Step By Step

I think whoever coined the term "baby steps" had someone just like Talan in mind. He doesn't really go into anything full force. Not that he's cautious...because he's not. But he just isn't in a rush to do anything, including walking. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in a rush either. I'm really enjoying parenthood take two. It's nice to just sit back and relax this time around knowing that eventually things are going to happen. No matter what a book or fellow parent tells you, there is no magic formula when it comes to kids and the timing of milestones. We've been working really hard (for months) with him on communication. We not only repeat words over and over but we've also worked to incorporate sign language knowing that he may not be able to get the words out just yet. Meals are a challenge. You cannot feed the kid fast enough. One bite hits his mouth and he doesn't even have time to enjoy it, nor do I have time to put another bite on the fork, before he's screaming for more. He yells at us! Honestly. I swear, I have said "Talan, say more", paired with the sign for more, at least 1,487,220 times. No joke. To be fair, he has said it a couple of times but just a couple and only when he feels like it. So frustrating, that kid. Same goes for standing and walking. I've tried to work with him. I pick him up to a standing position and he will curl his little legs under making it impossible to get him upright. He can stand up just fine but not when one of us tries to encourage it. Only when he feels like he has made the decision to stand on his own. On Tuesday he finally made some progress. All of the sudden he just started to let go of things and stand balancing on his own without the help of anything. Once he realized he could balance he started doing it more frequently and for longer periods of time. And finally, that evening, he turned to me and took a (teeny tiny) step. Since then he has done so many times but still only one step. It's just a baby step but it sure is fun to see him reaching a big milestone. I don't want to rush anything when it comes to him. I'm happy to have him go through the stages of his life slowly. The little things that tend to frustrate me are also the things that keep reminding me how little and precious he is.