Doin' the 'Stein

Every child develops in his/her own unique way. Adara's approach to walking is quite distinct from Aenaon's. He was someone who started off, literally, running. And once he started to walk, he never went back to crawling (until Adara started crawling, that is). And Adara, as with everything else she's done, started off gradually. Now she's walking quite a bit, but rather than being the "drunken sailor" Aenaon was (stumbling from one side to the other), she does the Frankenstein, and holds both of her arms out in front of her and, well, walks like Frankenstein. I tried to capture this on the computer camera, which is no small feat. Here's the best shot I could get (just to give you an image).
Other things she's been into lately:

kitty litter (that includes trying to eat it)
more kissing
eating more junk food and less nutritious food
climbing out of her crib (which must be more like falling out- I don't imagine she hangs off the side on her way down)
playing with kitty
hanging out with any new person she can
vehemently shaking her head 'no'
drinking from a big kid's cup, unassisted

new words (or distinctive attempts):
diaper
cat
pooh
uh-oh
hi
bye
balloon
ball

Don't Look Down for Long

Adara is walking more now, but still not exclusively. She is something, though. Quite a sprite. Full of kisses and laughter, charm and determination. She knows what she wants. But she loves you through the whole process. She lets out whatever emotion presents itself and quickly moves on. If her desire's been thwarted, she'll turn away from you, and lower her head to the floor and play dead for a moment or two (she's done this for months, really, but it's becoming more distinctive now). Then she'll get over it and move on (by either repairing the intially disappointing situation, or being satisfied to entertain a different one).

Our Adara. I'll post a picture tomorrow.

Kissing Books

Adara has developed a new habit which I find quite sweet of her, really. Whenever we're reading books together nowadays, she will lean forward and kiss the character (of whatever nature) on the page (and, of course, her big brother will then imitate her). She is very fond of giving kisses now. She will kiss animals and dolls, books, and when we're lucky, we'll be blessed with a few angelic smooches, too. It's so beautiful to watch these little people develop, and to be witness to their natures' unfolding, and their idiosyncracies presenting themselves (born from some inner well we have yet to fully understand).

Well, that's it for now. Just a quick note- full of love, though. Wish I could plant one of her kisses over the internet!