Oh the Independence

As I've said before . . . we thrive on change in this house!! And we love to have lots of it at once! So today was one filled with a few firsts! So let's start with Marlie . . . I got a call from my good friend Bethany this morning - who happens to be the Mommy of one of Marlie's good friends, Helen. She was taking her kiddos down to the Science Center in Nashville and wanted to know if Marlie could come with Helen. Of course I was invited too - but it was almost naptime, and I wasn't in the mood to drive 100 miles round trip . . . and Marlie said that she would love to go. So for the 1st time ever, Marlie went out by herself with a friend. Now it might sound weird - but think about it . . . she's 5 - other than the 3 whole months she's been in school, she has never left the house without a family member . . . and she has certainly never been in a car to travel to another city without a parent or grandparent. I turned to give her a few dollars to take and she already had a purse strapped across her with a snack packed and getting her shoes on - do you think she was ready to leave without me?!?!? ha! Naturally, she had a great time and behaved like we would expect . . . so begins a new chapter . . .

And then there is our boy! Today Evan rode forward facing in the stroller for the first time at the mall . . . and also rode in the shopping cart sitting up - because he does that now - sits up all by himself! And he also successfully ate several puffs today for another first . . . and to top it off, he is seriously trying to crawl! Except he can only crawl backwards - so he keeps scooting backwards and getting stuck under things . . . like the entertainment center, the ottoman, the couch . . . it's a great learning process to watch :)