November 11, 2000 - Saturday
There have been two or three occasions over the last couple of weeks when Harry seemed to take a first step, but none was really completely free of assistance. For example, we'd have been holding his hands or body and happened to let go at just as he stepped. For this milestone of milestones, I don't think those really counts. Today, however, Harry's steps were distinctly his own. They weren't elegant, and there were just a couple as he lunged forward, but they were his.

With these recent near misses, Harry's mother and I have been giving him plenty of chances to take those first genuinely unfettered steps and that's what happened today. I had just carried him into our living room and purposely put him down some 12-18 inches away from his Sparkling Symphony. Almost mystically, as I was lowering him to the floor, I was thinking to myself how I'd be leaving tomorrow on business for a few days and how Harry was almost certain to take those first legitimately independent steps while I'd be away. But, right then, Harry stepped forward toward the Sparkling Symphony keyboard, moving one foot to help him bridge the gap, and gave his dad a thrill. That was enough. I immediately called Harry's mother, and as she came in, I lifted and placed Harry in a similar spot, this time an extra inch or two from the safety of his toy. For mom, he took two steps as he reached forward.

The dramatic reenactment to the right shows Harry in position with his Sparkling Symphony just ahead (the bag of yarn in Harry's hand had nothing to do with the actual event and was only added to this picture at Harry's discretion). Truth be told, after the photo opportunity, Harry did not return to the keyboard on foot, but rather squatted to the floor and crawled away. No matter, one or two steps at a time is just fine for today.


Comments, opinions?