Our Quiverfull - Jail Break!

Mar. 10, 2008

Jail Break!

Most of you know that Noah is on "house arrest" and not allowed to be out in public until 2 weeks after the CDC says influenza is on its way out of SC. We have been diligent about keeping him home from stores, church, etc.

Well, today was just the most lovely spring day possible, and the smell/feel of warm spring air coming in the open windows was about more than I could resist . . . so we said "so long" to the housework and laundry and chores and just went to the park. I truly don't think Noah would be exposed to germs at the park out in the open air, so I felt it was a safe choice. Yep, Noah still has his yucky cold, but he was acting playful and wasn't coughing as much as he had been. He misses SO MUCH and I decided that we would see how it went and I could just come home if he started to look like he was feeling worse.

Noah's first reaction to the dreaded outside was, of course, panic. To say he was clingy would probably be the understatement of the year. He was the koala bear, I was the eucalyptus tree. Hannah and I each tried to sit down on the grass or the sand with him, but he wasn't going for it.

We linked up with his little friends Elsie and Matias. I had hoped that if he saw them playing and having fun, he might realize that it really is OK to play outside. He was willing to sit on my lap on a bench and smile at their antics, but no more . . . . until Matias sat down on the grass by the bench and started snacking on some Cheerios. Suddenly it looked like maybe, just maybe the grass wasn't such a bad place at all. Noah sat down but was still pretty nervous. His friends went home and I decided that since Noah was still so uptight, we would just head home. I went to call the others, and when I turned around, Noah was standing up.

Then Noah turned around and stepped up onto the sidewalk . . . .

. . . . .and just took off walking! He has walked a few feet at a time at home, but doesn't do it often. Today, he was serious about hustling down that walkway!

Hannah gave him a dandelion . . .

. . . . and he held onto it while he just kept walking . . . .

. . . . and walking!

He finally decided to turn around and head back. Look how far he has come - he started behind the bench that you can see in the upper left of this photo!

When he got to the bench, he just kept right on going. You can't even see the bench in this picture. He went past the bench, past the play equipment you can see on the right side of the photo above, and past even more play equipment!

Once he had gone almost completely around this section of the park, he headed down another sidewalk toward the gazebo.

He WANTED to keep walking around the gazebo . . .

. . . but he was getting tired and rubbing his eyes, so I had to put an end to the fun. :-)

I know we aren't really supposed to let Noah do too much, but I don't think I'll ever regret this afternoon. Watching him take off like this was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. For a short while today, Noah was just a little boy. I couldn't stop laughing as I followed him around with my camera, and for once when people looked our way they were laughing and smiling along with me at the site of a busy little TODDLER instead of looking with concern at a sick baby. I had the time of my life, and I know he did too.

Love,
Kate

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Comments

Mar. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by lahbluebonnet

What a delight to see Noah on the loose! =)
Blessings,
Laurie