After months and months of work, exercise, therapy, practice, and encouragement, Madison has finally gotten her cute little body strong enough to take her first independent steps! YEAH YEAH YEAH!!!! For a few weeks she had been taking just one step (almost always with her right leg) but she couldn't seem to figure out how to shift her weight so she could move the other one, so she would do one step and then...plop. Then last Friday night she took that first step with her right leg, hesitated, then moved the left, then right then left then right then...plop. Matt and I were so excited! We have been practicing walking like crazy ever since. She is having so much fun getting around in a whole new way and is loving this new independence. She won't even hold my hand so I can help her walk. When I try to take her hand she pulls it away and toddles off all by herself. (Hopefully this is just a stage because I really, REALLY don't want to have to get her one of those toddler leashes. LOL) And, in true Maddie fashion, whenever she plops down she gets right back up and tries again. Maddie has a determination that I really admire. She never seems frustrated and no matter how many times she falls, she always bounces right back up with a smile. She is an inspiration to me.  I am so proud of her!!!