So close for so long

This entry is from Linc's dad, Sam.

Lincoln is close to crawling. Really, really close to crawling.

Its so exciting to watch him get in the all-fours position and surge back and forth, rocking his whole body in his eagerness to launch right towards what he is looking at. Every time he does it, its almost a spectator event for everyone in the room. Like a great football play or Olympic event, we all suck in our breath and will him to do it, urging him to place that hand just a little bit farther ahead, begging him silently to plant that knee. He hasn't quite done it yet, but that doesen't mean it isn't equally as heart-stopping every time. What an oddly thrilling stage in a child's life.

The thing is.. Lincoln's been at this stage for over two months. The anticipation is gonna kill me.

Now, I'm not usually one for sports references, but here goes.

Remember the Olympic 400 meter relay in Beijing? The one where the French team said that they were going to "destroy the US", and that was what they had "come here to do"? The French team was by far the favorite, and if the US team couldn't pull it off, then there was no way Michael Phelps could break Mark Spitz's record and bring home eight gold medals in one Olympic Game. Remember how we all stood up and screamed when the fourth and final American, Leezak I think, hit the water a full second behind the French captain (the one who had done the trash-talking)? Remember how you poured your heart into that TV screen and urged Leezak forward? And when his hand hit the wall a fraction of a second in front of the French swimmer, didn't you almost explode with joy and release and pride? Didn't you scream and cheer?

Usually, when she comes to the house, Linc's Occupational Therapist and I have to each take a tiny limb and move it for him. One of us does his arms and the other takes his legs, showing him the rythm of the crawling movement. The three of us move in a bizzare procession across the living room to a chant of "Left, right. Left, right." But, today he crawled almost eight feet with only one of us guiding just his legs; no help with his arms. He didn't need it.

Lincoln's been so close for so long. He's almost there..

Leezak just hit the water. I am on my feet, and screaming.

The neighbors will wonder what's going on at the Myrick house when his hand finally touches the wall.