Furry Baby Walker

The last few weeks, Ava has graduated from crawling to standing to stepping (not quite walking- but almost there). During this transformation she has been quick to find props to support her while she attempts to stand or walk - props such as a chair, bar stool, wall, couch. Many of her props she loves to push around the house with her baby brute force (no kidding - her Dr. says she is unusually strong) until recently, she discovered something much more exciting to hold on to...our poor unsuspecting dogs, Tazu (Akita) and Lindy (Lab). Because Tazu is still a puppy himself he does not tolerate the fur grabbing- chubby fist torture that Ava guarantees as she crawls towards him while he is trying to sleep. Since he takes a long time to lie down, she can almost but not quite reach him. Her almost toothless radiating smile (she sports two teeth on the bottom) and squealing usually tips him off that she is on her way. Fortunally Lindy allows Ava to approach her AND grab hold of her anywhere (eyes, ears, tail) and use her to stand and at times walk. Ava is beside herself when she is with Lindy - giggling with high pitched squeals- and lots of slopping petting and plenty of bouncing next her favorite live stuffed animal. We think Lindy is tolerating this uncomfortable phase because she has an ulterior motive...a future tennis ball thrower...her very own. Ava's height and readily available schedule is perfect for Lindy's (and all true labs) first love and obsession.

Watching Ava go from one step to 9 is quite an amazing phenomenon. I wonder how her pudgy, shapeless feet and little plump legs can even balance her long enough to take a step forward. The best part is watching her take the quick steps with her arms up and her tiny body swaying from side to side...I wonder where they learn this technique? Perhaps daycare - the toddlers must pass on lessons learned to the infants. A selfish part of me does not want her to walk yet as I am throughly enjoying holding her and having her attached to my left hip. I can barely keep up with her crawling - she is too quick and small enough to hide from my line of sight...I can't imagine what kind of shannanigans she will get herself into when she is walking everywhere. Every since she started crawling, I think she thinks her name is NoAva! I never thought I would have to tell a 7 month old baby "No" and repeatedly "No- No- No." Now that she's 10 months old - "No" seems to make her smile more than deter her from doing what she's not supposed to be doing.

So Lindy has a few more months to go before she reaps the benefits of having a buddy that won't ignore the slobbery, chewed up tennis ball that will constantly fall at her feet. I guess we won't need to buy a baby walker after all- (Eric thinks the kitchen bar stool works just as well).