7.10.2012

first steps

If you've been to our home in the past year, you've heard the apologies and warnings in regards to our broken couch. It's literally broken in the sense you'll sink right down into the middle and, well, you might as well just be sitting on the floor. Though it's been amusing to watch people's horrified faces when they sit down and think they're the ones to break our couch, it's no secret that the couch has had to go. So why hasn't it gone? There really isn't an answer good enough to justify having a death-trap of broken metal in the middle of our living room, but my sensible husband believes in making sensible purchases and the time never felt right until two days ago when we finally replaced our couch with a beautiful beige sectional that doesn't fold in the middle and threaten to stab you with shards of metal. Coincidentally, the sectional fell into our lives the very day we inherited a new futon from my father-in-law for the office and so we were busy rearranging furniture and making room for our new (and functional) pieces of furniture.

We were busy discussing where we'd put the new furniture when Ethan, taking note he wasn't the center of attention in that moment, stood up (without pulling up on anything) and walked across the room. It didn't seem to take any effort or concentration, just as though he'd forgotten he's pretending to not know how to walk. I was expecting his first steps to be a step or two before tumbling over, not a full set of steps across a room without any effort or stumbling. Because he couldn't have planned this better -- with my husband and I both in the room (though I'm still bitter my camera was in another room) -- we stood up and cheered, clapped, celebrated his first steps. And then he sat down. And cried. And cried. And cried. That was the last time he felt like walking.

At our appointment yesterday to recheck his ears two weeks after his double ear infection, our pediatrician laughed and said her daughter refused to walk until she was nineteen months. Not because she couldn't, but because she and Ethan share very similar personalities: shy, gentle, timid, scared of everything. I'm not in any rush to chase around a walker -- heck, he manages to demolish our house just fine on all fours -- but it was definitely reassuring to know he could if he wanted to. Which he doesn't, because he's cautious and nervous just like his mommy. (Sorry, Ethan.)

I love Ethan's kind, sweet, gentle personality. I love the way he sweetly pets our cats, softly enough to not hurt them. I love the way he's always loved to snuggle and cuddle, to lay in my arms when I sing him his favorite songs at nighttime. I love the way he's always been good about sharing toys with other children. There are times I wish he had a streak of toughness in him -- like when another baby pushes him down to take his toy away or when he breaks into hysterics when his blocks fall down too loudly -- but I won't complain if my sweet, sweet little boy stays this sweet forever. Especially when he's a teenager.

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6 comments:

  1. First steps are sweet!

    New follower :)

    http://humboldtcherry.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. New follower from the blog hop. I loved watching my sons wobbly first steps!

    www.adventureswithcaptaindestructo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a sweet post. Ethan sounds just wonderful and your love for him is so evident.

    I found you via the blog hop and followed on both google + and GFC. I just started a blog and WOW, yours blew me away. I love the setup and your son is just so adorable. Congrats on the new furniture. We are holding on to a slouchy couch, though no death trap. :)

    Check out my blog in return at http://www.francinesancheztutoring.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love that you appreciate him for who he is instead of comparing him to other babies. :) I see so many other parents doing that and it makes me sad.

    PS I like your blog name... Bright Eyes! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally agree! I hate the comparison game.

      Aw, yay! Bright Eyes indeed! You have good taste! :)

      Delete
  5. awww how adorable!!! Ethan is such a cutie pie
    New follower from the Blog Hop
    -Buffi
    My Wonderfully Dysfunctional Blog

    ReplyDelete

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