Making Strides During a Mild Autumn

We have had an unbelievably mild autumn.  Before I go on, I must acknowledge two tiny exceptions to this last statement: 1) We did have a snowstorm before Halloween, and

2) We did have a snowstorm on Thanksgiving.

Those little instances aside, we've had a mild autumn.  All this lovely weather has come at an opportune time in regards to Charlie's motor development.  He has been able to do lots of outdoor walking practice.  In early October, he was crawling everywhere and was full of wonder at his first leaf-on-the-ground encounter.

By mid-October he was cruising around using furniture to help him balance.

Then he began walking, but with a tenacious grip to our hands. 

When we encouraged him to walk independently, he would just sit down.  So we offered him other activities like swinging and sliding.

He eventually tried some independent steps, but it always ended like this:

So we kept practicing and practicing, taking advantage of every warm day in November.

Until, one day, something motivated him to take a few steps. (I wonder what it was???)

And then a week before Thanksgiving he decided it was time.  And he hasn't stopped since.  He even multi-tasks now.
Walking and composting:

Walking and carrying objects:

Walking and thinking (really the hardest of them all):

While we can hardly believe we have a walker already, we are very proud of our big guy!