Third Time's the Charm
On Wednesday night, Liam reached another milestone. While we were waiting in the lobby at Lydia's dance lesson, he stood up, gained his balance, and then took three steps to me. I was so proud! He looked so cute while he was doing it, with the sweetest look of gleeful determination on his face. Since then, he likes to practice his new skill. Today, every time I clapped my hands and said, "yay!" he would stand up and try it again. He got up to five consecutive steps.

This was a milestone for me as well. Out of all three children, Liam is the first one to take his first steps to me. When Braden was little, he took his first steps at our friends' house. I was there, but he chose to aim his direction toward our friend instead of me! I started crying (because I was so happy and proud -- it didn't really hurt my feelings that he didn't walk to me), and our friends were confused. Until we explained that those were his very first steps. Still, when we see those friends at Church in Maryland, they mention how Braden took his first steps at their house.

Lydia chose to take her first steps while I was gone for only one hour to pick Morgan up from the airport. My friend Maia was visiting from Utah, and had offered to watch the kids at Morgan's parents' house for me while I went to pick him up. When we returned she mentioned that Lydia had been taking some steps. I couldn't believe I missed it! I hardly ever leave my kids, especially during their first two years, and she had chosen the one time I left her to take her first steps! Honestly, I was too excited to really be upset that I missed it, but I was beginning to see a trend. Well, Liam has now broken that trend!

I know that pretty soon I will be wondering why I was so excited for him to walk. But he is really fast on all fours, so I don't think walking is going to make him any more mobile. And maybe, just maybe, if he is standing upright rather than at ground level, he won't be enticed to put every little thing into his mouth. We'll see, I guess!