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So far, Mira has proven to be very different from her sister. Cordy generally liked to lay flat or sit in her bouncer as a baby. Mira, on the other hand, wants to be a part of the action, and recently has wanted to sit up as much as possible.

While she loves to sit up, she doesn't have the trunk strength to hold herself up yet. She has a lot of neck control, allowing her to hold her head steady, or at least as steady as a four month old baby can. I've propped her up on the sofa from time to time, but Mira can't stop wiggling and soon topples over, face planting into the cushions. (No worries, I'm always right there. I'm laughing at her, but I'm keeping her safe.)

Because of her crazy baby desire to sit up, I bought a Bumbo seat for her. I actually had one of these with Cordy, but Cordy hated it, so I got rid of it. Had I known I'd be having a baby like Mira, I never would have given it away.

The Bumbo is a molded foam seat designed for babies who can't quite sit on their own yet. It's shape is ergonomic to provide support for a baby, allowing the baby to sit up while keeping the baby safe and unable to fall over. I didn't believe it would actually work the first time I tried it. And when I used it with Mira, I was still doubtful that she would be happy to sit in this strange looking device.

But she likes it. A lot. And it keeps her from toppling over. The Bumbo has a wide base, preventing the seat from tipping as long as it is placed on a solid, firm surface. Of course, you should never leave a child unattended in the seat, or place it on the edge of a table or counter. I've used it on a table, but only if I'm right next to her, and I keep it away from the edge.

Getting this new view of the world has made Mira a happier baby. It lets her look around, working on that neck strength, and she can better participate in anything going on around her. At family gatherings, we bring the seat and put it up on the table so she can watch everything going on at dinner. It may look a little silly, but she enjoys the view and lets me eat my dinner in peace. And if I get to eat my dinner in peace, I'm happy, too.

The Bumbo seat can be purchased online or at Target or Babies R Us. It has a weight limit of 22 pounds, and can be used as soon as a baby has good head control. Ours will be getting a lot of use until Mira is old enough to sit up on her own. Or our giant baby reaches the weight limit.