J sat on the floor a little further away and I set M down on the floor. "Ready? Set? Walk!" And he did! All four or five steps into his very happy daddy's arms. And he was all excited and saying "walk! walk! walk!" So J turned him around and had him walk to me except this time it was five or six steps because I had cleverly scooted backwards. And he did it. And he was ready for more! We kept up this little game until it was clear M was walking all by himself across our living room.
J at one point got up while M was enroute towards him and M just followed him right down the hall. So our little boy is walking. And he waited until he turned exactly 17 months to do it. He's such a stinker that way!! I'm so freaking thrilled. I took a video of it and K is hosting it for me; if you'd like to see it, just head this way. TokyoMom told me he looks like a little train gaining steam. I can't believe he's walking. I made him do it so much! He was exhausted. When we put him down to bed he just zonked out. I keep replaying the video and my face hurts from smiling. I don't know if parents get this ecstatic when their kids walk. It's just he's a late walker. And I was starting to fret and to worry and I was really dreading that 18 month check-up. So this is a huge weight that's been lifted off my shoulders. I wonder if he'll do it again tomorrow???