Big News!

So we all knew it was coming. I guess we weren't quite expecting it to be this soon. I mean, Jane's only 10 1/2 months old. It's been pretty overwhelming at times, but this is about to add a whole new dimension to parenthood...Jane is walking!

You heard correctly. Today Jane took her first step, well, six to be exact (not all at one time). We tried very hard to capture them in a video, and here is our best effort. It's brief, so don't blink. The step that you see below is actually her second step in the series, we just missed the first one.

Looks like we will need to start investing in shoes...

Let's Play!

Well, playtime has become a little more destructive lately than we had hoped. We've had to put safety latches on the cupboards, but we left the Tupperware drawer unlatched because we thought, why not? Well our little friend has decided that it is such great fun to take everything out of the cupboard...we are still learning how to put things back.

The whole taking things out and throwing them on the floor gig is not limited to plastic-ware, oh no! Several times each day the various books our friends and family so lovingly bought for the Kuchen find their way onto the floor (although if you note in the pic above, the "Go! Dogs Go!" board book is a favorite that gets carried around).Hide and seek is also a popular game. Mommy is pretty good at hiding as demonstrated below:

Jane also has taken a turn at hiding! Enjoy!

Yummy!

So now that Jane is approaching her 11 month birthday, we have been rapidly expanding her diet. She's been eating tons of new things: pineapple, blueberries, steak, pancakes, chicken, and cheese have all taken regular residence on her high chair tray. Today though, we went all out with pasta! Jane loved it and got sauce everywhere. At the end of dinner, she even got it in her hair (see below).

So I have to say that we are enjoying the fact that the Kuchen will eat pretty much anything we giver her at this point...except broccoli that is. We know the pickiness is coming (payback for both of us will be hell we know!), but we are going to enjoy this phase as long as it will hold.

For now, we will revel in the obligate clapping that accompanies every successful tray cleaning. The simple things really do bring the most joy.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Yummy!

An afternoon of laughs

After a long day at work and daycare, we got home one afternoon this week and relaxed for a bit before jumping into our evening routine. Jane had a case of the giggles, although this is actually not that uncommon these days. She giggles when you tickle her. She giggles when you giggle at her. She giggles when you jump up and down. She pretty much giggles at everything. And we aren't talking about a simple laugh...it is a giggle from her gut - the kind that feels really good. Enjoy these pictures of our little giggle queen.

10!

Jane celebrated her tenth month with lots of clapping and waving, her favorite activities these days. Although these aren't to be overlooked by sleeping, as she is sleeping through the night now (it's been a week straight!). Mom and Dad think this is a great ten-month birthday present! But, no wonder she has been sleeping so much, because this girl is BUSY during the day! She always has something to play with, somewhere to go, and something to say. She is very active these days, which is why it was a bit of a challenge to get her ten-month picture.

Here are some of our "out-takes". Enjoy!