But I'm Not Ready!!!

I can remember quite vividly the day that Addie decided to come into this world.  It was one day after my estimated due date, and I had been trying to time Braxton Hicks contractions for weeks, waking up in the middle of the night and watching the clock for an hour. I had finally given up.   I had given up sitting on pins and needles waiting for the sign.  The sign that it was time.  And of course, as with anything else, that's when my water broke.

It was a crisp fall day, I had been out and about shopping with my mother-in-law all day. We had visited the grocery store, shopped at Babies R Us for some last minute buys, and had just run into Target when I realized what was happening.  My water had been leaking for a few hours without me even noticing.  I quickly gathered what I needed from the store and paid, telling my mother-in-law what was going on.  We went home and I called Willie and the doctor, who sent me to Triage.

25 hours later, Addie was born.   She weighed 6 lbs 12.5 oz, and was 22 inches long.  I couldn't believe I had finally done it.  She was finally here.  I could finally experience having a baby...

I do have a reason for telling you all this.  I'm getting there.

Now, on to my point.  Ahem.

As time went on, Addie started interacting with us and trying to move around.  Then, one day, she crawled.  It took her so long to start crawling.  I think she scooted around on her belly, barrel rolled, and rocked back and forth on her knees for almost two months before she finally started crawling-no exaggerations!  But after she started crawling, she never looked back...

About a week or two after she started crawling, she started pulling up on her crib.  She couldn't stand there for very long, but she could pull up.  Pulling up led to cruising within a week, and cruising led to standing unsupported within two.

This past week while we were camping, Addie learned how to stand up completely on her own.  She has been practicing this new trick for about a week now, crawling away from furniture then standing in the middle of the floor.  I knew it was only a matter of time...

Apparently she has gotten pretty bored with standing in the middle of the floor then sitting back down.  Tonight, my baby-my little 6 lbs 12 oz baby with her bald little head and chubby little cheeks- stood up in the middle of the kitchen, looked at me, then took two steps in my direction before stumbling into my leg.

She walked!! 

Okay, so I know she's not quite walking yet, but she's so darn close it's getting scary!  Where did my baby go? I'm not ready for a toddler!!