Mac 'n Cheese

Abbie loves mac 'n cheese, but it turns out that what she really loves is the feel of melted cheese in her hands. I give her a few noodles at a time and before she will eat them she uses her hands to spread the cheese sauce all over her tray - as if she is finger painting. Then, and only then, will she eat the noodles. Between bites she likes to rub her hands together as if she is washing them in cheese sauce. If there is a random noodle available she'll press it between her palms and give it a good squeeze. Then I can peel the broken noodle bits off her hands and place them back on her tray. At which time she'll gently pick them up and eat them, not realizing that it is the very same noodle she smushed to death only moments earlier. This is a great meal for both of us (Mommy also has a weakness for mac 'n cheese). Even better, when all is said and done I have this silly little baby whose face, arms and hands are coated in quickly hardening cheese sauce. :)

Abbie's Latest Photo Shoot

Abbie has been enduring a bit of pain related to these two new teeth that are coming in. It has made her a bit more fussy during the day and a little less able to sleep well at night. Poor thing.

Other news - she has started to take a few steps at a time unassisted. It's usually about 2 - 3 steps before she collapses onto her hands and knees (or into someone's lap). It's pretty funny to watch because you can see the muscles trying to coordinate with each other and sometimes before she gets going she'll have these wobbly jelly legs and just when you think she's going to fall over she'll get it together and start moving forward.

Teeth!?!

I happened to notice earlier today that Abigail has two very white spots in her gums right where her center lower teeth should be. I though "Ah ha! At last the teeth are close." Then through the course of the day I kept stealing opportunities to feel her gums and to get a better look at these spots. This evening I distinctly felt one small, sharp edge. I think the first tooth has just barely broken the surface. I never really cared about whether she had teeth or not. As far as I was concerned, I didn't care if they ever came, but now that their arrival is imminent I am pretty excited.

Of course, being the trooper that she is, we had not noticed any signs of teething - no drooling, no screaming or crying. Although she has had a tougher time sleeping lately so I guess that could be due to the teeth, or it could just be Abigail being Abigail. We'll likely never know. Anyway, a whole new phase of her development has arrived.

Such a Character

Some recent photos:

Making Boris an offer he can't refuse.

Snacking on raisins.

Being adorable for the camera.

Other news:

1. Abbie is finally calling me Mama. Yeah! Her vocabulary is just exploding. Chad heard her try to say "apple" earlier today.

2. Abbie has learned how to turn lights on and off. So now every time she sees a light switch she has to practice her new skill and we narrate it by declaring "On!" and "Off!" as she flips back and forth.

3. Abbie has been trying for awhile to climb the two steps from the dining room to the living room and today her efforts paid off. Success! She hasn't yet figured out that this skill will also get her from the first floor of the house to the second floor and I'm hoping that it takes awhile for it to occur to her.