Abigail is seven months old!  It's been another month of big changes, mostly getting her first teeth and learning to crawl.  I thought she was going to walk late judging by the fact she was built like the Turner babies, but I think she's going to fool me and walk early after all.  She's pulling herself up on furniture and walking around in her co-sleeper and even standing by herself for brief stretches.  Yikes.  How did she get big so fast?

(Slideshow here)

I've been expecting this moment for a few days now - Abigail began picking up her hands one by one while getting up on her hands and knees and rocking, so I knew it wouldn't be long.  I was telling Mom Turner this afternoon that I could tell Abigail had everything it takes to crawl: the strength, the coordination and the desire; but there was just something in her brain that hadn't yet clicked to say "I could go somewhere if I do this."  I wished there was some way to just transmit what was in my brain to hers, but I knew the only thing that would make sense to her was for her own mind to recognize that she could make this crawling thing work.  All day today I kept seeing her almost take a crawling "step", but then she would hesitate and not follow through.

Then this evening after dinner I set her down one more time while Mom Turner was here just to show her what I'd been talking about.  Mom got out her camera just in case...and this time Abigail didn't even hesitate at all but crawled over to the bead necklace Grandma Lila gave her a few days ago.  Not often you manage to get real first steps on video, crawling or walking!

Now I'd better go unpack the baby gate and put it on the stairway, because once Abby's got the idea I think she's going to be moving pretty fast by the end of the week...