There have been some requests to hear details about the Big Date.  I'm trying to figure out a good way to explain what we did.  There was dinner (Jack Stack), there were drinks (great new Waldo bar called Lew's - reminiscent of Iowa City's Airliner, complete with wood paneling and Budweiser-horses lamp above the bar) and in between, there was, well, the park.  I'm not going to say anymore. We're all adults here.

Last night, though, something very exciting happened.  Just two days after we finally got a child-safety gate installed at the top of the stairs, my beloved called down in a strangled voice "Come here!"  I thought she must have fallen and really hurt herself. I went bolting up the stairs to see her little fat feet operating all on their own!  I sat down, he let go, and there she was, 30 inches of tottering pink arms and legs ready to plow me down with no remorse.  She was babbling and laughing like a deranged person, obviously pleased with her new skills. 

We repeated the exercise downstairs to see if it was real (and to see how bad it would be on hard wood - even MORE supervision will now be required - just when I could almost use the restroom alone again), and she was able to walk from one of us to the other or from the ottoman to the couch - about four or five steps - without help. It always ended in a dive-bomb, and it was always accomplished at full throttle. I think she employs my friend J's ski technique to walking - go fast enough you don't need to steer and run into something soft-looking when you are done.

I am so excited for her.  I can't WAIT to take her to the park now!