It started out as any normal evening. Mommy was on leave, and hence was spending the late afternoon at Daddy's mom's place with Iggy. Ignatius was in a good mood, having just finished one whole banana by himself. He grabbed Mommy's hands and started walking around assisted, just like any other day.Then...
He came to the sofa, and cruised by himself around it. When he reached the end, he became Johnnie Walker! (Keep walking...) He walked 5 steps before falling into Mommy's arms. We were so amazed! This is the most number of steps he's ever taken. Having gone through a few of his milestones, we expected that this will be the end of his walking for today, or maybe even a week or two.
We were wrong!
Holding Mommy's hands, he walked to the fridge to play, as usual. What was UNusual was that he turned, and walked UNASSISTED about 10m to the balcony! My heart stopped beating and I stopped breathing until he fell safely into my arms. He didn't take slow, careful, measured steps. He STRIDED!
I knew the day he walked would be an exciting day, but the feelings of nervousness, exhilaration, disbelief, surprise, pride, fear, joy, simply overwhelmed me. Mommy decided then that Daddy should be summoned home ASAP.
As we've mentioned before, this little rascal loves to RUN rather than walk. And guess what, after practising his walk, or strides rather, he started RUNNING UNASSISTED! Mommy nearly fainted, and desperately tried to keep up with him while scrambling on her knees to catch him WHEN, not if, he falls.
It was such a comical sight. As he's still a novice walker, he looks like a walking drunk. Coupled with the fact he's running, he started becoming a Drunk Leaning Tower of Piza. I wish I had a picture to describe what I mean...but I was too preoccupied trying to keep my heart in my chest. He was no longer vertical, but slanted and desperately trying to keep his balance as he ran towards his goal of the coffee table. He collapsed just as he reached it. *phew*
Daddy arrived a short while later, and Ignatius had a fun time walking back and forth from his arms to Gramma's arms.
We hope this is not the end of his experimentation and he walks firmer tomorrow. This is the start of his toddler independence. We embark on the next chapter of Ignatius' life with mixed feelings. We're so proud of him as he grows day by day, but we realise more and more he's no longer our little baby. We can't hug him and molly-coddle him without him squirming away. We can't carry him in our arms without him demanding to be let down to walk. We can't distract him with white lies anymore as he catches on real fast now. We can't spend lazy days in bed with him without him demanding to go out. We can't get him to do what we want when we want. He's now fast becoming a differentiated individual, with his own wants and his own likes and dislikes. He makes what he desires, or dislikes, known. He no longer needs us to help him like before and prefers self-service. ...where did our baby go?
