Lydia's growing up

Larisa says that she feels like Lydia is understanding more and more every day. That's why I feel guilty that my journal writing hasn't been good over the past year, just when it is most important to keep track of all the details of our changing family. Yet even though she's understanding more she still had a hard time arranging the checker pieces with me on the board the other day when I was trying to teach her.

Lydia started walking and doing most things very early. She was walking with our help by about six or seven months. We just figured since she liked standing up so much we'd have some fun with it. For months she would walk all over the place holding our hands. Even though she could keep her balance fine on her own, she was too cautious. As soon as we would let go (even with only one hand) she would stop and reach her hand up for us. Sometimes I would let go and try to make her stand on her own, but she would only stay for a couple of seconds usually before deciding to sit down. But she slowly progressed, and on July 4th (just after Galina and Alla had left from visiting us) she decided to walk on her own. She's a Yankee Doodle girl.

Lydia also likes to stuff her face. She doing that with pieces of chicken right now in fact. She always gets excited (and impatient) when it comes to food. Maybe it has something to do with us accidentally starving her for her first few days of her life at home. :) When we first fed her pieces of avocado she stuffed so many in her mouth that her cheeks poked out. It was funny.