Joy

Yesterday at playgroup little lady did some really good walking! Normally she walks around furniture and takes the odd step away before she realises what she's doing, but won't walk along without that sturdy support even if we're holding her hands. She just instantly drops into a crawl. But yesterday, after being initially rather shy, she was walking round holding my hands like a pro! (I only got pics of the shy bit, sadly!)

She always sits like that for the first ten minutes or so, a bit overwhelmed by all the babies and toddlers everywhere she looks. Then gradually she notices someone she knows or a toy she likes and she loses some of her self consciousness.

At home there's no shyness at all. In fact her latest Fun Thing To Do is to play with the cats, shaking their feather toy at them and shrieking with laughter when they play with it.

Her giggles are so infectious. I defy anyone to listen to them and not laugh!

She's in that awkward stage of being between clothes sizes - her 9-12 month pyjamas are too small and she can't straighten her legs properly in them, while her brand new 12-18 months pyjamas are huge and dangle off the ends of her feet adorably.

Also just the other day something clicked and she finally worked out how to clap her hands. She's been trying for weeks and all of a sudden she's clapping away!

Oh Audrey Bea. You're so much fun.