10.5 Months

I think perhaps being around his cousins has inspired Mac to actually want to do a few things for himself.  It seems that he finally realized there is a lot to be done outside your parents' arms.  More or less.  He undoubtedly prefers to be held, but he is also discovering quite a bit.  For example:

• You do not need a human finger to pull yourself up to things.  Chairs, tables, stools, and drawers are all suitable.

• Getting up on all fours is great to help you roll even farther.  (Crawling is still nonexistent.)
• Waving hello makes people crazy with excitement.  (We are very popular at the grocery store.)

• Feeding yourself is a much more satisfying experience than getting food shoveled in by parentals.  Plus you generally get tasty grown-up food instead of the boring, mashed up baby food. So put a towel under my chair, roll up my sleeves, cover me in plastic, and hand over all forks and spoons.  I'm a big kid now.
• Walking is exciting, but you really only need to take three or four steps before you will be close enough to dive into your waiting parent's arms.  Sometimes their arms are not waiting though, and dive bombing is a little less enjoyable.

• Four new teeth all at once is the pits ... but it is sure fun to grind them together and watch your mom squirm.

• Screaming gets people's attention much quicker.  Why not do it all day?
• Ladies are very nice to stare at.  And grin at.  And blush at.  
• Lots of hair is lots of fun, but hair cuts are not.  We have experienced five so far.
• "Caps for Sale" is, hands down, the greatest book ever, stuffed animals the greatest toys, and watching parents pop the binky out of their mouths is probably the most hilarious game ever invented.