Our daughter is awfully precious. Yesterday we had a moment that I want etched in my mind. Samantha just finished a huge dinner, and we were out in the back yard under the oak tree. Ella was a few feet from us happily destroying some of the branches that fell during the storm. Sam had rolled a bit away and was staring up at the tree and babbling "ga, ba," just very content. There was grass in her toes and grass in her fists. She wanted to chew on her toes, but wasn't sure about the grass stuff that came with it. Just seeing her so content and silly was an amazing thing.

She is getting really good at holding herself on her hands and knees. She doesn't flop over at all, and she even gets up on her tippy toes and hands too. I've seen her sit for a bit, maybe five seconds, if she holds one hand on the floor, the tripod sitting mode. Yesterday she stood if I held onto her hands and helped to balance her. She didn't need much help. She is much steadier with that than she used to be too. As I fed her this morning, I noticed how her back was as wide as my hand now, and she holds her head high, almost holds her own bottle too. I think she can hold her own bottle, she just hasn't figured out that she wants to yet.

We have to baby proof the house now. Samantha is fascinated with the cd tower and the videotapes. Also any wires or dog toys are big attractions. We watch her closely, but it is also important to let her explore.

Matt just brought her into the room since she just woke up. She gave her daddy a big grin. Then Ella walks in and Samantha waves her arms and giggles and shrieks at her special puppy. This is a happy girl.