Landon at 13 months

You love 'shootin' hoops' - it has been great practice for your balance to stand under the hoop and try to reach the ball to the top.  If we lift you to help you make a basket you get very excited, although you haven't yet figured out that you're supposed to let go of the ball so it goes in the hoop :)

The lips.  You stick your lips way out and make all kinds of sound effects when playing with trucks, cars, trains, and other random times when the sounds aren't necessarily related...  I just love it.

On numerous occasions you have tried eating your food face first (as with your birthday cake), and it makes me wonder if you aren't spending too much time around Gio and Bella!!  The name Mowgli (from the Jungle Book) came to mind the other day as I watched you put your face up to a plate of goldfish crackers I gave you...  Below you were sticking your fingers in Bella's bowl to try and eat her food, and then you flipped onto your belly to try and eat it like she was!!

Your teeth have finally began to surface in this last month.  Both fronts at one time, plus the bottom right one.  It looks like your two upper Laterals are making their way in now, too.  Can't get a good look at the bottom yet to see if there are more there...

You are a very good climber...

You are now strong and sturdy enough that you and Caleb can roughhouse on the floor together and mommy doesn't have to freak out at every move Caleb makes toward you!  You two have been having fun rolling around on the floor, on blankets, on pillows, and chasing each other around the living room this past week, with lots of smiles and giggles, especially from you - I think you're excited that you can finally get in there and play like brother does!  Second child is certainly resilient to older sibling's pushing, leaning, and knocking into you..!  

Despite Caleb's rough play, and despite my greatest efforts to not practice with you or encourage you too much until daddy got home from Chile, we are still excited to say that you are finally doing some walking!!  Your first steps were last Friday, Dec. 14th, when you took steps completely on your own initiative on three occasions.  Then there was nothing for five days, and on Wednesday you were having so much fun playing with Caleb that you started doing it again, perhaps distracted so you weren't so weary of letting go :)  That night you walked several times after daddy got home to see you!!!  

Balancing on Dec. 10...

....and on December 19th.... walking!!  Yay!  After 4 months of building to a very quick crawling speed, mommy and daddy are so excited that you have started to walk!  The break from carrying such a big boy will also be a welcome change :)

< Video of Landon walking >

Hopefully there will be lots of Christmas walking performances to share with everyone later!