Walk the walk. Talk the talk.

Hayley took her first step, followed by tumbles, at right about 11 months. Even at her young age her strong will pulled her through and is now walking EVERYWHERE!! Still bobbling around, and succumbing to crawling when she gets tired or feels she cant get to wherever she needs to fast enough.Today at church, I took her tights off before they were totally destroyed, and she changed her crawl so her knees don't touch the ground. (Preventing rug burn at this young age!) Thus, her bum is straight in the air, crawling like a little monkey. Pretty funny to watch, I usually just try to help her to stand up the rest of the way.So with progress comes challenges. We're figuring out different ways of baby proofing, moving things and such. It's fascinating to watch Hayley as she learns to express her feelings, frustration, favorites, happiness and curiosity.Some things that make her special:

• The fact that she could and would if it were up to her, survive on grapes alone.

• She'll bring you books to read to her.

• Makes the MM MMM MM sound when she wants my attention while eating.

• She tries to copy us, clapping, waving etc.

• Thinks it's hilarious to jam her thumb up your nose unexpectedly.

• Will take each of the books off the shelf, talk to it for a second and throw it behind her, then turn around and throw them the other way.
• Is fearless and wants to try whatever we're eating.
• Has the most cheerful countenance of any baby or living thing we've ever seen.
  
• Sometimes says "Hi dad" or "hi mom" when we get her in the morning or when we get home from work.
  
• Fascinated by the outdoors, first thing she does is point at the trees waving in the wind.

Happy 1st Birthday Hayley!
April 23, 2009