The Finer Points of Bathing

C and M have enjoyed bathing together for the past few months. We've been using the master bath since it get fit both M's baby tub and C. M, however, has spent more time and effort trying to crawl out of the baby tub and into the main tub than bathing, so we started putting them together in their own bathroom.

Now that she doesn't have to concentrate on planning her escapes from the baby tub, M can observe C's bathtime routine. Last night, I poured liquied soap into C's hands and he rubbed his hands together to create lots o' suds. M rubs her hands together and then on her chest and abdomen as if she's spreading the soap on her body. Then C puts suds on his face and uses his fingers to "shave" (now we're on second degree of imitation). M rubs her palms on her cheeks and then dips her hands in the water, then back to her face. Then she puts her hands onthe top of her head and makes circular motions as if she is washing her hair. Once I did start to wash her hair, she repeated the motions to assist. All very amusing. Then as I was helping C, M started "washing" the tub wall--one of C's favorite bathtub activities. All very amusing and endearing.

T reports that M has walked 18 steps before "sitting"; 11 is the max so far for me. Making progress. She's also eating almost all adult food now. This morning she broke off half of C's breakfast banana and snarfed it down. C refused to eat most of the rest of the banana since M had touched it, so M finished it too.

Steppin' Out With My Baby

Yesterday Miss M started taking a few steps independently. Four was her longest walk and most were two or three steps. But ya gotta start somewhere. And these were controlled steps with an upright body position, mind you, not legs stumbling to stay under the body of a child propelled by gravity. It will still be a little while before we can claim she's walking, but we're getting closer.

She also has had three teeth pop through in the last week or so. No drooling, no fussing, none of the usual symptoms. T is now claiming that her 9 months of predictions are correct. Nostradamus step aside!

The last few days have been really hot and humid so the kids have been enjoying the pool. The local YMCA has a nice wading pool and splash grounds that good for them get wet. Hopefully they'll be used to the water when we go to the Poconos and they'll be ready to jump right in with the cousins.