First Steps and New Signs

Alden has a nasty case of gastroenteritis. We're approaching the end of day 5 and there's still no conclusive sign that the illness is letting up. Poor little guy. Despite feeling lousy all week, Alden has had several huge cognitive leaps. He took his first steps on his own last night and is standing up on his own for up to 30 seconds or so. He loves to plunge head-first into a pile of pillows or a down comforter. He plays peekaboo with himself by tossing a baby blanket over his head and giggling. He's learned how to stack blocks, and is no longer only content to destroy stacks. This isn't to say he doesn't love a good demolition, but now he balances it by constructing them methodically and carefully, then gleefully smashing them. He's also learned 3 new hand signs - "all done", "diaper change" and "Uncle Ben". In fact, he signs "Uncle Ben" frantically when being put down for a nap or during a particularly egregious diaper change, as if trying to summon him to swoop in a save the day. "Help, help, Uncle Ben!...." It's pretty funny, but also a little sad because Ben isn't staying with us anymore and it's hard to explain his absence to a 14 month old.