Elizabeth has changed so much in just the past week or so. For starters, her hand coordination is greatly improved. It began one night when she reached out for daddy's hand over and over again (this made daddy tear up)... and progressed from there. Now she can grab her toys that dangle over her play gym, and if a rattle is placed in front of her, she can grab and hold onto it. Sometimes, however, she forgets its in her hand, and bonks herself real good on the head. When she does remember she has hold of it, she often brings it to her mouth to chew on it. Those hands of hers are also able to come together (another important milestone) and to her mother's dismay is able to remove her paci at will, but not able to put it back in... although she does seem to try. Mommy is also getting really good at using her hands... or should I say, hand. Elizabeth loves to be carried, so mommy has learned to do the following one-handed: make the bed, pour/eat a bowl of cereal, load/unload the laundry & dishwasher, and many other household tasks.
This leads me to another development. Elizabeth has begun to demand to be held... and not just any way, mind you. She prefers to be held with her back completely to your body, so that she has the best vantage point to look around. If you hold her to your body, or tummy to tummy, she will let you know that that is simple not acceptable to her with either a loud scream or cry. Oh, and she doesn't like to stay in one spot, either... she loves taking tours through the house all day long. Again, she will let you know if you need to move on to a new spot.
Finally, it seems Elizabeth has "found her voice" in that she no longer coos these sweet little oos and awes... but pretty much squeals/screeches/screams all day long. She does so when she's happy, she does so when she gets mad (and boy can she get mad... especially at her toys), and she does so when she's tired. And her squeals, screeches, and screams take on a different pitch and volume depending on if she is happy, mad, or tired. It often sounds like an alley cat fight. Reeear! In between she does do some cooing... but like I said before, this girl is definitely perfecting that 8th habit (Steven Covey would be proud!)
