On the move!!

Guess who can “officially” crawl now?? Today, Mary Clare was sitting in the middle of my kitchen playing as I finished up a few chores. She decided she wanted a closer look in the dishwasher, so she scooted onto her hands and knees and crawled right over to it, a good four feet away, without even stopping or hesitating! Of course, I dropped to my hands and knees and clapped and cheered, then cried. She stopped, pushed herself back onto her bottom, and just sat there staring at me like I had lost my mind. I typically don’t get that excited over clean dishes, I guess.

For several weeks she has been able to move around pretty well just by sitting up, flattening herself, sitting back up, flattening herself, etc. over and over until she gets to where she wants to go. (She just couldn’t get that belly off of the ground.) I was afraid that she was headed on the same path as big sister and want to walk before crawling. (Which, thank goodness McCanless finally crawled shortly before she walked…barely.) They both love to be up and on the go. Crawling seemed too slow for both of them.

Have I mentioned Mel calls her my hood ornament? It’s amazing that she has even learned to crawl as much as I hold her. It began that way because it was easier to deal with McCanless and hold Mary Clare as an infant, then it was a safety issue keeping her away from McCanless at times (after the sausage link episode), then that was the only way she would sleep. Now I carry her around with me because she cries for me to hold her….24-7. (Should have seen that one coming.) She is definitely a mommy’s girl, which secretly makes me smile. I figure one day her legs will drag the ground and she will have to walk, right?

I am so proud of my baby girl. It’s all just happening way too fast!

4 Comments

Nonnie  on April 4th, 2008

That’s funny that you mentioned Mary Clare hanging on—-I think I have a picture of me holding you with your legs past my knees! Aunt Bee used to tell me I’d probably hold you until you were as long as I was! I didn’t mind at all-You and Kate were my babies that didn’t seem to want to walk! Mary Clare is going to be like Kacy to you-Kacy followed you and wanted to be just like you. (Still does) I can see it now with Mary Clare and McCanless! I was happy when Alston walked-He was so big-my arm muscles looked like a body builder.
Don’t rush it-I wish I could still hold each one of you! (Maybe not in my arms, but in my heart,always!)
Love, Nonnie (MOM)

Kathie  on April 4th, 2008

Yep, your little hood ornament will grow long legs and have to walk! That so reminds me of Sloan. She has always been a mom’s girl. Let me remind you that she is 8 and weighs 62 lbs.(half Steph’s weight) and she still wants and expects that Steph pick her up. Steph had surgery a few weeks ago and the biggest concern for Sloan was when her mom could pick her up.
In Sloan’s defense, they live such a busy life, tennis lessons, tennis matches , soft ball practice and games,dance,football and tennis for Tyler, not to mention Steph and David play tennis.
Sooo all of this makes for long days and Sloan often falls asleep in the car and needs to be carried inside. Guess who gets the honor of carrying her big self in now? That would be big brother to the rescue. In two years when Tyler goes to college, I don’t know how she will get inside, maybe she’ll just sleep in the car!!!
You have a long time to carry that hood ornament around, so enjoy. Do you think it might be a Northcutt thing, Nonnie?

Sissy  on April 4th, 2008

Running shoes in the near future!!!

Jessica Caperton  on April 5th, 2008

Hi Kerri!

Thanks for stopping by Julianne’s blog. We too love to “meet” other heart families online. Its amazing how many we’ve come in contact with since Julianne was first diagnosed. Mary Clare and McCanless are TOO CUTE! I especially love the Easter Bonnet. Its great to see Mary Clare is doing so well. Its always an encouragement to see other babies doing well! I don’t know if you saw, but I posted a video of a 30 year old HLHS survivor! That was awesome to see!

I’ll be keeping up with your little kiddos. By the way, you do a great job of keeping your blog updated!