I only work two days, but it still feels hard at times. Overall, I think it provides us all with some balance. I have mentioned before that we live in a rural area, so the socialisation is great for the kids and for me at work as well...getting a little adult time. But, I still miss them on my days at work. I miss them a lot.
Zachy practiced his walking again tonight. None during the day, but tonight he was trying. And doing great! Mackenzie loves 'helping' him along. He loves when we both hold one hand and walk with him. Maybe he'll officially be a full walker in a couple of weeks?
Mackenzie took her first steps on her first birthday and was a full walker at thirteen months plus two weeks, to the day. She seemed to do a lot of things at precise times. Rolled over the first time at four months to the day. Rolled all over (to get from point A to point B) at six months exactly...that kind of thing. Oh, but with the full blown walking thing. She did not walk much between twelve months and thirteen and a half months, but then she woke up one Wednesday and walked, all day, as if she had been walking all along. She never crawled again. Actually, it was a bit odd. But cool. I thought she might do that same thing with Potty Training. But I was wrong. That was much more of a 'process.'
So, who knows when Zachy will actually walk-walk? Or how his walking will evolve? But, it's fun to watch. I think walking is the by far the biggest and most exciting early milestone. It represents a huge developmental leap. From there they start to develop rapidly in other areas. It's like their brain energy is freed up to learn new things. Don't get me wrong, Zachy is learning plenty of 'other' things right now too. It's just I think the whole walking thing takes quite a bit of focus. Another thing that I recall happening after Mackenzie learned to walk-walk, was that she became less fussy and less clingy. My theory is that there is a bit of push and pull that goes along with learning to walk, since it represents a 'step' towards independence. So, they fight it a little by being more clingy and dependent right before they are ready to 'take off.' Just a theory. Maybe not a new one, I don't know. But I've seen it now with both.
The next really exciting time comes when their language takes off. Mackenzie is there right now. She's been there for awhile, but it just continues to grow, obviously. You learn about your kids in a whole new way. It's awesome. Mackenzie talks all day. I mean all day. No matter what she is doing, she is talking. Living in a fantasy world. Her imagination is incredible. Watching her talk is downright fun and somtimes comical, always (almost always) endearing. Not only is it the words she uses, but the way she says things. The Tone. The Facial Expressions. The Body Language. The Hand Gestures. The Phrasing. The Whole Picture. I Love hearing her talk (most of time anyway!). And I Love the chance to develop a whole new kind of Relationship with her through Language.
I guess the whole thing is exciting. You really do get to see life again through a child's eyes. Sometimes Mackenzie will do or say things and I can see myself having done those same things. As I respond, I can hear my Mom responding. Things I long forgot about. Seemingly little things, but BIG to a toddler. Sharing these experiences really is pretty magical.
TwoGoodThings...
- Zachy nodding his head up and down, like he is saying 'yes.' Maybe he is, I don't know. But, along with his adorable smirk, I love it.
- Mackenzie taking her 'newborn' the hospital and having the doctor (me) examine the baby. I congratulated her on her new baby. She bent forward just slightly, her eyes got really big, she smiled a huge pretendish smile and said, 'Yah, it was great. Thank you for the ogratulations.' Her facial expressions are priceless.
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