Columnist becomes impatient for next step

I’m starting to get a bit impatient.

Before we visited Ireland last month, my sister-in-law Lori and her husband John got some toys for Baby Schanz to play with while we were there.

There were bath toys, a play table, random sensory items and a learning walker, among other toys.

My daughter took to most of them rather quickly. The walker, however, was nothing more than a noisemaker.

At the time, she could stand, so she’d occasionally do so to reach the higher buttons.

Then one day, almost as if she’d done it a hundred times, she reached up to grab the handle, stood up and started to walk.

Her first (aided) steps came in Ireland just days before her first birthday.

When we returned stateside, it was my goal to get her walking as soon as possible.

My mother helped the cause by buying her newest grandchild a play walker.

Of course, “some assembly required,” but it didn’t take too long.

And then my mission truly began. Some of the other infants in her day care class are already walking, and I didn’t want her to be left behind.

With her new toy ready to go, Baby Schanz cruised around the living room, grinning from ear to ear at the skill she had just recently unlocked.

Days passed, and I made sure she spent time every day working on her walking strength either by using the walker or having her surf the couch and ottoman.

Yet every time Chrissy or I tried to grab her hands and aid her in walking, she wasn’t interested. She’d just plop down on the floor or not stand up altogether.

All I want is for her to take her first steps!

A couple weeks ago, I was sitting on a chair in the living room with Chrissy on the end of the ottoman with our daughter. 

The youngster, who was facing my wife at the time, turned toward me and appeared to take a couple steps.

Unfortunately, it was hard to tell if they were steps, or she just lost her balance and fell into my lap.

We were ecstatic. We tried to get her to do it again — this time with a phone propped up to record it — however she wasn’t interested in giving it another shot. That seems to be the case if she doesn’t have anything to hang on to.

A couple days later, she was crawling around the house and stopped at one of the kitchen chairs.

She stood up, reached for the seat and began to proceed to push it around the dining room and kitchen all by herself. It wasn’t until she began to whine because she got hung up on the mat for our dog’s water bowl that I noticed what she was doing. I got her unstuck, then proceeded to guide her to make sure she wouldn’t encounter anything to impede her progress.

For the entire duration of the five minutes she was exploring the house on two feet, she was two-tooth smiling and laughing that oh-so-cute infant laugh.

Now that we know she’s grasped the concept of walking, we just want her to be able to do it on her own. While we enjoy helping her learn, it’ll be more joyous — or terrifying — when she gains a little bit more independence.

I just wish it’d happen sooner rather than later since she’s already 13 months old.

My impatience is getting the best of me.

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Chris Schanz is a former CR Sports Editor who is about to have a more independent toddler. Send advice to [email protected].