Houston, we have a problem.

Chase hates, hates, HATES being on his feet. He pulls up and once he's there, he stays for a long time because he doesn't know how to get down, but getting him to stand is not easy. And walking is even worse. He won't walk holding our hands or behind anything unless he has to (in other words, if the thing he is holding onto starts moving!)

Honestly, I think he mainly lacks confidence. He has pretty good balance and can stand on his own (unknowingly) for 20 seconds. I know he'll go at his own pace and that's completely fine. It has just caught me off guard. Addie was cruising by 10 months and walking on her own at 13 months....and she was a pretty early preemie. Dustin is rumored to have started walking at 8 months :), so I thought, while always taking into consideration his prematurity, Chase would be on the earlier end, too. I was wrong. I'm beginning to think that maybe he's a little too laid back!

This is about the best we've done so far. Poor guy is miserable!

I absolutely LOVE the end of this one when he is saying "no" and shaking his head.

Walking in my shoes

This is from a week ago. I am getting so fast!

Kisses and turns

Handing out kisses and showing off my stellar turning capabilities!

Guess what this post is about

Raise your hand if you think Mommy is borderline obsessed with my walking.

::raises hand::

:)

More walking

Mommy just can't get enough of me walking! It truly amazes her.

Speed walker

Look at how good I am getting at walking. You really can't ever catch me crawling anymore!

Finding a new friend in shoe store

Notice how I touch the man's leg to get my balance. I didn't know him. I hope he didn't mind!

Walking to Gammy and Poppy in new shoes

More walking...because it never gets old!

Look at how good I am walking...and on hardwood, nonetheless. No fear, I tell ya!

Look what I can do!

I can stand up all by myself. Now that takes some strength and balance!

Walking to Aunt Beth

Walking

I took 14 steps today! But you didn't think Mommy got it on video, did you? Oh no, she was on the phone, again. She was cleaning up my dinner dishes and turned around to see me just standing there. Then I started walking towards her and she counted 14 steps (who knows how many I took before she saw me!). Mommy's friend, Kristin, can vouch (sort of) for this as she heard Mommy counting as I took each step. Of course Mommy could be making this all up, too. I guess we'll just have to keep the camera glued to Mommy's hand!

How many steps do you think I'll take tomorrow? Feel free to leave a comment with your guess! Hopefully we'll have an eye-witness tomorrow. My Aunt Beth is coming to visit!!

First Steps

I officially took my first 2 steps on December 23rd and have been taking 2-3 steps here and there ever since. Today Mommy thought she would try to get some on video. This is a very hard task to accomplish single-handedly, by the way! So, she got me on video (below) taking a few steps, which she was very proud of. Then, just a few minutes later, she was on the phone with my Gammy while I was busy playing. Wouldn't you know I took more than 10 steps at that time!? I took a few steps, then stopped to get my balance and continued walking with several more steps! Mommy was so upset she didn't get it on video!

Mommy says I might actually walk by my adjusted 1 year birthday (January 26th), afterall. We'll see....

Walking behind a box

When are Mommy and Daddy going to learn that they really don't need to spend a lot of money on fancy toys such as that shiny Stride-to-Ride Lion of which I am the proud new owner? I am perfectly content with an empty diaper box! I walked all around the kitchen pushing the box. It kept me busy for quite a while as Mommy prepared appetizers for our guests we were having over for a football party.