There is something magical not only from a mother hen perspective (do you see my preening feathers?), but also from a biological perspective to watch a human learn to walk. It is pure, raw evolution in the making. I am so humbled to have seen this twice in my life, and it is breathtaking each time.

I love the look of pure glee on Alice’s face. She is determined and stubborn and proud. It amazes me, at just 10.5-months-old, that she can feel and so clearly articulate such emotions without saying a word.

Yesterday afternoon Alice let go of my hands and took two wobbly, newborn deer steps toward Eric. We wrote it off because she kinda fell forward, and pshaw — the kid’s barely 10 months old.

This morning she let go of the upstairs bathroom vanity and took two not-so-wobbly steps across the tile, hands straight up in the air, big ass goofy grin on her face.

We can’t be surprised, considering she was RUNNING with a resin table at the cottage two weeks ago:

I give it two weeks ’till she’s scampering after Lucy. And my baby days will officially be over forever.

Feeding dill pickles to babies!

From my Canadian babies to yours:

(Yes, Alice can wave!)

I am done having kids.

As much as I adore my girls, I don’t want any more of them. Two is enough: Physically, emotionally, financially.

My uterus has a big blinking red sign that reads No Vacancy. Ever Again.

(How come people have such a hard time believing you when you tell them this? No matter what I say, they nod their heads knowingly. “Oh, you say that now! But you never know…” Actually, yes, I do.)

Eric and I both agree. But what we’re debating is when is the best time for him to have The Procedure (seriously, go listen to this song from Family Guy, when Lois tells Peter to have a vasectomy after a pregnancy scare. It’s hilarious).

I’m ready for him to have it tomorrow. No, make that yesterday. And have told him he’s not coming near me until it’s taken care of.

He thinks I’m joking. But I want there to be absolutely no chance for an accident, or, as Lucy says, “A big mess.”

Eric’s argument is, unfortunately, a scary and valid one: What if something happens to Alice in the next 10 months when there’s the highest risk something can? Or even to Lucy? Shouldn’t we wait — a year, he’s proposing — just in case?

(This has hit more close to home lately, too: A woman whose blog I read recently had her 4-month-old grandson die of SIDS, just before Christmas. How utterly sad and devastating. Even thought Alice is sleeping so well at night, I am still up several times checking on her.)

As valid a concern I think that is, I only want to bring two children into this world. Now that they’re here, what happens will happen. I worry I’d be replacing them, and the child would spend her/his whole life chasing a shadow.

Thoughts?