It used to be that the only thing moving in Reilly’s crib was her mobile; various different shapes and colors spinning around to the tune of “Rock-a-bye baby.” Now, it is Reilly that is mobile.
Her den (a single blanket on the floor) no longer defines her play-space, as she has learned to roll over, pull, kick, soldier crawl, and sometimes even get up on her knees to explore what is on the coffee table, couch, or daddy’s chair. Her new abilities of self-propulsion have required an increased amount of attentiveness from her mother and father. Gone are the days of reading or typing on the computer while the baby played quietly in her den. Also gone is the option of shutting the door when Shawn or I go to the bathroom. The baby pees in front of us, and we pee in front of the baby.
Reilly has recently begun pulling herself up on different items—like her stool—but she is still cautious, and backs down when it comes to the moment for her to stand on her own. Still, she loves to hold my index fingers in each of her hands and stand before me, though more and more she is willing to just hold one finger. Her legs, once wobbly, are growing smart and balanced.
Shawn told me that when she was Orlando, she sat Reilly down in front of a mirrored closet and watched as she tried to pull herself up to standing using the “baby” in front of her, their hands meeting like small starfish, both mouths smiling from ear to ear.
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