In addition to a new lateral incisor (I know the name 'cuz I looked it up--it's the tooth to the side of your two front teeth), Natalie has embarked upon a few more "firsts":
- She rode in the cart for the first time today! Thanks to those stabilizing core muscles, she is very steady when sitting. This prompted me to use the totally adorable cart cover that Leen sent to me months ago. It was awesome! Natalie and I took Costco by storm and she was amazed at all the sights, sounds, and smells (samples!)
- The Bean ate an apple slice with the help of her "baby Kong" (that's what Ali calls the mesh bag for its dog toy ability to store food inside). We have been giving her ice in this ingenious invention for teething with great results, but today, she got to experience some solid food! She loved it, chewing and sucking with all her might. Sure, she probably only got 2 or 3 calories out of it, but the enjoyment it provided to us both was priceless!
- Scush now falls asleep on her own with little help from us. With the help of many experts' suggestions, we go through a short ritual before naps and at bedtime and that baby doesn't even cry anymore! She can also be soothed fairly quickly with just a short visit to her room. This is our favorite first, as it allows us to have more sleep and we are comforted by the knowledge that Natalie has the tools necessary to put herself down when she awakens in the night.
- The nanny has arrived! Katie, our new nanny, started this week. Since Toni will be giving birth in about a month, it was time to move on and we couldn't be luckier to find Katie. She has loads of experience and visits us most days with a 15-month-old named Ellie, who captivates Natalie every time she sees her.
