My D was very friendly. One day when she was 2 and we were at Sears, she decided to duck into a rounder and hide. I looked frantically for her and one of the sales associates offered to page her in a store announcement. D turned up 1/2 way across the huge store, staring at her clothes as they were described over the loudspeaker, trying to decide if they were talking about her!
It doesn’t take long that’s for sure for a toddler to take off. My H and I saw a toddler in the middle of the mall crying and I KNEW that kid was lost. We took him to mall security who paged over mall system and the parents showed up in a split second totally panicked. He had been in a main anchor store and wandered off and was half down the distance of the mall when we spotted him. The parents of course had alerted the main store but it was so fast he was out the main door and down the mall.
My D got out of her stroller once and literally ran full speed down the mall. I had to abandon packages, stroller, everything to run after her! Ugh.
@calmom my mom and her brothers were military brats and traveled a LOT by ship. In almost all of their ship pictures, all 3 of her brothers were on leashes because they kept trying to go overboard. I don’t blame my grandma at all lol. I won’t hesitate to put baby on a leash if I have to, especially since my mobility issues make it hard for me to just drop everything and run.
We had his 6 month appt today. 27" (up to 55th percentile!) and just under 18 lb (jumped up to 45th percentile). Perfectly healthy and WAY ahead on his motor skill mile stones and about on track with verbal.
He refuses to sit. He either wants to lay or stand (he can’t stand on his own but can hold himself up if you stand him up) but not sit. The doctor tried to make him sit and he just laughed at her. Definitely my child ?(aka we’re in trouble).
Speaking of running around the mall, mine were terribly unreliabe in public for a while and I was always embarrassed. It truly seems, around here, babies don’t wail, kids don’t have to touch everything or pull things off the shelves.
I’ve told this story before. One day, a woman in front of me in line seemed to be scowling at my kids’ behavior. I breathed deeply, tried to corral the girls, did what I could to dodge her. But she leaned into me and said, “At that age, I think my son was worse.” That broke more ice than I’d imagined possible. A turnaround moment. I try to return the favor, when I can.
My missing child story is also in the mall. I would take my toddler daughter to the mall and let her out of her stroller in the video “entertainment” store (yep dating myself here). She would enjoy going around the aisles of cds, movies, etc. I typically had no problem keeping track of her Once day, as everybody else says, I turned around and she was gone. Just as I started to panic and realize she had left the store, she came walking back into the store.
I was tagged elsewhere so figured while I’m here, I’ll give an update.
Baby boy turned 7 months on Halloween. (He was baby yoda to absolutely no one’s surprise - I’ll put up pics in his album soon.) He crawls easily and has been pulling himself up on things to stand for about a week now and he cruises a little. He desperately wants to stand independently and tries to climb up everything.
He babbles and says “mama” but doesn’t have any idea what it means (as far as I can tell).
He loves pasta and green beans. The only thing he hasn’t been a huge fan of was baby curry.
His favorite “toys” continue to be the dog and anything musical.
SEVEN MONTHS!!! O_o
@MYOS1634 I know right? I’m not OK with it.
Ok Halloween and 7 month pics updated 
Along with a few videos. Definitely check out the one where the dog is freaking out because the baby was in his crib (and turn the sound on!)
Totally adorable!
Oh such fun! I always wanted a magic wand to keep them at the 5-8 month age!
Do not worry about social exposure at this age. As I recall kids will “parallel play” their first two years- eg play side by side while ignoring each other. I think ten months old babies are very upset by others they previously liked so be aware when he starts screaming if/when you let someone he knows hold him!
By the time he needs to be with peers the virus isolation time should be over. And, at this stage you can’t spoil him like later catering to every want/need.
Remember that we all will make mistakes- regardless of our training/exposure to kids/experience. Sometimes it seems amazing our kids survive, and turn out (mostly) normal.
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I haven’t been on for several months but since I’m here, figured I’d update. (I will eventually update pictures. Life has just been very chaotic.)
Ren is 10 months (11 in a week!) and doing great. He’s been standing independently since about 8 months and can easily stand from the ground without support and stay for as long as he wants. He CAN walk but he doesn’t want to. The only time we catch him walking is when he thinks we’re not watching 
Still very little talking but he does do things like wave hi and bye, look when we mention people, that kind of thing.
He eats everything but pasta is still his favorite. He’s still a total water bug. He’s a daredevil and still climbs EVERYTHING. He loves playing peekaboo and hides himself under all the blankets lol.
His favorite “person” is still the dog. He’s honestly just a very good baby all the way around. He easily sleeps through the night and goes down easily for naps. And he sleeps in until 9-10 every day - which is awesome lol.
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I’m glad to hear that everyone is doing well. We’d love to see photos!
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I will update them today and tomorrow.
I started a new fellowship in January and have just been behind on life since before the holidays lol.
I just did a massive photo and video dump. Enjoy!
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Headed to see photos - was thinking of you recently but just don’t come on here much since the last redesign. How is that precious little one nearly a year old already??
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Thanks for the spectacular photos. Ren looks so happy and curious!
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Thanks for checking in!
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Speaking of photo dump. Check there for a walking video now