Walking and Wiring

As we watch our child slowly and unassuredly release her arms from the stationary objects that have before now kept her standing, we can't help but count those little wobbly steps with glee. Thus far she has made it all the way to eleven, at least that we have been in the room to catch. Today Amy walked back into the living room when Serena was squealing and found her standing in the middle of the room. Not sure if she walked herself there or simply stood up in place, either way it was exciting to her. It is amazing what you can do when you stop fearing what you are unsure of and just go for it.

Today was also a momentus day as I finally finished wiring the back room of the house, something that I have been doing for at least six months. The best part of it all is that everything worked the first time. Perhaps the most gleeful part for me was the fact that I actually did the whole room without the hands on help of someone more expert than myself. Scary I know, but it all works and perfectly as far as I know. I know that it took me too long, but I am still amazed that I could do it alone. I still believe that construction is not about what you know, it is just about being willing to get yourself in a mess and working your way out of it. It is allowing yourself to stop fearing what you are unsure of and to just go for it.

Maybe that is what growth is about. As long as we only allow ourselves to walk with our hands securely attached to the coffee table we can certainly have fun, but we can only circle around to where we started. And once the coffee table is cleared of all the debris your parents keep putting on it despite the overwhelming evidence that it will end up on the floor, there is nothing more to accomplish. You must take your hands away from the table and learn to balance yourself before you can learn to get yourself in real trouble when the parents aren't looking. Here's to baby gates!

We're Weaning

This Monday began Serena's passage into toddlerhood. Though we did not hold an official ceremony or celebrate with party hats, Serena has taken an important step towards her future. On Monday morning, Joshua rose from bed at approximately 7:30 AM and took her downstairs and no longer to bed with us for her morning breakfast. As we slowly cut mommy meals out of her schedule this one was the last to go, and we must admit that we are making her go cold turkey. Maybe this will give her an inner strength and will power, or maybe it will mess her up too early, we will not know until she is 30. But we are under a bit of pressure to have this accomplished before Tuesday the 3rd. Joshua and Serena will be taking the first trip without the momma to visit Joshua's parents, and though it will upset Amy a bit she has been kind enough to let us go. 5 days without mom means that she must be able to survive without that small comfort, so the mark has been set and we are doing well.

Serena has now made it 4 days without breast milk and is hardly complaining about it at all. Though this morning she woke up so hungry that she wouldn't quit crying until I has scrambled and fed her two eggs. But that was least because of the absence of breast milk than the absence of food in her belly from not eating well the day before. Though we do still have to do some advance planning for her meals, she eats almost anything we eat and she seems to love the freedom of feeding herself. She is growing up fast and the first time she walks will be the end of me leaving her sitting and playing in the living room. Someday soon she will break me of my selfishness. You know, I set out to type this blog like it was could have been written by either of us, oops. So you now get half-n-half. God Bless.

Joshua

Progress

Serena is growing and learning in leaps and bounds. In the past weeks since we blogged, she has cut her 7th tooth, can stand on her own without falling down to hurt herself, she topped 16 lbs and while she is still below the growth charts she is perfectly healthy. She also beat her first major virus last week and is eating more than her body weight every couple of days. It is highly impressive. And while just like her mother she has taken no affection for beans, she did eat a small pickle today, so there is still hope.



Amy and I have discovered that we really need to curb on our ability to ignore small inconviences. As we walk up our stairs six or more times a day ignoring the things we have piled there to carry the rest of the way, having to walk in a tight line up the right hand side as not to trip. As we pile dishes in our kitchen thinking we will get to it later soaking them in the sink, having to push them aside to fill our glasses with water. As we walk carefully through our room stepping over and around shoes and clothes, having to search through our suitcases from the recent trip for clean socks. The answer to this problem seems to be to get more annoyed, to be more easily put out by such things. So, from now on, watch out household items that stand in our way, for you are going to get on our nerves much too easily and we are going to put you in your places. Watch out you food spotted dishes, for we will not put up with your rubbish nearly as long and you will be made clean. Watch out you clothes that form the challenging obstacle course in our bedroom, for our closests and drawers will be made full and you will not see the light of day until you are upon our backs or backsides. We will not be overrun, for we are the HUMANS!



Joshua