Two Walkers!

Well, I definitely think what I've heard is true about babies that are a little slower development-wise in one area; that chances are they are focusing their energy in another area of development.  While Sam and Anna were later walkers, they continue to amaze me with their communication and fine motor skills every day.  Today I've finally agreed that Anna is a walker.  At 16 months old, Anna is not just taking steps anymore, she is walking!

She's taken steps for a while now, but mostly initiated by me or my husband.  Sometimes (more often at night) she'd spontaneously walk up to 14 steps, but more for the fun of walking and probably the cheers and attention we gave here.   We thought she did better when she was holding something at the same time like a toy, probably because it kept her focus off of the potential to fall.  Anna would also give in easily- never allowing herself to really truly fall.  When she starts to feel like she's losing her balance, she immediately either drops to her knees or sits down on on her bottom, or grabs onto the safety object she has nearby (the wall, the couch, a chair, a taller toy, etc.) . I think she was capable of many more steps in a row than she was doing but just not allowing herself to get outside of her narrow comfort zone. 

However, within the last week or so, Anna's been spontaneously walking throughout the day more and more and crawling less and less.  She's walking to get from one place to another.  She walked from the living room to our bathroom for a bath tonight.  I've lost count how many maximum steps she's made in a row now.  Her main reason for the sudden surge in confidence?  Sam has been running around the house playing with our dog by chasing her lately.  They have so much fun, and I think Anna's been really wanting to join in, but it's a little hard to do that when you are crawling on the ground.

Honestly, I did not want early walkers.  The idea of chasing 2 walking (and running!) 9 month olds that were probably going in opposite directions at the same time scared me.  I was perfectly happy to have them start to walk at a year old.  Then I agreed that even 14 months would be cool, because I could get a few extra months of merely crawling twins (it's easier to catch up with them if they are on all fours!).  I said I wouldn't start to worry or play the mommy-comparison-game until after 14 months.  I mostly followed that statement.  Sam learned to walk at 14 months, and perfected his walk into a run during 15 months.  Anna lagged behind her brother a bit.  She was cautious about sitting (not perfecting sitting until 9 months) and I had a feeling she'd be the same way about walking.  I'd be lying if I would say I wasn't concerned, but I was a little.  I knew she'd walk soon, but I was just hoping it was well before the danger zone of 18 months. Nobody asks how many words your  little ones says- everyone always asks if they are walking.  Now that Sam and Anna are 16 months old, the "are the walking?" question doesn't even really come up anymore because I think everyone assumes they are.  And I know most kids are at 16 months- but that still doesn't mean there is anything wrong with not walking at that point.

I didn't think she was delayed, Anna was just focusing her attention on her verbal communication development and her fine motor development (on top of being a little cautious about walking).  When I look at the milestones suggested for a 2 year old in those areas, she's already there at 16 months.  She has a spoken vocabulary of over 50 words (not including the signs she knows but does not verbally say), follows directions, and not only points to objects in books when they are named, but can identify some objects in books by name when asked what they are.  She stacks blocks 7+ blocks tall, holds a spoon right side up into her mouth, flips switches and turns knobs. Except for the spoon stuff, Sam's the same way.

They might not be physically advanced in their gross motor skills, but considering both mine and my husband's athletic ability, I didn't really imagine either one as a sports star anyway.  I'm proud of them for what they have accomplished so far in their short lives all the same.