It’s remarkable to watch L get stronger by the day.

Earlier this month, I blogged about the baby’s newfound ability to hold her head up. Just last week, she perfected what I like to call the “vice,” a clampdown grasp she prefers to administer on my t-shirts.

Her latest discovery is the quad thrust: while lying on her back, she extends her legs, plants her feet, bends her knees and pushes her rump skyward.

The newest technique usually results in baby booty flailing six or so inches from the position in which it started. On the ground or the bed, this party trick is cute, even funny. But on the changing table, it has been cause for major freak-outs—episodes we’ve been having with a little too much regularity.

From the day we set up that changing table (ours is in “rustic sun valley honey”), I had wondered why the pad came with straps. Now I get it: when baby is big enough, you need some sort of assistance keeping her secure while you change her poopy pants.

L reportedly has engaged in other noteworthy physical feats over the last few weeks, too.

For instance, Powergirl tells me the baby has rolled over on her own on three separate occasions. Because I haven’t witnessed any of these, however, I’m pretending they never happened.

Rumor has it the baby also miraculously stuck a pacifier back into her mouth after it popped out one morning last week. While I find this performance almost impossible to believe, I wouldn’t put it past L.

The bottom line is that as the baby continues to mature, her strength will grow as well, making these kind of accomplishments more and more likely. I’m sure at some point, it’ll be old hat to see her doing stuff like sitting up on her own, throwing a rattle or operating a zipper. For now, for this proud papa, these little victories are huge news.