walking

So, Jack has been capable of basic walking -- taking a few steps on his own from point A to point B for quite some time now . . . I would say for almost two months.  He has gone from needing a lot of support and holding tightly onto two hands to walking beside us with ease and holding loosely onto one hand.  And at this point he can handle a wide variety of speeds, various obstacles and uneven terrain.  

As you can see in the video, he walks just like a little man on a leisurely evening stroll.  

Except he walks morning, noon and night.  In fact, these days, he is not happy unless walking hand-in- hand with one of us.  

Just for the record, "not happy" means he is absolutely losing his marbles . . . i.e. throwing his body around, screaming and crying . . . sometimes, for added effect, banging his lovely little forehead on our hardwood floors -- although he is not the least bit particular about surfaces.  

He wants to walk no matter where we are, what we are doing or what time of day it is.  

He takes this walking thing very seriously and it makes a mother wonder . . . does he have some plans I don't know about?  His focus on getting it absolutely right before letting go seems unlike that of any other child we have met.   

I am beginning to think he is making plans to go out into the world on his own  -- just as soon as he masters this whole walking thing.  

I have asked him a couple of times why he feels the need to get it so perfect before really taking off but he remains -- I believe purposefully -- vague and simply answers, "pa ma ma . . .ba da da".  

He is definitely up to something.