Independent Standing

The week before my 30th birthday Liam began standing independently. He wouldn't push himself up from the ground, but if he pulled up on something he could then let go and stand for a few seconds. Terry and I would make a game out of it, setting him up and then letting him stand and balance by himself. Sometimes we'll count out loud how long he's been standing. And whenever he decides he's done we clap for him.

During my birthday weekend he set a record, standing by himself for thirty seconds before he got down!

Just after his first birthday he seemed to start boycotting independent standing. When I would try to set him up and let him go he would lean heavily back into me, so that he was almost horizontal and if I took my hands off his back he'd flop over unceremoniously. This boycott went on for about a week. During that time, the only times I saw him stand independently would be when he was leaning against the coffee table and wanted to pick something up with both his hands. Without really realizing he was doing it, then he'd be standing a bit apart from the table intently examining whatever had caught his fancy. Soon he'd realize he was standing, and very cautiously he would slowly squat down to a kneeling position. But in the past few days he has started independent standing again, and seems like he may be ready to take some dramatic first steps (perhaps more like stuntman dives) soon.

Here's an video of Liam's early standing efforts.