a toddler in the house again

Wow, I forgot what it was like to have a toddler! WOW! I can't say it enough. It all started last Monday night. I have know for the last month that he would start walking anytime. He walked around very easily with only one finger to hold, I knew that finger was not making a difference in his balance, but in his confidence. He'd squeeze that finger so tight because he knew my trick of slowly slipping it out of his grasp to make him walk on his own. That was the same thing Ashton did, and I'm sure all kids do when they are learning. As soon as I'd let go, he'd sit down.

This past weekend when we were out visiting my parents, he would walk a bit further each time he tried, mainly because I'd keep backing up. His problem was that as he got closer to me, he'd speed up and end up diving at me. That was all that was stopping him.

On Monday night he decided he didn't need to rush to finish off those last few steps, thus it begins.

He was still only walking solo if I put him down in the middle of the floor and left him there to fend for himself but by Thursday night it was a different story.

We were sitting on the couch watching TV. Brayden and Ashton were playing as usual. Brayden standing up at the coffee table, letting go to walk across to the couch. I got up to go to the kitchen and my little wood tick saw me leave and decided he'd join me. He scooted along the couch til he came to the edge, around the end of the arm of the couch, stops, lets go and starts heading to the kitchen. I couldn't believe it. Finally on his own free will, he left the comfort of the support of the couch and was off to catch mom! Until this time, he'd only walk to mom, if I put him down and said walk to daddy. He'd smile at Jason, make a complete turn and head back to me. He does very well at his turning considering he's only just begun walking.

There goes my relaxation time! Now, I put him down somewhere to play in the living room and next thing, he's up at the coffee table, over to the couch, rounds the corner and he's off! I think that first night I spend 45 minutes, just chasing him and bring him back. He was still a little tipsy (not drunk, don't worry), so I had to follow him incase he would lose his footing and fall over, hitting his head on whatever object might be close to him.

As of today, one week from the beginning of this adventure, I don't have to follow him anymore. He leaves the livingroom, does his tour of the kitchen, goes around to the front door and generally makes his way back to the livingroom. He's much more steady on his feet now. If he does happen to lose his balance, he usually sits down quite controlled. Still crying sometimes. I'm sure it really doesn't hurt that much to fall from a foot off the ground and land on that padding he wears on his bum.

I am enjoying his happiness, that's for sure. He is much more content now that he's moving. I have a little more baby-proofing to do but for the most part, he's safe. Just the water cooler! How do you stop that? I can't put it up or prevent him from pulling down the handle. At least the hot water has a safety switch. He does enjoy pulling down the cold onto his other hand thats hanging on to the stand. Then he looks at me and shows me his wet hand. It's hard not to laugh. It is very cute.

I was thinking that I don't remember doing this with Ashton, chasing him around the house, but then I realized it was because I was back to work before Ashton started walking and our house at the time was 1/2 the size of this one and you could reach him from the couch lol It is amazing to see what he can do. He still seems so small to me. It just doesn't seem right that he can walk around. He's got a personality developing. I am sad that in another month I will not be here to see everything he does all day long. I guess that's the hard thing about going back to work. It'll be good for both of us though