First steps

My little daughter took her first proper steps at the weekend. Recently we have been able to support her whilst she is walking and then gently let go; she has then tottered a few steps before sitting down with a big grin. She knows what she's done, and she loves it.

This weekend I was putting her shoes on so we could go out, and she was wanting to stand up and lean against me. We started playing a game where she would stand up, let go, hold for a few seconds, and then fall forward onto me. Big grins and giggles all round. After a few goes I moved back a little, as it is the fall forward as much as the standing she loves. A couple more moves, a couple more falls, then she took a step! I shuffled back a little more, she took another. More shuffling, more steps, then I hit the wall, and she caught up.

She was sooo happy with herself. Smiles, giggles, clapping. My wife had come through half way through, so she watched as I moved her back and we did it again. More smiles and clapping. I then turned her round, and she walked to mummy. Then back to daddy. The she was a bit tired, so lots of hugs and praise and we went out.

We've repeated things since, but she still needs confidence before embarking on her own.

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