Pooh was sick last week; she got some kind of virus last Tuesday.  It was alarming because this is the first time she has been sick and her symptoms weren’t really good.  She wanted to be held all the time, slept most of the day and just seemed like she didn’t have any energy at all.

To make matters worse, Kim was out of town for work – thousands of miles away.  It was pretty traumatic for both of them.  But mommy wasn’t having any of that!

Thanks to the people she works with, Kim was able to fly across the country and make it home by 4:30 the same day.  I was surprised that she was able to get back so quick, but that is what a mother/child bond will do.

I lost my mother in 1998 and the pain is still very fresh and raw.  The love I had for that woman was so special – I see it in Kim and Pooh – words cannot tell the whole story.

I was proud of my wife last week for making it home to her baby so fast.  I also knew well enough to get out of the way and let them do their thing. 

Oh, Pooh is OK now.

Last week she started walking. She really didn’t take to the walker too well and she didn’t care for pushing her toy stroller either. When she doesn’t like something like that we don’t push her – I guess we are just thankful for a healthy baby girl.

What she did like to do was stand in place and dance! When she hears music she likes to move; maybe music will be something she does for work and/or fun. Anyway, I knew she had it (walking) in her when she was dancing one day, dropped what was in her hand and successfully bent down to pick it up. Yeah, it takes some balance to pull that off when you supposedly can’t even walk.

Without being prompted – Auntie Kathy tried to give her walking lessons the week before – she just took about four steps last week. In typical Pooh fashion they weren’t rushed, out of control, steps. Instead, they were measured steps and she didn’t really stop walking because she fell or lost her balance. She stopped because she just wanted to stop.

That is my baby girl!

It officially changed today.

I was eating lunch and set a glass of Limeade on the floor. I almost didn’t reach down in time to pick it back up! As soon as she saw it she must have figured she didn’t have time to sccit over there.

Two hands and two fat little knees were definitely working in concert to get to my cool drink. Unfortunately, Daddy ruined her plans. But in typical fashion, she moved on to her next mission.

I also got one of those special kisses today.

Nope, I’m not talking about the wife or thinking back to some girlfriend years ago.  I’m talking about last night and Pooh.  It wasn’t the first time she game Daddy a kiss, and it better not be the last, but they are all so very special.

We always give her pecks on the cheek whether she likes it or not.  She is so cute and lovable, we can’t help ourselves.  Those are the best little cheeks in the whole wide world.  Of course that is my opinion and if you are a parent your opinion surely differs, but you know what I’m talking about.  She really brings the old man some joy.

There are times when we will ask her to give us a kiss and she will oblige; normally with a wet one.  On those special occasions, which come randomly, she will look us in the eye and give us a kiss without us asking.  Those bring a smile to our face.  But the ultimate is when it just comes and that happened Saturday night.

We were over a friend’s house watching the fight (Pacquiao versus Hatton) and I was holding her.  I was listening in on a conversation and watching my friends play dominoes – not really looking at Pooh.  Out of the corner of my eye, she puckered up and moved in for a kiss.  It was the sweetest thing!

It has been said that I’ve softened up since she was born.  It is probably true, but so what?  When she puckers up and gives Daddy a kiss she has me in the palm of her cute little hand.

I think she could crawl if she really wanted to, but she apparently doesn’t want to.  She will get on her knees like she is about to crawl and then she will lay on her stomach.  A while ago she didn’t like to lay on her stomach, but that isn’t the case anymore.  She sleeps on her stomach, she will roll over after going to sleep on her stomach or back.  Also, she will lay on her stomach and watch her videos; Mickey’s Playhouse is her favorite.

One thing we have to be concerned with, once she starts moving better/faster, is steps.  We spend the majority of our time in our loft on the second floor.

I have heard about it before, but I was wondering if anyone has first-hand experience with a baby that doesn’t crawl before walking.  It is a possibility with Pooh and I was wondering if babies who walked first had the capabilities to crawl like we think she does.

If anyone is out there with experience, let me know.