We've been trying to encourage Punky to walk for about two months. If I sat on the floor and stood her at arms length in front of me and let go, she would take the necessary two or three steps needed to get back to me. Every now and then she would let go of the furniture on her own and take a step or two, but it was rare and she always had something close to grab.
There was a sudden change this past week. The occasional, unprovoked step or two has turned into five or six at a time, into the center of the room away from all furniture, and usually with a toy in both hands. Yeah, I'm calling it: she's walking.
So, she made it under the one year mark by about ten days. We expected earlier since she rolled, crawled, an pulled herself to standing so early. She was only fifteen weeks old the first time she pulled herself up to stand by holding my hands and bracing her feet against me. This walking thing has been a long time coming...
Even though she's discovered she can do it on her own, she still opts for crawling most of the time. Getting from point A to point B when she's on a mission is much faster on all fours. I know it will change in time.
Walking brings some more worries as far as potential falls and head bangs. But let's face it, with as many times she's whacked that little noggin already I doubt walking will bring anything worse.
It seems Punky sensed I wasn't worried enough with her new walking trick so she decided to show me another new trick to push me over the edge: she managed to get on the bed in her room, all by herself, no help from mama...
Damn. Now things get complicated. Obviously getting on the bed isn't the big issue; falling off is the problem. Taking the bed out of her room isn't an option. Normally I can trust her to play alone in her room for a few minutes if I need to do something. I guess I can cross that off the list.
While we were playing there a few weeks ago, I was trying to show her the way to get down from the bed...on her tummy, legs first, slowly until the feet reach the floor. Of course all she wanted to do was roll around the bed. My mom thinks Punky will need to climb up and fall off a few times before she figures it out and learns the way to do it. Geez. There has to be a better option than that. Makes me wonder how I learned...
Punky is changing so much every day. It still blows my mind what she is able to comprehend and do. And once she does something, she doesn't forget it. I often say things without thinking about it until she responds correctly to what I said.
"Daddy's in the bathroom. Go knock on the door." Whoa...who the hell taught her how to knock?
"We will read one more book and then go brush your teeth." A few minutes later I close the book and without having to say a word, she takes off for the bathroom. She needed to understand and maintain that understanding all the way through two readings of Goodnight Moon. One normal speed, and one slowly to point out all the stuff in the pictures. She didn't grab another book, she didn't go find a toy, she went right to the bathroom and waited in the dark for me come in and turn on the light. Baby Einstein for sure.
"Santa's coming in a few days." She quickly turns to look at the tree. I don't even have a clue as to how she put two and two together on this one...
I'm sure none of this is truly spectacular. I know that most babies her age have developed these incredible talents. It is utterly fascinating to see first hand though. The way she learns so much, so quickly, with little effort on anyone's part is amazing. She's like a little sponge soaking up all the world has to offer...every little drop she sees, hears, smells, tastes, and touches...
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