I dreamt last night that I was at a Don Henley concert except that Don was the spitting image of Sam Elliott and sang more like Bruce Springsteen than a former Eagles. And there I was sitting on scaffolding, watching the action below when all of a sudden he’s standing behind me, singing. I’m creeped out, not psyched and all I want to do is get down from there. Concert’s over and I’m searching everywhere for Sage. She’s near the portal and the stairs. Running for them. She’s her actual age and all of sudden she’s found her legs, she can walk, or better, run. She’s not hearing or seeing me, she’s taken off running. Faster than one of those pigs in a greased pig event. I dive and catch her but she’s desperate to get away. And there are people everywhere getting in the way. I’m trying not to take it personally but she’s running away from me! I panic. When did she learn to run?! I awake. It’s just a dream. Whew.
Sage is still sleeping soundly in her room. She’s not walking. She’s not running. Not yet. But she sure likes to move around. I’m not sure what the Don Henley part has to do with anything but I do know how scared I am of Sage running around. When I put her on the bed, it’s like she’s break dancing. She must dig the softness of the mattress and sheets. On the floor, she scoots on one knee with the other foot flat on the ground to propel her. Soon, there’ll be no stopping her?
She stands on her own, briefly, then sits back down. But mostly she plays quietly with her toys happy to greet you and share her toys with you. Walking may not be too far off and I’m not sure what to do at that point. Let her run up and down the hall? My books seem surprisingly vague about what to do with your newly mobile child beyond childproofing the house. How much time is minimally acceptable to spend playing during the day when you have work to do? Obviously supervision is key but does that mean I must leave the house every day for a romp in the park? Is every other day or three times a week acceptable? What should a one year old’s ‘normal’ day look like? And what about eating? How much is normal when it’s real people food? I’m used to the jars 2-3 a day. With eggs or spaghetti or bread, I can’t tell if she’s full or just doesn’t like her food after a few bites. And my pede told me I should start weaning her from her bottle – at least start by cutting out one a day and giving her milk in a (sippy) cup. I try but she just skips her milk altogether until it’s back in the bottle. I should be tougher but in the back of my head, the pede’s words that I “really shouldn’t worry about it until 15 months echo.” The good news is that she doesn’t need her nighttime bottle anymore. Water works fine. It’s time for more recon.
It’s been easy so far but Motherhood is rearing its ugly head and I have slim to no info about one-year-olds and how to be with them.
Next Monday, I head to Lake Powell for a four-day river trip on the Grand. No, I am not taking the baby. Ryan will get to stay with her all by himself. A first for both of them! And my first time leaving her for more than a day since she was born. I’m just a 5-hour drive away if there’s an emergency but they should be just fine bonding without mommy there. Hell, they’ll probably love it. The way he makes her laugh when he reads to her or dances with her. It’s precious. Everyone should laugh like that at least once a day.
Oh well, the babe is sleeping soundly (as usual, or course 😉 ) and I need to made good use of the quiet night and get back to work. For recent pictures of Sage and our quick trip to Vegas last week go to http://picasaweb.google.com/mtnmedia/VegasBaby.

Hope all is well and if you have any advice, I’m all ears.