We knew walking was close. Just not how close.

When we picked Thane up from school yesterday we were told to sit on the floor. They stood him up towards us and let go. The little guy balanced himself and took 4 or 5 steps before falling in a giggling fit in our laps. It was awesome. He stands really well for extended periods of time and can walk when stood up. He giggles each time and claps for himself when done. Apparently, he is very excited too!

Thane and I were at the vegetable market on Sunday while Jay was at home mowing the lawn. I was bagging veggies with him in the stroller, drinking milk from the sippy cup. As I started to bag the peaches I saw him give the food sign (or rather, his version of it). He had his milk so I knew he did not want that. He then pointed at the peaches, grunted, and made the food sign more fervently. It was pretty obvious the boy wanted a peach now. I went in and asked the woman if I could give him one now while we still shopped and she agreed. I came back, looked at the adorable t-shirt he was wearing that was about to be ruined, and handed him the peach.

A big smile came across his face and he bit in to the peach. He enjoyed it for the next 20 minutes, until mommy searched for the pit (it had fallen into his stroller) and threw the rest of it away. T-shirt be damned, that was worth every penny.

Thane is not only growing his signing, but also his vocabulary. He now says no, wow, hi, and mimics things we say. He also answers questions with…you guessed it…no. Amber asked him if he could read the paper he was looking at. He said no. I asked him if he could get into the the carseat by himself, he said no. Oh, yeah, our world is changing.

In food realm, he is probably the youngest food connoisseur. Yesterday he had salmon piccatta over a bed of rice in his lunch box and a nectarine. Today, 4 cheese tortellini and a peach. He apparently devoured yesterday’s lunch and they watched in amazement as a 12.5 month old ate a piece of fruit normally. We shall see what happens today.

On the walking front, Thane gets braver everyday. When Jay and I walk with him, he only holds on to a finger. He has stood and taken a step or two when highly motivated by something. He apparently stood for a spell yesterday at school. We shall see.

Jay’s mom passed away on Saturday, June 14th. She would have been 74 this August. She was a remarkable woman who I am blessed to have known, even for only 7 years. Mom passed at home, as she wanted, with friends and family around her.

A week before her death, we had a delicious Indian dinner on her back porch with everyone around. It was a fun and happy time. In so many ways, I think she said goodbye now, when we all thought she was doing better, because she felt her family was settled and on a good path.

Adam, the oldest, has a beautiful family and is a successful restauranteur, with 2 pizza shops. He owns his own home, has a very caring and attentive wife who is successful as well and his two children are growing into great young adults.

Mary Beth, the only daughter, had shown herself to be a devout daughter, never leaving her mother’s side throughout her illness and showing phenomenal feats of strength during this whole ordeal, ones which I know, Jay and I were in awe of. She has a career, just bought the family home, and is very happy with her beau, who also showed himself to be remarkable during this time.

Jay, the baby, has also proven himself to be successful in career and family. He owns two homes, is trying his hand at landlordship, and has received acclaims in his IT career. He has a wonderful family who adores him: a wife who loves him dearly, a beautiful baby boy that is his spitting image, and a new baby on the way.

Mom, these three wonderful children, and their children, are your legacy.

When Jay and I were married, Mom coined the phrase “Have Marriage License Will Travel” for us. It has stuck and is not only the tag line of this website, but our family mantra.

Mom, We love you and miss you. As I told you at the memorial on Wednesday, I will take good care of your baby boy.