Week of Milestones

Baby Girl learned to crawl last week.  It was not a milestone I was particularly looking forward to because, well, anyone who has had more than one kid can attest, it all seems rather downhill from here. Don't get me wrong, I love the development of their personalities, but it seems downhill in that they can now CHOOSE to leave me whenever they want... or see something shiny.  I had prepared myself so I wasn't a total mess when it happened, I was rather excited in-the-moment, but I must confess, I did spend half the night laying awake reveling in memories of all four kiddos and wondering where the time has gone.

For the record, if Zora wants someone to take an interest in her, she tilts her head to one side.  If she REALLY wants someone or something to notice her, she fairly turns herself upside down tilting her head to the side.

And then, when I thought I was having enough trouble grasping how big, how old, how non-infant my baby is getting, Em goes and starts riding her two-wheeled bicycle.  I don't mean we pranced around for over an hour taking turns holding the seat of her big-girl bike while she wobbled and panicked at how unsteady it was.  I mean I suggested trying to take the training wheels off, she got on, Todd held the seat for the space of three steps, and that was that.  Turning?  No problem.  Stopping?  A bit tricky but only had to show her once.  Starting?  Again, one explanation and that was it.  It very much reminded me of her toilet training, or learning to talk or essentially any undertaking she has accomplished in the last 5 years.  She just did it.  No fan-fare, no exciting climax, just a simple look of, "What?  This is a big deal?  Okay, then I'll smile really big for the camera but I still slightly think you're all nuts."

I'm not sure when they get their personalities.  I'm not sure how much is temperament or nature or nurture.  However it happens though, I'm pretty sure both of these girls are fairly amazing already.