People often ask me if now that Brooke is walking if things are harder for me.  “Her walking doesn’t make it harder,” I answer, which is completely true.  If anything her walking makes it easier.  My relaxed walking cadence is faster than most adults and as a distance runner that goes for running too.  I am not worried about ‘keeping up’ because she has to keep up with me.  As it stands, I have more energy than she does.  What IS a problem, however, is that she is TWICE the size she should be at this age.  Therefore, she can reach things that a baby her age shouldn’t be able to. Such as: anything not in the exact center of the dinning room table, everything on every table top downstairs, all shelves and top of all bookcases, my desk top, the top of the banister, our nightstands and dressers, bathroom vanities, etc, etc.  In fact, we have to keep our remote control for the TV on the fireplace mantle because the is the only surface downstairs she cannot reach. Now a two year old (which is how big Brooke is) has some knowledge and understanding of what to touch (whether they decide to listen to you notwithstanding).  Unfortunately, it is near impossible to expect that cognitive ability out of a 13 month old.  This is why we have these EXTRA TALL gates.  One keeps her out of the kitchen because, yes, she would reach the burners.  This morning after breakfast Brooke decided after being let out of her high chair that she didn’t like that Mommy was washing her tray and putting the dishes in the dishwasher (which mind you took all of 60-90 seconds) and decided to cry and then attempt to climb into the kitchen.  I was so surprised I couldn’t help but laugh and take a few pictures.