14 months

After many, many months of practicing, Kumi is officially walking now. She definitely toddles, and there are frequent falls, but she is getting better each day. So many people have warned me, "wait until she starts walking..." but I find it a little easier now that I don't have to carry her everywhere all the time. Watching her take unsteady steps, topple over and get right back up, I am impressed with the hardiness that babies inherently possess. The poor thing has been getting banged up and has a new bruise on a weekly basis.

We are still having bowel movement issues but her pickiness seems to have subsided. She'll try virtually everything though her favorite standbys remain the following: cheese, chicken, grapes, rice, tofu and cookies.

She seems to become more beautiful every day. I know, I know, I'm a bit biased. But her eyes are HUGE and her skin flawless (I always had problem skin, even as an infant, so I covet her milky, luscious skin). Her hair is becoming curlier and curlier and is oh-so-silky. She has the perfect rosebud lips. Every parent must feel like this about his or her child.

Her new thing is to dig through the clean laundry and wear my underwear like a hat. Not the kind of antics you want to show guests, but it had me rolling on the floor laughing.

The other big news is that Kumi is totally, completely and thoroughly weaned. It took me about two months of gradually eliminating each feeding to get to this point. She still cries at night for a few minutes when I put her to bed without nursing, but I think I'm a lot sadder than she is about it. Breastfeeding was such a powerful means of connection, knowing that I was nourishing and comforting her throughout the day and night. 14 months. I can't believe how fast it's all going.