Baby Milestones — Crawling is Officially Here

This seven-month-old baby is on the go!

Will you forgive me for my absence? It has been over a week since my little monster started crawling, and that was only the beginning. The milestone of crawling was accompanied by pulling herself up to stand . . . and climb! Did I mention she has five teeth broken through and one on its way?

Back to the crawling . . . The confidence, strength and coordination finally aligned, allowing Charlotte the freedom of mobility. She is beyond happy to be crawling, which has brought with it a determination that knows no bounds! Now that crawling across the living room is yesterday's news, my daughter has set her sights on walking. This causes her to try and stand-up all the time—before she falls asleep while nursing, in a high chair, mid-crawling, etc.

A couple nights following her big crawling debut, Charlotte's dad tried to teach her how to clap. It was really sweet. He spent 20 minutes sitting in front her demonstrating how to clap, and then he would physically prompt her to mimic his actions. The next morning, Charlotte and I headed over to grandma's house for a daytime visit. I sat her down in the middle of the carpet to roam free. As soon as I turned around, my mother said, "Oh look, she's clapping!" Of course, when I turned around she had stopped. After a couple more times of missing her clapping, I finally caught a glimpse of her excited little hands barely hitting each other. When I sent her dad a quick video of her clapping, he was proud of his little girl.

Milestones are exciting when you reach them one at a time. When you watch as your baby develops rapidly before your eyes, you can't help but feel grateful for having each special moment. Put down your cell phone, and be present with your little one. They seem to grow with every blink of your eye.