I Love These Days
I love these final days of babyhood, the precious remaining days before Zoe becomes a toddler. While I’m not really sure when toddler status begins, the general rules seem to be at 1 year old or when they can walk. On both fronts, the baby days are numbered.
Zoe is so close to walking, and while I’m very excited about this, it has caused considerable reflection on the current days, because I will miss them when they’re gone. When the weather turned colder, I bought her first pair of jeans and putting them on her was like watching her grow up before my eyes. I also started taking her to the playground so she could see what was ahead, or rather, so I could see what was ahead.
Here are just a few of my thoughts about the current days:
– I love the way little Z grips my fingers when I hold her bottle. Sadly at some point she will have to hold it on her own.
– Her baby babble has reached new levels, with lengthy conversations going on. We try to join in, but it’s not always that easy. Some day I’ll remember the good old days when she couldn’t argue with me.
– I love the way she is always reaching for something higher. She’s never content to just stand in the regular places. Her arms are always reaching up to a higher table, or something she hasn’t explored before, though this means news risks for pulling things over. I am hoping this doesn’t mean she’s a thrill seeker in the future.
– The disco CD has now become a sentimental favorite for me because of how happy it makes her. We just leave it in the car continually playing. While we try to introduce new music, nothing beats disco in the car.
– I even like the smile she gives me when I tell her NO. It’s like a game to her and my NO stops her in her tracks but then she turns and smiles at me as if to say “Silly mommy, you know I’m going to keep doing what I was doing.” I am definitely in need of a new approach.
As for progress towards walking, it started with her learning to stand up, then cruising (walking along the couch holding on), then standing without holding on to anything for up to 25 secconds. She has learned to crawl the stairs, and goes all the way up to the third floor. Some nights this is so entertaining, she does it 3-4 times. Sometimes when she turns towards me it feels like she’s about to walk, but then she crawls over. I’m happy to enjoy the final crawling days. 
