Springtime - age 10 months

In the last few weeks, Nicholas started standing up in the living room at the edge of furniture, and maneuvering around the living room, and discovering the joy of crawling.  We had to put up some blockades at the kitchen to keep him from crawling in and getting into something there.  Also at the bookcase and in strategic corners.  In the last few days, he's started to let go of the furniture for a few seconds and balance standing up.  Now one of his biggest adventures is to explore the living room.

Also, we started taking Nicholas to the playground now that the weather is warmer.  Helping him on the slide (even the big slide), swinging with him on my lap on the swing, putting him on the baby swings, trying all of the toys in the playground as much as we can.  Now when we go to the park, when we get to where Nicholas can see the playground ahead and hear the kids, he gets really excited.  When we get to where the path turns to go to the playground,   Nicholas instinctively turns his head, knowing exactly where the playground is.  In fact knowing exactly where all of the playgrounds are.

I started showing Nicholas the trees and leaves and pine cones and green things in the playgrounds.  At first he seemed to be revolted by the idea of touching the tree bark.  he would really recoil and look away.  He had no problem with the pine cones.... hmmm.... some very interesting little things..... but tree bark  ..... EEEHHHHH!!   Now he's a little more interested to touch the tree bark (pine tree).