The World is Brand New Again

As we approach the holiday season it is hard to find time to sit and write about our life. Things seem to be happening so quickly it is mind boggling. Countless people have warned us "treasure these moments because they go by quickly." Were we naive enough to think we were immune to this phenomenon?

It seems we just celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday. Teagan was getting better and better with crawling, she was working out some of the kinks with her fine motor skills for eating puffs, and she was, as always, a happy, happy baby.

Fast forward a few weeks and we now find Teagan crawling wherever she wants to go. She especially loves to spend time at the sliding patio door especially if her best buddy Cabo is out there. The patio door provides a lovely sound when she pounds on the glass, which totally amuses her. She spends a good deal of time in her toy corner that we made for her, but above and beyond that space, she love to play on her jungle gyms. She has recently discovered her two favorite play things are mommy and daddy. She has to be in the proper mood, but when she is, the laughs are abundant, the smiles hurt your face, and the tears may start to flow from laughing so hard. I am not quite sure what it is, maybe it is the noises we make when she is crawling and grabbing and pinching us, but something makes her giggle. Her giggle turns into a laugh, and the laugh becomes a joyous, bouncing good time.

Teagan is working quite hard on her next move. It is the one that is most likely to cause a concussion, but is the most important move left to make in her life. That move is standing. The move that is needed the start walking, running or climbing. One day this move will help her prove to her college roommates that she is ok. This is a way important step in her life. IT is already here. Our little peanut has already gone from being a lump on a log to a mobile toddler that is rediscovering the world around her.

We have new things to watch for. Teagan is easily distracted so everything catches her attention. I thought she was crawling to me one day when I walked in from work. She was excited, cooing and now moving towards her daddy... or so I thought. What could have been a move towards greeting daddy for the first time was rudely interrupted by something that was in Teagan's way. It was small, she should have just passed it by and continued, but the paci was way too interesting to pass up. Now crawling after Cabo can be interrupted by throwing a piece of fuzz past her face. She wants to see, do and touch everything. The world is her playground, and for now, that playground is still indoors most of the time. I cannot wait until we take her outside to experience the snow.

I think Kelly and I have always been noticing that time is flying by, but I also think that we have been embracing each step. We have wanted to rush some steps, but we have realized it will happen when she is ready, not when we are ready. We will sit and impatiently wait for her next milestone. Not sure what it will be. My guess is her first word as she has been having random 5 minute conversations with herself as she continues to find and express her voice.

One thing has stayed the same, we are still the happy little family. She is our precious little girl and we couldn't be more proud of her.

Until next time...

Patrick