Jack walking December 14

“You do the walk, you do the walk of life, yeah he do the walk of life.”

– Dire Straits, “Walk of Life”

You started walking today Jack! Not a few tentative steps, but many steps, all in a row, in a conscious, desired flow. And you did it over and over again.

I heard the news via a text from your Mom with a video attached… Grammy and I were overjoyed seeing you put it all together… we watched it over and over.

We could hear your brother and sisters laughing in the background… so cute… they were  excited seeing you do that.

I’ve always loved observing how a baby learns to walk… especlally the build-up to the big moment.  It was a thrill seeing your Mom and Uncle Tim do it… and it was an equal kick years later when Ben, Emma, Camden, Ainsley and Molly achieved this milestone before you.

Your walk of life – like every walk of life – was a singular, defining experience.

Now you’re in the big leagues.  Watch out, there will be no stopping the Jack Attack.

It’s Jack Attack walking update time.

Over the past week, you’ve reached new milestones on your way to total homo sapiens standing-up status.

The first progress point is Balance.  You figured out how to go from sitting to standing in a conscious way… and when you stand you have pretty darn good balance.

You’re also starting to walk after standing up… taking 3-5 steps.

While this may seem similar to my last post, it’s different in two ways:

1.  your brain is making the leap from random, haphazard action to intentional action.

2.  while you were walking last time, you were launching yourself from a hand-held position… edge of a coffee table, etc.  But now you can do it without touching.

This progress hasn’t come without danger and damage. This past week you came down hard on the coffee table corner and got quite a welt for yourself.

But there’s no stopping progress…  you’ll be walking around by Christmas Master Jack!

You’ve started on a new adventure that will get you places.

You’ve been standing up for awhile now, shuffling along coffee tables, going from here to there by holding on… or by crossing chasms without great risks.  These are all precursors to the inevitable day when you leave all hesitancy behind and launch yourself into the stratosphere of your surroundings.

Those days are very close.

The past week or so you’ve begun standing in place with a steadier balance. And you’ve gone even further… taking two, three, four steps on your own, without assistance.  This is such a fun prelude to The Big Walk because the connection between your action and the conscious intent to walk, hasn’t yet been made.

It’s only a matter of days before you figure out “Hey I’m walking and getting where I want to go… and you know what, I’M DOING IT!   I’m the guy in charge!”

you & elmo at the Dover christmas parade

You aren’t talking yet, but you sure know how to express yourself.

Being on your Dad’s back in the baby knapsack carrier is a classic Jack Speaks Loud & Clear Example. You love it because:

1. you’re outside

2. you’re facing forward and can see everything that’s going on

3. you’re moving, not sitting still

4. you’re on an adventure

When you’re zipping around this way, you let out a high pitched squeal that tells the world, “I am having a L-O-T of fun!.. this is SO COOL…CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?”

When we went trick or treating this year, you did the same thing.  The memory of you squealing with delight – grinning your ear to ear Cheshire cat grin – will always be with me.

Living in the moment is the best way to live your life Jack – don’t relive the past or worry about the future… all that matters is N-o-w with a capital “N,” this moment in time.

Squeal with delight every day of your life.

you & the big red car

Beep Beep!

I put you in the big red car this weekend for the first time…

As I sat you down and buckled in, you got kind of squirmy, not sure this was going to work…. the issue being restriction and confinement,,, two things you DO NOT LIKE. You’re a free spirit Jack, and you like to roam free.

Then I grabbed the handle and started pushing you around… at first going slow, then gradually gaining speed.

Grammy said “look at his face… ” and I did… you had a ‘Uh, I’m not sure what’s going on here’ kind of reaction… But the more I zipped you around, the more relaxed you got…

I drove you through the Larry Bird pool table room, then the hot tub room, then around the family room… and soon the classic Jack Mellow Vibe took over… you kept extending your left hand to touch objects as we drove by.

Next time we go for a ride in the big red car, you’ll probably like it if I zoom around at illegal speeds like I’ve done with your brother and sisters.

It didn’t take long before you had me wrapped around your littlest finger, Master Jack.

You were born with an infectious disposition… and soon your easy-going nature and always-ready smile were lighting up rooms… and my papa soul.

Until you were born, people said your brother and sisters looked just like your Mom… and it’s true… but you, sir, changed the rules!   You’ve got your Dad’s demeanor and look like him too.   He’s a good man to take after, by the way, so you can always be very proud.

You’re the youngest of four children and it shows.  Your siblings run around like wild banshees at times, making noisy noise.  Tears plummet down cheeks and crying fills the air.  Screams pierce the calm. Your dog Apple barks. Carpenters hammer and cut in your living room.   How do you react to all this commotion?

You love it!

You don’t flinch or blink.  You go with the flow and take it all in. You laugh in the face of disaster.  You thrive through the chaos.  You are unaffected, yet wholly engaged in the moment. You smile and take it all in.

You’re my little Zen Master, Jack Attack.

I hope  you enjoy this blog when you get older… I will capture the stories of your life, a life that will be filled with in-the-moment adventure. I love you!