determined

this weekend was the annual st. elmo yard sale extravaganza. last year we scored some cool stuff for the baby's room, and this year we scored yet more nice stuff for the kids. the highlight is definitely the slide for the yard. mama also got some really nice prego shirts.

we didnt think Caleb would be ready for the slide until he started walking and toddling around. but I took him outside when mama was napping, and he of course was interested in it. so he crawled over and started going up the slide. he was instantly determined to reach the top, and with just a little help he made it up, quite proud of himself. he also negotiated the stairs without much problem. so after mama got up from her nap, we had him repeat the performance, and he was quite photogenic, hamming it up for the camera. more pictures here.

the other day michelle was talking with a friend who mentioned that she was reading what her mom wrote about her when she was a baby. apparently something about liking animals and staring off into the distance, both of which she still does and probably always will.

so it got me to thinking: will the traits that Caleb is now exhibiting be with him for the rest of his days? if so, I'd have to say that he is and will be quite determined. when he sees something he wants to get or do, he'll keep at it until it's done. not quite stubborn (yet), but definitely determined. if he's well fed and changed and whatnot, he has a surprising amount of resolve, without breaking down into whines and tears. climbing up the slide is just the latest example, as is reaching after a toy on the wrong side of the baby gate. since he's our first, I have no idea if this is routine baby behaviour?

there are surely good and bad things about having this trait as he grows. he'll probably figure out how to escape his crib all too soon. someday he'll probably spot a squirrel and climb to the very top of the magnolia without a second thought. hopefully he'll figure out how to get down too.