Eden Crawls

The week before Christmas, we spent nearly a full week in Mobile with Eden's Nona, Big Daddy, and Aunt Sarah. Wouldn't that have been a perfect time for Eden to crawl for the first time? My parents would have been in heaven - not only does their first grandchild get to visit, but she makes her first attempt at exploration at their house.

Well, it didn't quite happen that way. On Saturday (December 20), we left Mobile to meet Ashley's parents for lunch in Baton Rouge, to celebrate the newest doctor in our family. After lunch, we went home; Ashley's parents came with to see our house decorated for Christmas. As usual, we set Eden down on the rug in our den and took our respective places on the furniture. When she went from sitting to hands-and-knees, we thought nothing of it - that was an old trick, something already mastered for some time. When she started to move back-and-forth on her hands-and-knees, we waited with anticipation, as we have for about a month now ... will this be the time she actually moves ... forward?

Well ...YES. She inched her way forward, stopped, then got back to sitting. She looked around, waited, then did it again. We all looked at each other - "Did she just crawl," we asked in unison. "I think so," someone exclaimed.

Our little girl is all grown up!

Here she is just 4 days later, having finally realized what she did - that she can get to things she wants, and showing definite signs of mastery.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Here's the little cutie a day after learning to crawl when she realized she could get her Momma's bag if she wanted to.

Now, over one week later, her crawling seems to have to manifested itself in her personality as well. She knows she can get something if she wants it, and her actions indicate that that's the case. Take last night for example. Ashley and I went on a date for our anniversary (6 years). Granddaddy and CC kept Eden. Around 7:00, her usual bathtime, CC decided it would be fun to show Eden the dancing Santa while the bath water got ready (he dances to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" for those inquiring minds that want to know). Fun? Yes ... that is, until the dancing Santa goes away.

When the bath water was ready, CC took Eden into the bathroom (that is approximately 3 feet from dancing Santa) with Santa still dancing away. She placed Eden in the water, and she started to scream. CC thought, "Oh no, I just checked that water, I know it can't be too hot." Then, they figured out it was the quick removal of Santa that caused the screaming. Eden certainly showed her CC and Granddaddy what a pair of lungs she has developed.

So, they had to take her out of the tub, wrap her in a towel, and go back to the Santa. Then, they told her they were going to turn Santa off and give her a bath. That seemed to work.

This, of course, is the most recent example, and we hope that it was just a fluke; however, she has commenced crying a few other times in the past few days upon separation. One was earlier in the day of the Great Dancing Santa Episode - Eden and I left a nutrition store and she cried as soon as I opened the door ... I guess she was starting to miss the helpful sales clerk she had been smiling and making eyes with. And, at Ashley's brunch on Saturday, when Ashley introduced Eden to baby Davis, Eden lunged forward and pulled on Davis' bib, as if to say "Come closer, Davis."

All this to say that we think her crawling has prompted more awareness of her surroundings and a bit of personality that was not evident before. Either way, we're thrilled with her latest accomplishment. Perhaps a similar occurence has happened to others? Do share.