I have expended some serious time and energy these last months fretting over Belly and the fact that she just doesn't walk. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've googled "not walking at 14 months," "...15 months," "...16 months," "...17 months." Here we are on the cusp of 18 months and I've been thinking that maybe I'm in denial. Maybe there really is something wrong with her. I've been sorta bracing myself for the results of the developmental evaluation that the pediatrician is sure to order for her when we take the girls in for their checkup in a couple weeks. 

And then...this afternoon...Belly walked. As in, she walked from the couch to the bottom of the stairs, paused to hold on to the gate for a minute, then walked into the kitchen to hold the freezer handle (the freezer is on the bottom of our fridge), turned around, walked back to the couch. This is a serious distance - maybe 38 feet round trip? She did this lap several times. Sure, she'd stumble every now and then, but that little Belly just stood right back up and kept on her merry way. I jumped and wooted and cheered and she was SO proud of herself. And dang it, I was pretty proud, too.

I was absolutely thrilled when The Bug first walked four months ago, but this is different. More than a lack of physical ability, Belly seemed like she had a big confidence hurdle to get over. And she did it. My baby believes in herself and that makes Mama prouder than just about anything.