And he's off...

We're moving forward...Quite Literally.

Or, at least that little guy is.

The countless hours of hard work Deak has put in at therapy over the past couple of months is showing its' due reward.

I first discovered this a few days ago when I had left Deakon in the front room sitting and peacefully watching Diego. When I returned, he was across the room (by the stairs actually - ugh!!), smiling and kicking. Thinking it was probably something that wasn't quite "perfected" yet, I made another parenting mistake and left him in my room for a moment while he sat on the floor watching "Yo Gabba Gabba" (Forgive me for not always wanting to watch his choice of television). Well, about two minutes later when I returned this time, he was across my bedroom and underneath my ironing board.

So...two close calls, and now I'm a believer.

I wish I had a better camcorder so I could show you how the moving happens...it isn't very traditional, although he does give it a good college try with the crawling. He gets up on all fours, rocks a a bit, moves his knees, and using his head as leverage - kind-of worms forward. He then rolls a couple times. It's kind-of a worm/roll approach to movement, and it is beautiful.

Now, if this wasn't encouraging enough, he surprised us yet again. While at Shriners' yesterday, working with his physical therapist, he began "cruising" by taking side steps along a bench they have. The amount of time this little boy has spent trying so hard to step along a couch is insane. We have worked so hard on this in therapy, and at home...because it is something he really enjoys. He loves feeling as big on the outside as he wants so badly to be on the inside. I sat at therapy and watched his tiny, wobbly ankles doing their best to support a big belly, move to push a button that would activate the penguin toy. His smile when he pushed the button lit up the room, and melted my heart. All of this developmental growth in his motor skills over the past couple of months prompted his therapist to say she was "amazed" at the amount of progress he's made. It also prompted her to make a push for ankle braces. We think it will help him feel more comfortable with his stability and prompt more movement. I think his little size 2/3 feet will look adorable with them; and maybe he'll get to put on his size 5 DC's that were bought for him a year ago.

It was such a cool day.

So, this morning, as I watched Deakon show us again how he has began moving along couches; I thought about how I could take his example and move forward in my own life. We tend to think of these things anyway at this time of year, and I am, even more so with an infamous landmark in my life close to rearing its' ugly head.

Truthfully, as I thought, I couldn't nail any number of specific "resolutions" down. Sure, I want to drop five pounds, spend more time cooking, and organize my finances - but those things don't warrant any change of character or "feeling" The changes of heart are the one's I am hoping will make appearances for me this coming year. I feel like this past year has been one of learning. I have grown as a mother and person, and while experiencing what I have, to this point, the one thing I "Know For Sure" is that I am nowhere close to knowing anything. I have a long path to travel yet, with adventures waiting and lessons to be learned. Hopefully, at the end of the path, I will have gained some wisdom and spent more time worrying about others' rather than myself.

And although I am feeling old at the moment, in all actuality, I would not travel back ten years if I was paid.

Where I am now is good, and I am content - Content to be trying the best I know how.