Ups and Downs

Isn't this just every mother's dream?? Now when someone asks how the kids are and I say they're "climbing the walls," it'll be for real! I have proof! And I'm serious when I say I'm proud of them. Isn't it great? I mean besides the fact my trim isn't on the door frame.

My oldest son, Connor, asked me a question the other day. "Mom, do you like superheroes or barbies better?"

This may appear to be an innocent question, but I knew I had to handle it with delicate honesty. After a few moments of thought I replied, "well, when I was a little girl, I used to play with barbies. But then I grew up, got married and had three boys who love superheroes, so now I like superheroes, too." He just beamed.

Also, my baby started walking last week. It's like he grew up overnight. All of a sudden my sweet, cuddly boy has decided to become independent. He no longer crawls anywhere. If he falls, he gets back up and goes again. It's soooo cute and he's soooo proud of himself. He's become quite the little man.

However, his pride was a little stung this evening when he took his first tumble down the stairs. I have tried explaining that if he plays on the stairs he's going to get hurt, but he's a determined little guy and I learned after my second son, Benen, that you just have to let go. So, I choose not to look. When he's going down the stairs, I turn away so I don't have to watch what appears to be an Evil Knievel stunt.

Anyway, this evening he was sitting on the stairs and his blanket was on the step below him. He leaned waaaaaay over to get it and lost his balance. He gently slid down four steps on his nose and landed in the porch on his forehead. No harm done, it didn't even leave a mark. But it shook him up. I had been watching him and told him no less than five times to "turn around backwards," which he understands. He just didn't want to listen. The tears were few and before a minute had passed he was on his way....downstairs, going backwards.