Monday, September 15, 2008

Why I've Been a Little Busy Lately...

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. This whole "parenting three kids" thing? It hasn't been that bad. At times, it's been pretty easy.

Why's that, you ask?

Well, my youngest is not in much of a rush to go anywhere. As we ticked off all the baby milestones -- first smile, first tooth, rolling over -- our "ticking" eventually came to a screeching halt. We hit nine and 10 months, and there was no sign of Grace wanting to crawl. We hit 11 and 12 months (ages at which my other two children were already walking), and there was still no sign of crawling. Grace was happy to just sit where you placed her -- and if there were no toys within reach, she'd happily play with the carpet lint, thankyouverymuch.

If this was my first child -- or even my second -- I would have panicked. I would have sought out referrals for physical therapists. But my doctor assured me nothing was wrong. So, I chose to view Grace's non-movement for what it really was: a gift. The hardest part of babyhood starts the moment your baby learns to crawl. For the next year, your full-time job is to watch them like a hawk. Hazzards abound and you cannot let your guard down for one second.

So, really, I wasn't too broken up that Grace wasn't going anywhere. I could set her in the middle of a room with her siblings, and I was assured she'd be in the same spot 30 minutes later. I could make dinner. I could throw on a load of wash. My job as "Mother of Three" was relatively manageable.

Well, that has changed, my friends.



Finally, at 14 months Grace has started to crawl. And, to make life even more complicated, she's apparently on the "accelerated movement plan." Where my other two kids happily crawled for a few months before tackling how to walk, Grace is already walking with assistance. She loves to take on the stairs, and she's also my first cabinet opener.

All that to say, my parenting job just got exponentially harder. I've been a little tied up lately trying to scoop up the Polly Pockets before she gets to them, or making a flying leap for the stairs before she attempts them head first. Again.

It's going to take a little juggling, a little more multi-tasking. But, slowly, I'm starting to get the hang of it.

And, truth be told, it's fun to see her so proud of her new-found independence.

10 comments:

mer@lifeat7000feet said...

I laughed out loud when I read "the accelerated movement plan".

And yes, a crawling baby will definitely keep you busy!

Christina Lee said...

This is sooooo true. I told my friend with her first the other day, don't rush it, you'll see what I mean soon enough!!!
Well good luck to you :)

mah-meeee said...

ah... at the first half of reading your post, i was truly jealous. at 9 months, my baby is crawling and walking around hanging on to stuff. i really didn't want her to be mobile so soon.... (not being the first time parent, you know better!)

alas, i read the second half of your post. well, congrats on the accelerated plan, she's just catching up! but sorry you lost the last of your freedom.

Lizz @ Yes, and So is My Heart said...

Oh girl, can I relate! It was certainly a gift and I'm glad you didn't worry.

My next post is going to be about how life has changed now that my baby girl is crawling. Yikes.

If you figure it out, please let me know.

Jackie said...

I was so glad when I read that you didn't freak out over this. I have a good friend whose baby girl didn't start walking until 15 months...and she completely skipped crawling, but her mama was calm through the whole thing, knowing she was ok. So I guess you can be glad she held out as long as she did! :)

Anonymous said...

This is such a good mommy blog! I feel ALL your pain, babe. My three are now 14, 11, and 7 and they are all VERY mobile let me tell you! I thought it would be easier by now, but it's not, just a different kind of "hard." Glad you stopped by my blog!

Anonymous said...

My daughter didn't walk till 17 months! I was shocked how much I had been spoiled when she finally was on the move. Good luck to you. You didn't want to sit down anyway, did you?

Unknown said...

I was all worried about my first because he was a late walker. It was 14 months but all of his little baby friends were all OVER that walking thing.

I seriously laughed out loud when you said it was a gift. That is SO TRUE. Baby gate time?

Threeundertwo said...

Welcome to crazyhood! It's great, but exhausting.

Unknown said...

OH! but she's such a cute crawler!

Isn't it funny how on the first baby you are so READY for them to be mobile, and then you realize how much work it is?

Sounds like your holding your own though! And Congrats Grace!