Mark is on the move.  He also has object permanence now so he’s not so easily distracted if I take something away from him.  He has started crying in protest if he really wants it!

Today, Ellie was crying because she didn’t want Mark to play with “the real toys”.  She only wanted him to have the “chewy toys”!  (By the way, isn’t that an adorable name for teethers?!)

Mark isn’t full-on all-fours crawling yet, but he definitely is rolling a TON and  pushing/pulling himself across the floor.  It’s not as noticeable as an Army crawl; rather, one minute he’s on one side of the room and then next thing you know, somehow he’s in a totally different place!  The look in his eyes says, “I want that thing and I’m going to get it.”

He started out by his little ducky, which obviously was a little boring for his tastes!

And so, real life for all of us is here – Ellie is realizing that Mark is a real person with wants and desires who also wants to play with toys.  Mark is starting to assert himself too, moving himself over to my feet in the kitchen, asking to be picked up.  I am starting the “help the siblings navigate life together in peace and love” journey.

Don’t worry, we’re having fun too (amidst the tears and tantrums)! 🙂