Adventures with Kaylie

Kaylie has always been a little slower than many kids when it comes to getting up and moving.  It could be because she isn't around a lot of kids to chase, or it could be because she has always been a little chubby.  But, I have always thought it is because she is incredibly stubborn.  Kaylie does what she wants when she wants to, and doesn't really respond to motivation from her father or myself.  For example, we could be playing on the floor and the next thing you know, she is ignoring us because she no longer wants to participate in that activity.  It's actually rather humorous.  Kaylie was behind when it came to rolling, crawling and pulling herself up to a standing position, and we always received a friendly warning from our doctor at her check-ups.  They would politely say, "She should be doing this by now, but it could be because she is a little chubbier."  So, when we went to the 15 month check-up last week, I wasn't surprised when the doctor was a little concerned that she wasn't walking on her own.  She politely told me that if she wasn't walking by her 18 month appointment, they would likely want to refer her to a physical therapist.  We have received this warning before with the crawling, and it upset me a little then, but knowing now that my daughter was just a little stubborn, I knew she would be walking when she felt like it.  And, sure enough, she decided to start walking the day after the appointment.  It's almost as if she needed that extra little push from the doctor.  She cracks me up!

Of course, the first day of walking ended with a few bumps and bruises.  And, she would prefer to walk with her arms straight up in the air and with no assistance from her dad or myself.  She is incredibly independent (Gee, I have no idea where she got that).  But, we are so excited that she has finally taken those steps!  There are so many things that we will be able to do now, and we can't wait to get outside and play in the yard!  Can't wait for summer and all of her little adventures!