The toddling Jun

We have noticed that Jun was already able to walk when he was one year old, but his hesitation was holding him back. Sometimes I could see him thinking about the possibility to walk, but instead crawling was still more secure. At 13 months, almost the same age as Fei Fei, he started to take his first, then second, then many steps. Since the end of April, he's gained more and more confidence to walk, falling down at times as he tries to catch a ball or his big sister, but he would get up right away. With his arms arching back like a bird ready to take off, he just goes, shifting his center of gravity from one leg to the other (as Mark analyses). His walking has gotten so sophisticated now that he can even turn around an object if it's in his way. I joked that when Fei Fei learned to walk, she was more like a dinosaur, crutching her arms in front of herto maintain her balance.

His confidence level has also grown in his speech. There is still no clear words that he is speaking besides "ma ma" for "more more", or "da da" for practically anything. But his desire to communicate is so fun to watch. The other day he threw something on the floor. And then he started to try to tell us what happened, with hand gestures wiping his tray table and pointing to the floor: "da da da...zzzzzzzthhhthhthssss....da da da", with a big grin on his face. 

Even with limited speech, he manages to interact with all of us. At dinner table he would make silly sounds with his lips to get Fei Fei to copy him, and most of the times she would actually follow him. And realized it is not appropriate to do so, she would speak in a "stern" voice, "no Jun Jun, No spitting at the table!" It didn't occur to me that sibling interaction happens so early. Then when he sees his favorite blueberry jelly, whole milk yogurt, or fruit of any kind, he will make sure that Mark and I know that he wants it NOW :)