You're a Problem Solver, Luca!

 Dear Luca,

   I'm posting this picture first. I really like it. I don't get much of a chance to take pictures because I have to keep my eyes on you all the time. But here it is,  you and I in a magic moment:

 

When I came to your house today, you had woken up from a two-hour nap (a bit of a record for you, I'm told) and had had your lunch, so it was pretty clear you were ready for some action. 

    And here was a first.  When your mom left, you didn't cry. You do cry most of the time, because, of course, you don't want her to leave. It doesn't last for long, because you have an active mind and get interested in something pretty soon, something usually musical. So I ever worry when you cry. It'll be over soon.

    But this time, the three of us were in your nursery playing on the floor, and then your mom got up and left the room. You and I kept on playing.  But then, while we were in the middle of banging on some musical keys, your mom passed by the big window in your room on her way to her car. You looked up and watched her go. You stared out the window for a few seconds after she had passed by, but then went back to making music, or, rather, banging on the toy that then plays music.

    As I predicted, this was a pretty active day, and, after about an hour of walking and crawling all over your room, to the toy box, to your changing station, to the window, to the chair, to your crib, and starting all over again, you became ready for the larger world of your house. Yes, after looking a books, playing with the tiny orange fish, using the clackers that look like cows, listening to the frog sing "Itsy, Bitsy Spider," and throwing a few things hither and thither, you were ready to leave the confines of the nursery and explore further. 

    So, into the TV room, crawling to the dining area, pulling up on your high chair, letting go, and making your way over to the pantry, you discover one of the great toys of all time--the step stool, versatile and sturdy, just made for a boy who wants to practice walking. 

    So out comes the stool and you walk in and push it back the way we came, but working hard. You get a little tangled up in the legs of the high chair because you've pushed yourself right under it. This is what I mean when I say you're a problem solver.  Most ten-month-olds, when getting stuck under a high chair, or anywhere for that matter, would give up in frustration and start crying so that somebody would come to the rescue and get them out of the mess. But you just kept on working at it. You'd push this way and that, but going forward just didn't work. You finally figured our that you needed to back out and go around. And that's what you did. I will admit that one of your solutions was to try to turn the high chair over, but I nipped that one in the bud. 

    I watched you do the same thing with your toy box, when you were trying to reach the little goldfish that was off in the corner. You tried about four times, but your little hands just couldn't reach it. Again, as I've said, this is the point where many ten-month-olds might plop down in a crying fit, but you figured it out. You edged your way around the toy box, reached in, but still couldn't get it, so your edged your way closer until you could grasp it in your little hands. It went straight to your mouth, of course. Where else?

Luca with Goldfish in Mouth

When your daddy got home, the dogs started barking, so you crawled over to the door to wait for him to come in. He was surprised to see all of us at the door when he came in. We had a big groups hug, and I headed down the mountain, frankly a little tired, but so at peace.