Sitting, Crawling, Standing, Walking!

Over the past couple months you've figured out the floorplan of our house. Through the kitchen, into the foyer, around the hall, into the living room, and back into the kitchen. On the way you like to make a pit stop into the "toy closet" and play with stuff.

Then you've figured out how to climb the stairs, starting with two steps one day while I was sorting out the recyclables at the base of the stairs. I think I was more delighted than you at your new discovery, so we played on the stairs awhile. Then I put a gate up.

The next day I forgot to put the gate up and didn't realize you'd climbed the stairs until you were all the way up! You do pretty well. You haven't faltered once...only when someone approaches you with good intentions of saving you...as their sudden clamor and approach surprises you, you look back and teeter. So I've made it a point not to distract you when you're climbing. I just creep up quietly to catch you if you slip. But you've been the perfect little climber, swift & confident.

As any parent knows, baby's milestones come so gradually, so it's hard to pinpoint the exact moments you first pulled to standing, cruised along the furniture, stood up by yourself, and took your first steps. You've done all those things for the first time over the last couple months. The first time you stood up by yourself unassisted was last week at the park, standing barefoot on the woodchips. I'm guessing those sharp things poking into you was a good motivation to have as little contact with them as possible.

Over the past week you've gradually been taking steps. One here, two there, three, four, then it always ends with a flop back onto your bum! I love the way there's never a trace of discouragement in your eyes. Just smiling, clapping, and that bright look of accomplishment on your face.

I'm on the wrong computer right now, but hopefully I'll get a chance to post pictures from the other comp.