11/24/08

Breakthrough!!

I don't have any pictures to go with this post, because it was an important moment for me not to have the camera in her face...but QQ realized tonight (at just barely 15 months of age) that she could stand on her own.
For a child who spent the first 11 months of her life flat on her back in an orphanage crib, this is quite the accomplishment!
I, of course, have known she could do it for a few weeks now.
There have been several random moments when she forgot she "needed" help and let go, standing just fine without a helping hand. But each of those times she was concentrating on something else, and as soon as she realized she was unsupported, she would collapse.
Tonight, standing in the circle of my legs, she let go very deliberately while looking me in the eye, and stood without help for quite a good period of time. She did it two or three times in a row, and each time she was so excited and proud of herself that she gave me a huge hug afterward.
I can't even explain how amazing it is to watch her figure these things out.
Every day of late she becomes a little less of a "baby" and a little more of a "person".
She has a very strong personality, and is very much her own person. She does not look to others for cues, but forges her own path. She knows who she is, and is confident in her individuality. She has a sharp and broad sense of humor, and is very much her own person.
She makes us laugh and ghasp and clap with her accomplishments and intelligence.
I feel so proud of who she is...not just of the fact that she is "ours", but that she is, ultimately, her own person.
Really, I can't think of anyone I would rather have the good fortune to call my daughter.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Standing? Whoo hoo! Oh your life is so going to change, again.

Vivian M said...

Yay!!! Before you know it, she will be walking and running and opening all your cabinets!

Yoli said...

Soon Maia!!! Soon she will be running around the house. Good for you Flynn!!!! These milestones are so touching. By December that girl is walking.

chrissie said...

yeaaaahhhh flynn!set up the video camera...steps are on the way!

kerri said...

Congrats on your big milestone sweetie girl, she'll be running before you can turn around, LOL.

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

Yeah for Flynn... watch out... time to block all the doors hehehehe...

Cavatica said...

I know exactly what you mean! Congrats to QQ for standing independently. YAY! Soon she'll be running you ragged and you are going to love it!

Unknown said...

Horray for QQ!!! I'm so happy for you. What a quick learner!

A Beautiful Mess said...

get your running shoes on!!

she will be walking before christmas

Virginia said...

Way to go Flynn!! Now it will be way easier for you to reach the things your not supposed to be getting into ;).

Gin =)

Tamara said...

Yay! Soon you will be running enough keeping up with Ms. Flynn that that jogging stroller will be superfluous. Watch out world! :)

Courtney said...

Oh, wow. I absolutely can't wait to come back and devote more time to reading through your older posts! Congratulations on what certainly sounds like a huge milestone for your daughter!

And is the photo in your banner from your wedding? Incredible.

Thank you too for your comments and visiting my blog.

Heather said...

Yippee for QQ! I love the fact that she celebrated with a hug. That's so sweet. My Claire does that, too. I remember the first time she was able to climb out of her crib by herself (it was right next to our bed so she didn't fall or anything). I watched her from a distance while she worked at it for quite some time. She didn't know I was there. Then she finally made it over and was sitting on our bed, clapping for herself and saying "I did it. I did it." I couldn't help myself. I ran in and she jumped into my arms to tell me the "good" news that she could now escape her crib. Even though it marked the end of her sleeping in a crib, I was still so happy for her because she was so proud of herself.