walking

“you’ll think of something to write”, she said. “all of those firsts…” and there have been many this year. First full-time seminary load, first big move, first new area that kelli and i moved into together, and first baby. And Maia has had many firsts of her own. Rolling over for the first time, crawling, standing… and now—yes, that big one—walking. And so another monumental first is added to the list. On March 28th, our little daughter (at just over 9 1/2 months old) started walking.

And now she’s walking everywhere.

Her walking started with an uneasy side stepping, arms outstretched. (one friend said it looked as if she were dancing). But now, only one week since her first steps, she is setting about with full, hearty steps; at times even breaking into a bit of a run. She loves to walk about with her little yellow stuffed ducky, a toy doll nearly half her size. At times, she may drop ducky on the ground and stoop to crawl. But ducky gets stuck in-between her legs and he shuffles along with her still. Today, as we played a game of "hide-and-go-seek" (aka, "go-and-follow-daddy-as-he-hides-around-the-corner-and-calls-'Maia'") she barreled around the corner to find me. When she did, her face burst into a giant smile, and with outstretched arms she "ran" into her father's arms for a little hug.

So, as little Maia walks about, I’ll sit and wonder, grappling for more ways to write about all these firsts. The first teeth now protruding through her lower gums, the first little walking shoes sitting at the base of our front door… and the list goes on…