The Harris Family

Elsa’s half-birthday is coming up next week—six months so soon!

Several interesting things have happened since last time we wrote.

Elsa learned to sit on her own about a month ago. This has been a seriously positive development because it makes her more independent: able to reach for the toys she likes, grab things when she drops them, etc. While she does occasionally fall over, it’s usually because she’s grabbing for something too far out of her reach and she loses her balance or because she doesn’t want to sit anymore. (Many times, when she falls onto her back, she giggles, as if she’s proud of herself.)

Here are some pictures of Elsa sitting around:

Elsa – June 2009

Elsa also tried her first solid food a few weeks ago, a small piece of avocado. A very funny movie was made; I will try to post it when I get a few minutes to encode it.

Since then, she’s had applesauce (the first food she actually swallowed) and sweet potato, which she seems to love. For the last few months, whenever anyone eats anything in front of Elsa, she watches them intently. So it’s no surprise that she doesn’t want to be fed things, instead she grabs for the spoon and tries to feed herself. It is very funny and, of course, very messy.

Elsa is also starting to learn to stand by herself. For a few weeks, she’s been able to stand up for a moderately long time if someone is holding her hands, Very recently, she is starting to be able to stand unsupported by herself for short periods of time (a minute or less) by herself holding on to her play table.

It is going to be some time I’m sure until she’s secure enough to stand for longer periods of time, but it’s amazing to watch the pace at which babies learn things!