Audrey Steps Out

While Ryan and I were out on a walk Friday night we saw a little girl with her parents. She was maybe two and she ran just ahead of her mom and dad, waited for them, and then took both their hands as they continued on together. It was adorable. And discouraging. Audrey was still not walking. We didn't know how long we'd have to wait to experience the happiness those parents did. We thought that she for-sure would have at least a month ago but at over 14-months-old, Audrey had yet to put more than five steps together. Ryan wondered if he had been too rambunctious with her when she was small and I mused over how I could have better aided her development. Maybe we should have just caved and bought a walker. Typical new parent insecurities. But still, our daughter wasn't walking.

The next day Ryan was hiking in up-state New York so it was just Audrey and I. We practiced walking for Grandpa Marc over Skype and she did really well until I let her tip straight backwards onto her head (timber!). I figured this was a major setback for the day because when we practice walking as soon as she falls onto her tush (much less her noggin) she is done. No amount of coaxing can turn her legs into anything but jell-o. But not on Saturday. A few hours later she was ready to walk again. I set her on her feet in front of me and got her to follow me as far as possible, usually 4-6 steps. After a bit of this she took off. We were in the bedroom and she followed me out the door. Then down the hall. Then into the living room. Probably 50 steps for her little legs! Oh this mama was excited! And then she kept on doing it. She followed me on the same route but wandered around the living room more and more. We did this several times before she decided crawling was faster and easier and her little chubby legs had had enough. But she was WALKING! Like legitimate one-foot-in-front-of-the-other for an extended period of time. 

Ryan didn't get home until after Audrey was in bed so he had to wait to see the miracle that is his daughter sauntering through the apartment on her own. Over the last few days she's gotten better and better. At first she would only walk towards Ryan or I. Now she steps out on her own accord. She's beginning to realize just how cool walking is and that it's way better than crawling. She laughs and giggles and puts on her face that lets us know she's proud of herself. That's probably because we're so proud of her.

Watch the video here!