First Steps: Ready or not here she comes!

"The Distance is nothing, it is only the first step that is difficult."
-Madame Marie du Deffand

Look up quotes for "first step" and you will see a number of scribes pondering the difficulties of beginning any project, or goal. But in watching Kate this week as she grew more confident in her ability to stand alone and then finally take that first leap forward, I think first steps are often that: a leap of faith. Yes, it is difficult and even scary to take those first steps, but the reward is freedom and mobility.

Watching Kate this past week has been so exciting. Each day she grew more confident in her ability to stand alone, gradually increasing the time she stands before plopping to the ground. She would be holding on to me and then raise her hands in the air as if to say, "look ma, no hands!" And then, yesterday afternoon, she took her first steps on her own.

Oh, the pride, the thrill and oh, is that nostalgia? Don't get me wrong. I delight in her current curiosity and activeness. And, I can tell you, that someone wise once told me that I would revel in each stage and think that it was my favorite. It's true. This is currently my favorite stage...and I'm certain once she's walking and then talking, etc...that too will be my favorite!

In any case, I've found that as her first birthday approaches, I'm growing more nostalgic that we have almost completed the "baby" stage. Of course, Keith and I will always call her Baby Kate. I can hear her now at 17 years old saying, "I'm not a baby!" And our reply, "But, you are our baby!" She is fast outgrowing her 12-month clothing and as I shopped for a few things in the 12-18 months size, I almost grew teary-eyed...that size is located in the TODDLER GIRLS section, not the baby section. Oh, can you believe my baby is almost a toddler?!

To say Kate is changing quickly would be a massive understatement. I do not know how to describe the growth that has occured since Christmas. Suddenly she is mimicking our actions and watching us with attentive eyes that absorb each and every move. No longer am I free to snack in front of her unless I'm willing to share. And, no longer can I casually move about without a pair of eyes watching, watching, watching. Keith has taught her to stick out her tongue this week and I've taught her to smack her lips. Sure, not exactly the most sociably acceptable skills, but humorous and fun, nonetheless! She also claps, waves, and twinkles on cue (okay, we're still working on twinkle twinkle little star and itsy bitsy spider, but she'll be there, soon!).

Keith and I are still amazed at the joy she brings and the fulfillment we find at the end of a long day. While the late night wakings that occur when she is nursing a cold leave us exhausted, the satisfaction felt once we calm her is amazing. And, I want to take a quick moment to shout out to my awesome partner who is always there, even if he has to work the next day, to calm her when I'm out of steam and don't have another ounce of energy.

And speaking of energy, I'm out of it....until the next milestone...good night!