The thirty-seventh week

So Madeline's crawling now. While she has performed the textbook hands-and-knees maneuver several times this week, she's actually pretty handy at getting around with her old Army crawl method. When she sees something she really wants, she can switch direction and get there in a hurry.

Along with her crawling, Madeline has started pulling herself up to a standing position. She can do it with ease when she's sitting and something sturdy is within her reach. And she enjoys climbing and crawling all over me or Lacey when we're playing with her on the floor.

The last couple weeks have brought a seismic shift in the way we handle Madeline. She's so much more self-sufficient, but also that much more in need of supervision. Gone are the days when she would sit and play by herself, allowing us to shift our focus elsewhere for a few minutes. Now that she's really moving, pulling up and grabbing things that catch her eye, we have to be extra vigilant about what she's doing, and about the things that are within her reach.

Also, because of her new skill set, we decided it was time to lower her crib mattress to the toddler setting, so she won't be able to tumble over the edge when she's alone.

It's an exciting time for Madeline, and for us as we watch her begin to explore on her own. And it's sometimes funny to see the things that capture her attention, even from a distance - a shoelace, floor molding, an exposed screw that attaches the arm of a chair. It's a big, big world, and it's all new to her.