Attempt

"Although strength should fail, the effort will deserve praise. In great enterprises the attempt is enough. " -
Sextus Propertius

Just to give Maeve a different view of the world yesterday, I held her by the hands and pulled her up so she could stand.  I've done this plenty of times, but not on the carpet, usually she's on my lap. 

The moment she stood up, she grinned like a maniac and took a step towards me.  My daughter.  Took a step.  And then another one, and then about two more before she plopped back down onto her bottom.  I could hardly breathe, and then I just laughed with excitement and wonder.  This kid knows the basics, she can put one foot in front of the other.

Of course, as soon as DH got home, I had to show him.  As the author says, the effort deserves praise.  At this point, lack of praise is not, by any stretch, a problem for Maeve.  She astounds me every day with something she's figuring out or something she can do that she's never done before.  And around here, when that happens, the crowds go wild.

She is a good six months (we hope) from being able to actually walk all by herself, and a good four months at least from wanting to try.  But with support, she can do the impossible, and I know how she feels.  Being a mom is the most ridiculously difficult proposition I've ever undertaken, but with the help of friends and family, I feel like these days I'm moving forward and getting a new perspective, just like Maeve.  

Good luck to the both of us, in this great enterprise, may our attempts be enough and our efforts deserving of praise.

Yay Giraffe!