This is three-minute video of Art struggling to grab a cheerio, playing the piano, dancing with his mama, and looking real real slimy.

Art just eeked his way from one end of the couch to the other while standing up and holding onto the edge of the cushions. This act is called cruising. He did it very well. Then I pulled a small piece of soggy magazine out of his mouth.

The other night Art and Ben were taking a bath and I came up the stairs to hear Ben say, “He’s never been so splashy!” The bathroom floors was all wet and Art was happier than a clam, splash, splash, splashing. Splashiest ever according to Ben. Art loves his bath!

we woke up this morning and Art was crawling. Here’s a short video of his first journey across the living room rug.

He figured it out! He has officially crawled! It’s a little sloppy – he goes on his knees, takes a knee step, gets on his feet with butt in the air for a step, back to his knees, rocks back and forth for a while, back to the feet, on the belly, another step… But each time he’s tried it since this morning he’s simplified the process a little more. Mobile baby!

We like to let Art go diaper-free once in a while so his bum can “air out”. Looks like it would feel good, doesn’t it? (By the way, those weeds in the background have since been removed. In the meantime, kindly pretend they are beautiful roses or something. Thank you.)

Yesterday I set Art down on the rug in the T.V. room, walked 15 feet to bedroom laundry basket and by the time I had returned he had pulled himself onto the couch. It was like a magic trick or something! Right now I have one eye on him because he is desperately trying to get himself closer to a nearby chair, undoubtedly to pull himself up on it, too. He is SO close to figuring out how to crawl, but he just can’t do it yet.

 

Yesterday Art and I were riding the bus when the man next to us asked, “Does he like bananas?” I said, “Yes! They’re his favorite!” and the man reached into his box of groceries and gave Art a banana! Later on in the ride a woman was talking to Art and said, “I have to have something in here for a baby…” and rummaged in her purse until she pulled out a lollipop. Man! But that wasn’t the first time Art has been showered with gifts from strangers. Once we were in Walgreens when Art was only a couple months old and a guy gave him a dollar! I said, “I’ll put it in his college fund!” and the guy reached back in his wallet, “Well, if he’s going to be educated, here’s another!”

I love my sister, Emily, I love Art, and I love that Em loves Art. I’m happy!