milestones

All kids are gifted; some just open their packages earlier than others. -Michael Carr

I forget how joyous it is to watch a baby do something for the very first time. If there is an advantage to having a child who takes his time developing, it is that because you're always waiting and anticipating, you're likely to see the progress when it occurs. But you still forget how it makes your heart swell when it happens.

The last couple days, Elliott has seemed different. Not exactly like someone's lit a fire under him or even like he's got somewhere to go, but, well, curious. Nearly a month after his first birthday, he *should* be moving - crawling, certainly; walking, probably. Elliott does neither. Our physical therapist tells us he's long (no doubt); he has weak abs; but mostly he has a "Why bother?" personality. If something takes effort, do something else. If it's hard work to get on all fours, don't do it! Just roll around talking and happily shrieking (both of which he does rather well). If they force you onto your hands and knees, cry like the dickens! Act like it's torture until you can wiggle free back to your tummy or into your mommy's arms.

Today he stood at the side of the tub watching Liam take his bath, holding himself up for long stretches. Suddenly anything Liam is doing is fascinating and worth squealing about, which is probably the only reason why he also took a keen interest in the T-crawler our friend Liita made for us. This wonderful t-shirt tube, made of all recycled materials, is specially designed to get kids motivated to crawl. Liam "demonstrated" for Elliott over and over and over, while Elliott very curiously observed Liam's coming and going and happily chewed on one end. For a baby who does not enjoy tight spaces like tents and blanket forts, it was an accomplishment in itself that he seemed perfectly comfortable at the mouth of the t-shirt cave. Next session we'll go a little deeper in.

His big accomplishment today, though - the one that made us catch our breath and make that goofy "awwww" sound that people make around cute babies doing cute things - was to wave, a real finger-action, grow-up wave. The funny thing about it is that he was as surprised as we were. Andrew kept waving to him and he kept waving back, staring at his hand with an awe-struck face, like, "What do you know? I can wave." Before long he'll be adding to his repertoire, I can crawl. I can walk. I can drive. It may take a while, but that's okay, we don't mind waiting.