Locomotion and puppets

Well, really a pretty average week in the household... crawling, standing and puppets!

Yup, you read right. In the last week, Kiyomi has started standing on her own for longer and longer periods of time. She has also, unfortunately, picked up this really fun game where she free falls backwards with the full expectation that someone will be there to catch her. She laughs, while she's doing it! We're not sure if she's laughing because she's in free fall, or because out of the corner of her eye, she can see an adult or two dive across the room to make sure she is indeed caught. All I can say is that this does NOT bode well for her teenage years!

Impatient with the fact that she can't actually walk yet - and eager to get her hands on the KT cat's tail - Kiyomi has started to crawl. Who knew that a four legged creature could create a four legged creature out of our little girl?!

So, we now add crawling to her expanding repetoire, which at the moment consists primarily of wanting to walk (assisted of course), launching really messy foods like spaghetti across the room, saying "cat" (although we have no idea whether she actually associates it with the cat since she called a dog "cat" the other day) and generally making all sorts of crazy, funny faces. I tell ya, what's not to love!

The standing has also created a new challenge for bedtime, as it seems she's mastered the ability to pull herself to standing in the crib. Now, normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but for the fact that she's extraordinarily proud of herself when she does this. The bedtime routine usually has Kohji or I laying on th ebed beside her crib reading and waiting for her to fall asleep. We try to ignore her rather than interact so she settles in with Elton. Well, it's hard to ignore it when you glance over and are eye to eye with this huge grin. Once you laugh, you're sunk because she takes that as a sign to giggle at will!

We had a great visit with Nana. Not only did she help with the baby, she helped put together Kiyomi's room, including making curtains. Much appreciated by all, but especially Tamara. It was a nice way to transition into full time "on my own". Mom, you'll be missed!

Yesterday, we headed off to the Puppets Up! Festival in Almonte - a pretty little town about 45 minutes from Ottawa. Now, it's not that we wouldn't have considered the driving 45 minutes to a puppet festival before Kiyomi (usually at the prodding of uncle Phil). But let's face it, we probably would not have spent a warm, sunny Saturday afternoon driving to Almonte for it. My how things have changed... Of course, it would seem there isn't much we wouldn't do for this little face (see again comment above re: teenage years).

The Festival itself is quite fun, although probably more interesting for the older (4 and up) crowd. All of Almonte gets into it. They close the main street to traffic and puppets rule the roost. There are a number of theaters set up, all within easy walking distance, and puppeteers from all over spend two days entertaining. The highlight is the puppet parade down main street.

We've also discovered that Kiyomi seems to really like music (thanks in large part to the musical potty that Nana got for her). You haven't lived until you've heard the "Toilet Paper" song over and over and over... and over.

However, throw in a couple of baby maraccas, and it doesn't seem to loose it's charm ... quite as quickly.

On that note, the parting shot for today is a little baby boogie. Good afternoon from Ottawa.