The Long and Winding Road

I live in a very walkable neighborhood. There aren't sidewalks, but it is very residential and walker-friendly. On a typical walk we see people walking dogs, kids riding bikes, lazy cats lounging on lawns, and the occasional bunny or deer.

When I was pregnant with LP, the Hoos and I would go on walks almost every night. It was good exercise and there were good opportunities to shorten the route as I got further along and had to admit that I could no longer handle the two-mile loop of "The Long Walk". I also took on the Long Walk almost daily with LP when I was on maternity leave with her in an effort to get out of the house without taking her anywhere enclosed and lose some baby weight.

During maternity leave with AK, my Long Walks became less frequent. Not because I couldn't physically handle them, but more as a matter of timing. I liked to pick LP up from day care around 3 and I didn't really like having AK out in the sun between 10 and 2. And once I picked up LP it was impossible to go for a walk. I did put AK in the Bjorn and push LP in the stroller a few times and walk Around the Block, and while it was exhausting, I don't think it really qualified as exercise.

More recently I tried to put AK in the backpack (she has long since outgrow the Bjorn) and push LP on her tricycle or in a stroller. It was impossible to go any further than Around the Block since AK was and continues to be a world-class hair puller. OUCH! In the last couple of months LP has become more adept at riding her tricycle, so we have also been able to circle the Block verrrry slowly with LP providing her own gas.

Yesterday, for the first time, I took both LP and AK on the Short Walk* alone (that is, without the Hoos pushing a second stroller), thanks to our friends lending us their Sit and Stand (thanks M Family!). I was able to enjoy the 85 degree heat and the steep incline at the end of the walk while pushing 55 pounds of kids in a 35 pound stroller.

After going up the steep incline with LP blowing bubbles in my face from the comfortable backward facing jumpseat, I received a request to keep going. Just one more reason my kids will be the death of me. Or maybe this is their passive aggressive way of recommending I work on reducing my tush jiggle.

Despite my grousing here, we will definitely make use of the Sit and Stand this summer. It was nice to be outside with the girls, in the beautiful weather, without chasing them in opposite directions or worrying about the time. And, natch, my tush could stand to be smaller.

* The Short Walk is shorter than the two mile Long Walk, but longer than Around the Block.

These Feet Were Made for Walking

My little AK is on the move!

My back is sore from holding her little hands the entire weekend so she could take in the world from an upright position. She only opted to crawl if she really wanted to get somewhere fast. In addition to exploring with Mommy hovering above holding her hands, we spent a lot of time having her walk between us as we stood a few feet a part - taking maybe four or five steps at a time before lunging at whoever she was walking toward.

Then, last night as we stood in the kitchen, I decided to take it a bit further. I would set her up facing me and then as she walked I would move backward. She practically walked across the entire kitchen! She then walked about 12-15 steps on her own between us before becoming unsure of herself and dropping back into a crawl position.

She was so proud of herself, laughing and clapping. LP was also really impressed, hugging her little sister and saying, "I can't believe she is doing so great!"

Of course every time we tried to videotape she would fall down, but she is really getting it! And she wore herself out - getting cranky a half hour earlier than usual and insisting on bath and bed before 8pm. Not that I am complaining, because she wore me out too!

Get On Up!

It's coming! No, not Christmas - LP walking! During the last few days she has started to take more tentative, but deliberate, steps. And not just when we stand her up and coax her to "come to Mommy!" but on her own, when she sees something she wants on the other side of the room. She starts toward the object of her affection on her two feet before getting wobbly and returning to the crawl position.

This is very exciting, but also very scary. I am not sure why, but I know that everyone says "Once they start walking your life will change forever." She already crawl anywhere she wants, and stands up to reach things over head, and climbs the stairs (always supervised!) so I am unsure how much more of an impact this will have. Yes, I am naive.

Actually, my biggest concern about her walking stems from the speed of the walking and the stamina - and lack thereof. At some point I am sure my little bundle will shirk the stroller and want to walk instead of sit (although I can't imagine why since I would love to have someone else do the work while I enjoy a leisurely ride). This will likely mean that our usual two-mile, 30 minute stroll through the neighborhood, will have to be replaced with a 30 minute walk around the block. Not the end of the world, but for a New Yorker like me, the pace may take some getting used to.

As soon as LP has crossed over to 100% walking instead of crawling I will report back so that all of the other moms out there know what they are getting into. If you have a walker, please enlighten the rest of us on what we should be looking out for. That way you can laugh at me when I post a frazzled picture of myself all frazzled from chasing my little rump roast around.