Yellow: Flashback Style

Today’s Photohunt Theme is “Yellow”

Yellow is the color of this Heathen:

Why, you ask, would I call this poor, innocent Lion Toy a Heathen? Well, it has you fooled. This thing taught my kid how to walk. Which is great, and all, but we kind of expected it would take a little longer.

Braden first walked on August 11, 2007. When he was 10 Months Old. That was before the time of this website, but I wrote about it then…

The Boy Gets His Land Legs

Braden started walking, for real, yesterday. I was in denial on Thursday, when he took 3 steps and then fell on his bum. I thought, “Whoa… where did that come from? No problem, he fell, it will still be a LONG time before he can do that, or better, again!”

Moron thought for the day. Officially.

On Sunday, while running errands with The Boy, I purchased him a toy that would make him happy, I thought. The Stride-to-Ride Lion, by Fisher Price (a “walk-behind” toy, for beginners).

After unpacking all the groceries (and just who the hell put that much crap in my cart, anyway?), I sat down on the floor in the living room to put the toy together. I was relieved to discover that, for once, the assembly was to be simple. Really… not just one of those sadistic assembly sheets that says, “Easy Assembly” and then you’re up until 3am, cursing yourself and everyone that came into contact with any of the materials that came together to create this thing, pulling out your hair and begging God to just make it go together, okay, please!?

Ahem.

So, anyway, I put The Lion together for The Boy. I put him behind it, placed his hands on the bar, and let go, waiting for the amazing thing that was about to happen.

He fell down.

Shit.

See, the Stride-to-Ride Lion should really be called, the Run-Like-Hell-to-keep-up-with-me-Lion, because it moves pretty fast for a beginning walker. I guess that was too long for the packaging, though, right?

My heart sank; I felt defeated. Poor kid! Then I thought, “Okay, well, look, I just put this thing together, and I’m waaay too lazy to take it back to the store now, and he’s going to like it, damnit.”

So I put him behind it again, this time holding the lion as he took steps, so that it would move slowly. He LOVED it. We had been doing that for a little while, when I got antsy, or something, and decided to let go. (Maybe I’m the sadist here, and just wanted to see him fall down again? Hm.)

This time he had no problems. How the heck did he gain control of this so fast?? He took off.

Take a look:

Now, Monday. We’re hanging out in the living room. I’m sitting on the couch, eating a bowl of oh-so nutritious apple cinnamon oat cereal. Braden’s standing on the other side of the coffee table from me. He turns, with one hand still on the table, and starts talking to the Baby Einstein DVD playing on TV, gesturing wildly with his arm held out.

After ranting at the TV for some time like this, he decided it was not listening to him from that distance.

And he walked to it.

WHAT THE HELL!?

Okay, look, The Lion was one thing, but just takin’ his ass and walkin’ it on over to something JUST BECAUSE HE FEELS LIKE IT!?

Who does he think he is???

Ah, well. Truth be told, I had the biggest grin on my Oh-So-Surprised face that it’s still lingering.

He’s amazing. I love his lil’ chubby legs, and his precious, walkin’ self.

And, hey… he doesn’t have it completely down yet. But he’s definitely got the rhythm.

I’ll have to hold him tight a lot today… while he’ll still let me.

*******

A year and a half later, I’m still hanging on to him, even with every step he takes away from me. It’s okay, because he’s taking me with him even when I’m not holding on. He just doesn’t know it yet.