At 8 months you still couldn’t crawl. I was sure you would be crawling all over by then! You held your head up just a few hours after you were born, you could roll over front AND back by two and a half months, you’ve been a little wiggle worm from the beginning. By three months you were starting to ooch around and not stay in one place that we put you. I remember announcing to my mother over the phone one day, “At this rate, I think he’ll be crawling by 5 months!”. I was a proud mama, and still am. But I am learning. Babies do things in their own time, their own way, some things quickly, some things slowly. And it is beautiful to watch each little one learn in their own unique pattern. It is what makes each one so special.
We realized our new parents hearts were so proud of you and excited, that maybe we were too proud. Pride is something that slips in when you least notice. Pride also fertilizes the ground of comparison, which is dangerous, ugly territory.
With our flawed human natures, it easily becomes second nature to compare ourselves–Measure up against other people. We’re discouraged when we don’t “compare”, encouraged when we “do”, and delight when we feel like we have surpassed someone else. Isn’t that tragic? Comparison one way or another steals joy. It steals the joy we can have about where God has us, and it steals the joy we can have in celebration of others. I have learned, and am continuing to learn, not to compare myself. But I don’t think I realized how much I still had to learn until we had you, and I would catch myself comparing you. It didn’t seem like a big deal comparing myself, but I found myself repulsed at the thought of “measuring” you up to anyone else. You are our own darling little fella, and that is all that matters, not if you do things before or after other babies, not if you are more or less cute or clever. And I am realizing that I am my heavenly Father’s darling, who He delights in, and sings over. And He isn’t ONE bit concerned how I compare to His other dearly loved children.
With that little nugget tucked away for you to read later, that your mama has been chewing on… I am proud to announce that you are finally crawling on all fours! It has been quite the learning process for you, and for mommy. A lesson in humility, patience, and comparison. But you are now getting all over the place, and thoroughly getting into everything, and quickly learning what “no touch” means. 😉 Congratulations, on all fronts.
