and with that, he trotted out the door and off to college

Well, not quite yet.

He is down to nursing just once a day most days. In the mornings, right after his first diaper change. It’s finally become that sweet bonding time that people talk about. Now that it’s only about ten minutes rather than 45, and not happening every two hours and/or causing him to not be able to sleep through the night.

At yoga class today, during the snack break, which is when he usually sits in my lap, or at least in front of me, nibbles on the various offerings, and demands that we sing itsy bitsy spider… today he clamored over to one of the caregivers, Mary Katherine, and demanded to sit in HER lap. Even stood up and turned around to give her snuggles.

Gulp. My boy doesn’t NEED me anymore.

Singing time is not nearly as much fun if he’s not sitting with me. Sniff.

But this is good, right? Individuation and stuff.

And then, later today, one hour into his nap, he woke up yelling and shaking — MOMMY! and I held him and nursed him an extra little bit. And he fell asleep in my lap, like he used to.

I tried to get up and take him back to the crib but every time I moved, his eyes fluttered open. So I just sat with him for an hour — part of the time gazing placidly out the window at the freesia, or lovingly down at him, and part of the time toddling around the internet on my laptop (which you can see in the corner of the picture.)

When he woke up, he went back to playing with the nanny. She took him to the library where he apparently showed off his standing up skills to as many people there as possible and was quite put off by the lack of cheering.

Apparently, she also got him to walk unassisted. Three whole steps. Without me there. The risk of having a really great, enthusiastic caregiver who works hard to help him with his development.

She tried to get him to do it in front of me when they got home, but he only took one tiny step. Barely a shuffle. And by the time daddy got home, it was as if the whole game had been completely forgotten.

Good boy. He’s saving it up. So we can all have our moment.