A great start to 2011!

Ending 2010, we were disappointed that Elise still had not figured out that she could walk on her own yet.  She constantly asked us to walk with her.  Or she would take a step or two then drop instantly to the ground, but would not just let go and walk.  We went to her 18 month appointment with the doctor in mid December, which was when she was actually 19 1/2 months, and the doctor was even puzzled.  This was the first time she had a child who had not walked by 18 months, so the next step would be to have her hips x-rayed.  

We had decided to not schedule the x-ray until after the holidays, in hopes that she would just suddenly start walking.  It still had not happened into the beginning of January, and yet we kept putting off making the x-ray appointment.  

Finally, on January 11, 2011 our prayers were answered!  I was putting Elise to bed, and she suddenly got all excited about her toys in her room the minute we walked through the door.  She started walking faster, let go of my hand, and took 7 or 8 steps until she realized she was walking on her own.  Then she dropped to the ground, of course.  The realization that she walked on her own was exciting to her, so she wanted to continue doing the same routine over and over again.  She went back to the door, said "Walk!", then started walking a few steps without holding on until dropping to the ground.  

Then, I sat on the ground within 3 steps of her toy kitchen.  I asked her to walk to her kitchen and bring food back to me.  We did this several times, while I moved further apart each time, with her taking no more than 7 or 8 steps total each time.  Well, we made progress!  I was so happy just for that, but it was now past her bed time and we couldn't keep this going all night. 

So, I walked over to her crib and told her it was time to go to bed.  Of course she did not want to go to sleep, she was on a high from walking without help.  Instead, she walks out the door of her room and keeps walking.  I thought, what in the world!!!  Did she really just do that?  

And from there she walked and walked and walked across the entire house for another 30 minutes.  Never mind that it is now waaaaaaaay past her bedtime!  Oh well!!  I was too excited to care!  We waited until Daddy came home to see her walking all over the place, and then we finally decided to put her to bed.  WOW!

Not only did 2011 start with our little girl walking on her own, this past week she went pee on the potty for the 1st time!  

She received a potty as one of her Christmas presents (no we are not mean parents, and yes she got plenty of toys too).  I just wanted to slowly introduce her to sitting on it at first.  She screamed the first time I sat her on it.  But I kept asking her every now and then if she wanted to sit on the potty.  Sometimes she would say "No," and sometimes she would say "Yes."  

After sitting on the potty 5 or 6 times in the past couple weeks with no results, she just yesterday decided to sit on it before her bath and read a magazine.  Next thing I know, there is a puddle in the bottom of her little potty!  Are you serious?!  I couldn't believe my eyes at first.  It didn't scare her, she just sat there looking nervous.  We praised her for going pee pee on the potty!!  Yay!  Her eyes suddently lit up, and she became excited along with us and clapped for her accomplishment!

Needless to say, January has been a very exciting month for us!  God is sooo good!!!