Who is the Toddler Sleeping in Her Bed?!?

The ticker on this blog is sliding toward the Babe’s 1st Birthday just a little too fast for my taste. Where, exactly, did my baby go?

I mean, one day just 5 months ago I was sitting on the floor in her room, talking to a friend on the phone, watching her sit in her little butterfly seat. For the first time ever, she reached out a grabbed at a toy. She was amazed, I was amazed and it was beautiful. It was SO exciting–SHE REACHED FOR A TOY!

Today she reached for (and got) the fire extinguisher in the school kitchen, her sippy cup, the water supply under the toilet, and torch lamp behind her changing table.

She’s banging toys together. She’s working on waving, clapping and pointing. The girl eats her weight in Cheerios. She’s close to 20 lbs, wears a size 4 shoe, and size 12 month clothes.

She’s EVERYWHERE. Tuesday we learned that the Dr.’s cabinets aren’t baby proofed, and he keeps lots of freebies from drug reps under there. He commented that she’s trying to stand on her own–and how sometimes it seems unnatural for a child her size to be walking. But to post the Poison Control # by the phone because she will be exploring even more in the near future.

She responds to NO and STOP with a look like, “Are you talking to me?” But she responds. Nothing can hold her back when she sees a ready bottle. Or cracker. Or anything I offer her on my index finger.

And now as she naps, I see how big she really is. Which is why I ask–who is this Toddler sleeping in her Bed? And WHERE did my baby go?!?!