Week of September 4, 2002
More walking, but the progress is slow. The first weekend he'd walk in clumps of two and three steps, and then 4 and 5 steps. This week, he's able to do 10 and 15 at a shot, but many times he'll take far fewer, and he still ends up on his bottom at the end. He's getting more stable, however, and now he can stoop and pick up an object while standing, or even turn 180 degrees or more. He's able to stand from a sitting position, although it's always a bit easier if he's already standing and able to let go of something. I've been stalking him like a paparazzi with the video camera, but like his period of butting Noah with his head, the coveted action is hard to document. At this rate, I'll be filming him when he's walking all the time. "There's my boy, look at his skill and confidence, he took to walking so quickly and easily! He took to it like a clam to sand."
He's more ball obsessed than ever, I think he often has Marshall at daycare spending an hour with him, rolling the ball back and forth. Although lately he's been trying to bounce balls off his head, and that requires a lot more chasing. No wonder the back of his head is sweaty so much! He's taken to walking on his knees along with practicing his real walking. I guess it's easier and has more of a feeling of accomplishment? I'm surprised his sweet skin isn't more callused -- we're so glad when it's cooler and we can give him long shorts or pants. He can be such a neat eater, but lately between squishing all the produce at meal time, and walking and crawling outside, he's filthy. It's for a good cause, but I'm finally feeling like our clothing is getting a work out.
In the mornings, part of our ritual outside at the café involves him asking for one of our cups and straws. Usually this is early on, so Scott or I will be softies and suck down our drinks so that he can play with the plastic cup filled with ice. He is obsessed with getting the straw into the small x cut in the plastic lid, and he's gotten dexterous enough now that he can do it by himself. I love that grin he makes, filled with pride and excitement, each time he accomplishes a goal. There's no sight like it, his grin is infectious. His blue eyes light up, and the dimples he got from Scott are a good match for his round cheeks. It's wonderful looking at the world with new eyes, untainted by disappointment or repetition or just plain ennui. He's thrilled by everything, and takes us with him on his adventure into life.
He's been a bit more clutchy with Scott and I, the walking must have him feeling a little anxious. Or the teething, hard to say. He wants to explore, but he also wants us to be in sight. It's fine if he's off doing his own thing on his terms, but he gets quite stressed if Scott or I leave his vision very long. I think this separation anxiety often strikes much sooner, so I guess we're lucky he made it to 14 months. Unfortunately, this means that he'll sometimes cry when we drop him off in the morning. I think he settle down pretty quickly once we're out of sight, but I got used to his blithe indifference in the morning. It made my guilt and angst feel confined only to me. Oh well, I knew it couldn't last forever.
And I almost forgot to mention, Owen has a cousin, Hannah, born in November of 2001 so they're only 5 months apart. We arranged to have them meet and it was extremely cute, watching them together. Hannah hasn't been in daycare so meeting other babies is new for her. I think her Mom, Sally, was anxious on Owen's behalf, but one thing his enforced socialization has brought him, it's flexibility and aplomb. Hannah was very mellow, compared with a rambunctious 2 year old! Owen also got to meet his cousin Alice for the first time. At 7, she seems like a wise older person compared to the babies. I wish I had had something more fun to play with for the over 2 set. It was nice being able to share Owen with everyone. Owen's Aunt Cindi was visiting from San Francisco, so visits are a rare treat. Of course he was having a bad day before they arrived, so we were anxious that they'd see him crying and fitful. (As it turned out, Owen got his first molar that day.) But their presence somehow energized Owen, and he was good-natured and gregarious throughout the visit. Whoo, another victory for our side as we struggle to present Owen at his best. (Or, on a bad day, just not at his worst.)
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