Karina Took Her First Steps!

Well, we figured it had to happen sometime! Karina finally took her first steps today! She was a late crawler so we weren't surprised that she'd be a late walker, but nonetheless we've been waiting for the fateful day. I got my Mother's Day present early! What a poignant gift!

Our little walker with her Bun-Bun

It was a bit atypical because instead of the event being witnessed by only me (fairly typical because I'm alone with Karina a lot), Karina took her first steps in front of not only me and Daddy, but Quentin and Lisa, too. They were over spending some time with us...as they're so kind to do almost weekly...and I thought we should give the walking another try. She'd taken a step or two out into a room on two occasions and then fallen promptly to the floor, so we figured her best chance was to try to "walk" (read "falling forward while moving her feet") between two people only a few feet apart. All five of us were in the kitchen and Daddy and I knelt down. Karina had her balance from the start...which is actually the key...and then took a handful of steps to Daddy! Everyone went crazy clapping and cheering, including Karina...it was so cute how excited she was!

Karina exhausted after a hard day of walking...not really...but it could have been!

She proceeded to do it a few more times right then, and also a few more times throughout the night. Unfortunately, she didn't get a whole lot of practice, because she kept getting derailed by the desire to "jump." Karina also recently learned how to "jump" (read "squat down for a few seconds and straighten your legs as the grown-up lifts you up as though you actually jumped"...and don't forget to yell "zthump"). Walking and "jumping" both start in the same position, and since "jumping" is always successful...thanks to the grown-up... and therefore much easier and more fun than walking (for now!), Karina did much more "jumping" than walking that night. But, it doesn't really matter because Karina still took her first steps today!