William's First Steps

William has been using a walker for quite some time to strengthen his leg muscles for the big day when he would take his first unassisted steps. A slight shuffle forward wasn't enough, our criteria ("our" being my husband's) was that William had to take at least three steps in a row to warrant any milestone marking.

Well today he did it. Hooray.

To be honest I expected more fanfare. I mean first steps! That's like the milestone of babyhood. But it's not as if he just stood up one day and walked with no warning. For weeks we've been saying (we being the collective we that includes extended family, friends, and random strangers met at the Early Years Centre) that William would walk any day. Today is any day. Baby mobility is all a gradual progression, which in William's case went something like this:

1. Roll over front to back
2. Roll over back to front
3. Get up on all fours
4. Rock back and forth on all fours
5. Lunge oneself forward on all fours
6. Crawl backwards
7. Crawl forewards
8. Stand in crib
9. Crawl like a pro
10. Stand with the aid of furniture
11. Let go of furniture to stand unassisted
12. Use a walker, laundry basket, kitchen chair, or other slidable item to "walk"
13. Stand up without needing furniture to pull up.
14. Stand unnassisted while waving both hands.
15. Attempt to shuffle forward, but fall on bum.
16. Shuffle forward one step.
17. Shuffle forward two steps, but using the same foot.
18. Shuffle forward two steps, one foot then the other.
19. Three steps = walking

Oh, and for those of you who aren't counting, William is 9 months old as of Nov 15th.