So my baby is no longer a baby. It's official. Cayden has turned into a Big Boy somehow before my very eyes. Mostly, I am SO excited about seeing him grow and watching him turn into such a funny, articulate, and quite handsome young man...but there is still that part of my heart that cannot believe that he's almost 2 years old, and that misses her chunky little baby boy! And I've heard that's normal...but what do I know?! I've never been on this journey before!
The past few weeks have been wonderful. This "new" little man of mine has officially decided that he's ready to give walking another try!! This absolutely makes my soul sing! Everyday that passes I wonder if today will be the day. It's been a rough little path for him, and I just want him to be ready and want to do it on his own...and I think he's finally reached that point. I know that for Cayden it hasn't been that he can't physically walk, but more that he has probably been petrified to even try. I sit and watch him play around and think to myself how bad it has hurt me when he's broken in the past....why would HE be comfortable trying it again?! He's the one that has felt the real, physical pain of it all. But I'm convinced that he knows his body, his own strength, and has gained the confidence that he can do it...and is moving forward (on his own two feet) ever so slowly...at his own pace. But needless to say...he is vertical much more often these days...and it makes me smile (and cringe, and worry, and watch intensely). He even says to me all the time, "Mama, I walk." He is growing in so many ways...and I couldn't be more proud.

Two days before Mother's Day, we were playing outside and Cayden said to me, "I walk!" So I jumped on the opportunity (yes, don't mind my outfit- I had been sleeping after a long night at work- and gosh darn it, shoes are so unnecessary when my boy says he wants to walk!!) and I took his hand and we walked a whole 6 houses down the street and BACK! This was by far the farthest he has ever walked, and boy was he sweaty when we got back home! It took a lot of hard work and concentration for him (take a close look at that face!) but he did it. We did it. :-)I'll get around to taking another belly picture next week to update the growth!