Miss Eliza let go of me and took a couple steps earlier this evening, and then a couple more soon after that. Then the older kids spent the rest of the evening working her to death. They kept standing her up and encouraging her to walk. She ended up taking lots of steps, total. The most she ever did at once was three or four. So she's off to the races, I guess! I had a feeling this was coming. Numerous times lately she has been standing, holding on to something with one hand, and I could see the wheels in her head turning. I could tell she was thinking about letting go and taking off.

Eliza just turned 10 months yesterday, so she beat Madalyn for first steps by a full month and JZ by three months. I have always said that E. would walk earlier than the other two. She's one determined little individual. Mad also started out more slowly. I had to stand her up and then coax her to take some steps. It took her like a week before she actually let go and walked on her own. Eliza started doing that right away. I have a feeling she's going to be tearing around here like a maniac by next week! The girl is a force of nature.