Bittersweet

Our first 3 children each walked holding on to furniture at 5-6 months and walked independently at 9-10 months.

Our 4th child cruised along furniture at 6 months old, too. At 9 months, he kept right on cruising . . . still holding on to anything he could. Over the next few months, he took a step or two here and there, letting go of a couch or chair just long enough to get to another object. He walked as often as he could, as long as he had the security of an immoveable something. 

I thought it was wonderful. My baby was staying a baby! Yes, it's always so exciting when they learn to walk. Those first wobbly steps. The smiles of excitement. The looks of pride. But I was happy to keep him as a "baby" a while longer. The years are quickly fleeting; I want to soak in as much as I can, lengthen their childhoods. Remember each moment. (Well, at least the good ones, ha!)
 

This video was taken last night. When we first grabbed the camera to tape these precious steps, he was only walking a couple feet. This was the longest stretch he had gone. 

I absolutely love this stage. Every time he lets go of a chair and starts walking across the room, one of us will say, "Look! He's walking!" Each time he stands, using the wall as leverage, and takes off in pursuit of another toy, the whole family watches in excitement. 

Today, he's been walking as much as possible, letting go of any stability. Just because he can. It's exciting, yes, but it's a little sad, too. Once he masters walking, he'll never go back to this wobbly step-taking. And we won't want him to. We want our children to grow and mature and learn new things. We find joy in their accomplishments. But each new beginning is the end of something else. The season of our baby crawler is ending. The time of our big boy toddler is just beginning. And with it comes a whole new level of fun - running around, playing at the park, independence. 

The reality is that our baby is growing up. We'll revel in each new milestone, while fondly remembering times past. 

Bittersweet.       

* I know that each child is different and that they all progress individually when they are ready. I believe that Tyler's severe ear infections may have hindered his ability to walk, throwing his equilibrium off. Praise the Lord, he is passed that!  *