Walking!!

Dear Ransom,

Yesterday ( well actually the day before) you hit a really huge milestone! So backing up, on Monday night ( the 24th of October) you took TWO steps towards me! It happened so fast that I could hardly believe it, and since it was pretty much bedtime-you refused to try again and you left me excited to try again the next day...

So YESTERDAY we went out for our morning walk with our friend Miranda. We have a pretty solid routine of running or walking with Miranda every day at 9am. You chill in the jogging stroller and Miranda and I suffer it out ( while catch up on life)....yesterday it was a little chilly so I had gotten a blanket to lay over your lap to keep some more warmth in, and when we returned home we realized the blanket was gone!! So we all loaded into the car and I drove like a crazy old woman ( slowly and swerving) up and down the various neighborhoods where we'd walked that day, while Miranda kept an eye out for the blanket and you babbled in the backseat. We finally found the blanket and got home where we got you out of the back seat and I told Miranda about your walking adventure the night before. We decided to see if you'd try again...you always seem to be a bit more "brave" outside and I've had way better luck getting you to stand by yourself outside than inside ( maybe the softer ground?). Anyway, we set you down and you IMMEDIATELY stood by yourself...and then just TOOK OFF WALKING!! And not just one or two steps! like TONS of steps!! It was shocking and Miranda and i were so excited! I got out my camera to try and capture the moments for Daddy and you were a trooper and continued walking all around so I could capture so footage for Daddy...

Incidentally, later that day I was leaving the house to run some errands while you hung out with your babysitter, Liz, and I couldn't find the keys ANYWHERE. I ended up calling Miranda for help and she reminded me that we'd let you play with them during your walking episode on the front lawn. Sure enough. My car keys had been laying on the front lawn all morning! A blanket and keys all in one day! Good thing with live in a pretty safe area!

So, later yesterday evening I took you to visit your Daddy at work, he wanted to make sure he got to see you before he left for a few weeks for work. You were SO good in his office and spent most of your time sitting quietly on Daddy's lap while he worked. You then got down and actually walked a few steps so that Daddy could see it in person! At the time I didn't know this was so special, but since today you've refused to take ANY steps at all and are even refusing to stand alone, I now know that you walking yesterday really WAS a gift from God to your Daddy! He would have been SO SAD if he'd missed that special milestone in your life!
But, here we are the next day and you're back to your old crawling ways...luckily we'll be headed to Texas tomorrow where I'm sure your cousin Kilsyth will be willing to give you lots of walking lessons!
I love you tons,
Mommy

14 months

Dear Ransom,

You are such a cool kid. While you continue to refuse to walk ( you've stood up unaided several times, but only when so thoroughly distracted that you didn't realize you weren't being supported. *sigh*) you have been growing in other ways. You're talking a lot more. And when you're not talking you make fun noises. The noise you're probably most famous for among those who know you is the "eeee--ooooo-eeee-ooooo" sound ( imagine a much cuter and less annoying fire engine.)

Your favorite things to say are "thank you"......"What's that!?" which is always said as an exclamation while pointing. "All right!" and recently you call any four legged animal "Doggie".

You still call most people in pictures "Daddy" ( since I guess I've confused you by getting excited about pictures of your Daddy.) and you use the Please sign language really well whenever you want something. And when you REALLY want something you'll say the word "Please" too...

However, one thing I never want to forget about this season in your life, is your love for "writing" ( pen cap securely in place). While at first you wrote on just about ANYTHING when given a pen to hold, you now have preferences. You prefer to write in Mommy and Daddy's bible study books or in Mommy's journal. You seem to know that THAT'S the proper place to write.

If given paper and pen you will spend TONS of time turning the pages, talking to yourself and writing.

I would give just about anything to know what's going through your head! I do love the fact that you've obviously got an active imagination and are already understanding the value of the written and spoken word. ;-)

All my love,

Mommy