I Wanna Hold Your Haaaaaand

Now that Babykins is a walking machine, we got her new shoes that she can wear outside.

To celebrate this new purchase, Babykins and I decided to take a walk to the Post Office.  This consists of leaving our building, crossing the street, and walking across a parking lot.  On my own, I can make it in 5 minutes.  Thirty minutes later, we arrived. 

In that half hour, we discussed why cigarette butts are yucky and not for eating, chased a flock of birds, almost caught a bird and had a fright, stopped to examine the dirt in the crack in the sidewalk, walked back and forth between the sidewalk and the grass to figure out why they feel different under our shoes, and detoured into Sears for a quick ride up the escalator.  It was a major adventure.

After finishing at the Post Office, I was feeling brave and decided we could quick stop at the grocery store next door.  Within seconds I realized my mistake.  Walking Babykins quickly yanked her hand free from mine, made a break for it, and began pulling everything she could off the bottom shelf.  As I tried to put everything back in its place, she fled across the aisle and plastered herself to the door of the frozen foods, fascinated by how cold it was.  I got there just in time to see her lick the glass.

At this point, I tucked her into the one-armed football hold and made a dash for the produce section.  As we moved down the aisle of fruit, she started calling, "Nana, Nana."  I grabbed a bunch of bananas, broke one off, and gave it to her to hold.  It was like magic.  Babykins proudly cradled her banana and followed me through the store, thrilled that she was carrying her own Nana like a big girl.

An hour and a half after we left, we were back in the building, heading for our apartment.  As we walked down the hallway, Babykins reached up her little hand and grabbed my finger, holding on until we reached the door.  Now that Babykins doesn't need help to walk, there's something extra sweet about her choosing to hold my hand.  I know a day will come when she won't be seen in public holding my hand, so for now I'm cherishing every moment of having her little hand wrapped in mine.