10 months.

At 10 months Olive is starting to feel like a toddler. She's starting to walk on her own, taking about 12 steps before she falls over or grabs something for support. Every day she chooses some object and carries it around with her, shimmying along the walls while she grips it tight. Sometimes it's a toy (her favourite at the moment is a scruffy dog from Cheryl), but usually it's something strange, like last year's Christmas card from Stace and Andrew, a whisk, or an egg carton and texta (because Lucas showed her how to draw on the egg carton and now she's obsessed with trying to draw). She plays little games where she pretends you're trying to chase her and tries to get away as quickly as possible, squealing and laughing...possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen. She was pretending I was chasing her with the vacuum cleaner this morning.

Most people say that babies get so much harder when they start getting around, but for us she's become so much easier. She's so happy now that she can do what she wants. She loves to explore the house, following us from room to room, picking up bits and pieces to examine (or try to eat) as she goes. I love when I find her sitting quietly "reading" a book (her favourite at the moment is "Spot Loves His Dad") or playing with whatever she's found.

She's also started throwing toddler tantrums, which involve feet stomping, yelling and throwing herself on the floor. A little early for terrible twos, but she's always liked to do things early.