::Z::

That's right, Maren has started reading! OK, not really.

She did, however say goodbye to Aunt Molly for four months while she (Molly) is off to South Africa for a semester! We all had dinner at Grandpa's on Friday and then again on Saturday at Grandma's. We had a great dinner at both. Molly is excited, although I think she would admit that the reality of it hasn't really set in yet. (How could it?!) We all hope she has an amazing trip--what an education!


Speaking of Aunts, Aunt Kate gave Maren a very cute stuffed duck Saturday that Maren loves playing with. We've named it Aflac.

Maren is crawling faster and faster, which means she can now crawl to great items for pulling herself up on--coffee tables, chairs, potted plants. On Saturday, we heard her complaining in her crib after waking up from a nap. I went up to get her and found her standing, holding on to the rail with the top of it just below her waist--one wrong shift of weight away from an unplanned crib diving adventure! We lowered the mattress, so now when she wakes up from naps and pulls herself up, she looks more like an inmate than an adventure sport enthusiast. We're going to pick up some striped pajamas and a tin cup for sliding across the crib stiles to complete the effect.