Cael can now balance pretty well. He generally needs at least one hand on something to keep from toppling, but he can hang in there a long time. Without any support he can manage about five seconds before falling (on a good try).

Also, if you hold onto his hands he'll take big, prancing high-steps and lead you where he wants to go (usually to the room where Ryan is trying to study).

He's most enthralled with his new ability to stand with his face smooshed against the mirror or a window and slobber all over. I think he's in a competition with his own reflection over who can produce the most spit.

So far, it's a tie. I'll let you know who wins.

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Today Cael got to put his favorite skill to good use. After months of shoving things into his mouth (his hands, his toys, my face, Clio's ear), he finally stuffed something in there that was actually intended to be consumed.

I erroneously thought that he couldn't make a mess with a slice of bread. I didn't even put a bib on him. Rookie mistake. Turns out that if you combine bread with the quantity of drool he produces you get a very soggy mush that smears like butter.

You'd think after all his practice gumming everything within his wingspan he'd spend less time chewing himself and more time chewing the bread. Apparently he thinks he can get through the hand to the bread that's tightly clutched in his palm if he is persistent enough. Either that, or he's developed a taste for his own fingers.

I fear either explanation.

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