we're doing.  We'll let you know ASAP.  Promise.

In the meantime, look at this silly girl.