While we were in California Lucas reached a milestone. He started walking! Hooray!
(Luke's so excited, he can't help but bite on his fist!)
He has been really close for a while now. He started to sit up at 6 months, commando crawl at 8 and a half months, regular crawl and pull to stand at 9 months, and he started to cruise at about 10 and a half months. Audrey had a very similar time table for sitting and crawling but pulling to standing and cruising was a little over a month earlier, respectively. She took her first steps just a couple of weeks after her first birthday - but they were only isolated incidents of just a few steps here and there; it wasn't until she was 14 months old that she really started walking independently. I have to admit that I was guilty of having some of the same expectations for Luke to start to walk in the few months following him starting to cruise.
Despite these expectations, his progress was steady (if a bit slower) so I wasn't worried about him. When I would watch him and how he moves, he was so deliberate and controlled, his balance so... well, balanced. I figured that he would let go (of the couch, the walls, other furniture, our hands) when he was ready.
I had made it a habit of setting him down on his feet instead of setting him down on his bum. Usually, he would immediately drop to his knees from standing, and crawl wherever he needed to go. Occasionally, he would take a step or two before dropping to his knees. That progressed to him looking for a way to cruise where he wanted to go - if there was something to hold on to, he'd cruise there. So, I started to set him down in the middle of rooms (with nothing readily available to hold onto) to help him gain some independent confidence on his feet.
Despite these expectations, his progress was steady (if a bit slower) so I wasn't worried about him. When I would watch him and how he moves, he was so deliberate and controlled, his balance so... well, balanced. I figured that he would let go (of the couch, the walls, other furniture, our hands) when he was ready.
I had made it a habit of setting him down on his feet instead of setting him down on his bum. Usually, he would immediately drop to his knees from standing, and crawl wherever he needed to go. Occasionally, he would take a step or two before dropping to his knees. That progressed to him looking for a way to cruise where he wanted to go - if there was something to hold on to, he'd cruise there. So, I started to set him down in the middle of rooms (with nothing readily available to hold onto) to help him gain some independent confidence on his feet.
Just a few days into our trip to California, at a little over 18 and a half months, Luke decided that he was ready. I set him down on his feet in the middle of the room, and he simply walked across the floor to the couch - about 7! steps away! I was so excited! And then he did it again! And again! And again!
We started to wonder a bit if maybe Luke was motivated by his (5 months younger) cousin, Ben who is a nonstop walker.
Their styles are definitely different - Ben moves quickly, a little haphazardly, sometimes bumping into things; it's like he's moving based on momentum alone.
Luke's style has remained consistent - he's still very deliberate, slow, controlled, and steady; it's like he's moving based on will alone.
If we could just put the two together we'd have two really fast, coordinated kids!
Luke gained a lot of confidence walking, but he still loved to climb up and down the stairs!
He's maintained his momentum and has continued to take lots of steps completely on his own, getting steadier and longer each day. It makes him seem so much older, all of a sudden, to see him on his feet and upright!
Chapter 5 coming soon....
Chapter 5 coming soon....
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