and so begins the next chapter

She crawls, you see.
She'd been close, so very close,
for so long.

And then, two Sundays ago, at my parents' house,
she just took off.  Just like that.
Ever since then, she's everywhere.  

This girl is a mover.  

I forgot how weird it is at first to put your baby down, leave the room,
and have them be somewhere different when you come back.

But I love crawling.  It's a happy milestone at our house.  I love that she can get places on her own, find her own toys, 
explore the house, 
come find me,
and it isn't as life-altering as walking is.

She crawls with her left leg straight, pushing off on her toes, and dragging her right knee across the floor.

Nicholas's life has changed too. 
Now Ew-ie can get his stuff.  

But, she can follow him, play with him.  
They follow each other around, and I hear them laughing from somewhere else in the house.
Nicholas actually really likes to play with her,
and that makes this Mama happy.

We have a gate at the top of the stairs, but she'd never even attempted going up from the bottom.  
Today I ran upstairs to put my hair in a ponytail. (which takes like what? maybe a minute?)

Soon Nicholas comes running in the bathroom--"Mom, Ellie's trying to come upstairs."

I was thinking she must be on the bottom step or so, 
I ran out to go down and catch her before she could fall,
and there she was, smiling at me, All The Way Upstairs.  
She climbed the entire staircase on the first try, all by herself.

Let me repeat, 
This girl is a mover.
(and yes, we now have a gate at the bottom of the stairs too.)

I was shocked but a little bit proud too.  She is a determined soul and 
while that might make things difficult for us as she grows,
I am hopeful she will also be good.
and I am filled with awe as I think of the great things a good, determined woman can do.

She's still a baby, but things are changing.
and we are moving on.