The canal has not fared well with our recent warm weather and brushings of snow, but we bravely joined the throngs of Winterluders after the main skateway was plowed and even dragged Daddy along for his second skate of the season.
Last weekend Erika went skating with sister Maria and Grandma J. I gather that Maria cried whenever they stopped moving and Erika cried whenever they were moving. "This is so frustrating!" She apparently kept saying, to Grandma's great amusement.
So when Erika decided to try skating on her own for the very first time today we were all surprised to find that she's suddenly pretty stable on her feet. You could see her gaining confidence at every step. It was pretty amazing and I think it officially marks the moment when I can no longer think of her as "one of the babies".