Sara gently rocked Liz back and forth, trying to calm her.
All morning the infant had done nothing but cry; She ate then cried, Sara changed her then Liz cried, she played while crying.
Sara didn't know what to do. Liz had always been a happy baby; She had never cried this much her entire life.
"Oh Liz, what's wrong? Here, play with your toys and I'll go call the doctor."
She set Liz down on the colorful quilt she kept handy for when the baby wanted to play.
Liz fussed quietly while knocking two red blocks together; Sara kept her eye on her and dialed the pediatrician's number.
"Dr. Moore's office. How may I help you?" A polite secretary asked.
Sara blinked her eyes a few times, almost as if she didn't understand; But at the last moment she decided to answer.
"Yes, this is Sara Sidle. My daughter Elizabeth just won't stop crying. I've tried everything and I just need to know if maybe I should bring her in."
"Ms. Sidle, Sidle, oh here you are," Sara figured the woman was looking for the correct file. "Elizabeth is nine months old; That's such a cute age. Perhaps she's just a little fussy."
Sara shook her head as if the woman were standing before her.
"Liz does not get fussy. She's never cried this much in her life; I don't know what's wrong with—"
She stopped dead, her voice cracking violently.
Liz was grasping the couch and was pulling herself upward; She was no longer crying even though her cheeks were still tear stained.
"Oh my God," Sara whispered into the phone.
The secretary became worried.
"Sara, right? What's wrong?"
She didn't answer right away; Her eyes were following Liz's every move.
Liz was taking her sweet time standing up; She'd almost get there and then fall down.
"Oh, um, nothing. She stopped crying."
"Is she okay? I mean, what is she doing?" The secretary asked.
Sara's eyes widened as Liz stood all the way up; At first, nothing happened.
No cooing noises or falling down.
She just stood there. Then after she realized Sara was watching her, she looked around to see if anyone else was there.
Upon seeing no one else, Liz shrieked happily; She seemed to know that she had just accomplished something extraordinary.
"She just stood up. I-I have to go," Sara whispered as she hung up the phone.
Liz bounced up and down carefully, making sure she didn't fall; Sara rushed to her side.
"Liz! You are amazing! You stood up! Oh my God and your father isn't here," Sara exclaimed.
Liz shook her head knowingly but continued bouncing up and down.
"Do you want to walk?"
Sara held her index fingers out and Liz immediately latched her tiny hands around them.
Sara slowly hopped backwards, which was quite a feat for someone on their knees.
Liz looked unsure about what to do next.
"Move your leg, honey. Take a step, I know you can. You used to kick something fierce when you were younger so I know you can do this."
It never occurred to Sara to wait until Gil got home; The only thing on her mind were the images of Liz standing up.
The reality of it didn't hit her until later; Her baby really was growing up.
Liz stuck her tongue out of her mouth, the way Gil did when he was concentrating incredibly hard.
As fast as lightning, she took a few wobbly steps then looked at her mother.
Sara had tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Liz, you are such a smart little girl! Do it again for Momma?"
Liz babbled quickly then took a few more steps.
Sara scooped her up into her arms; She was smiling and crying at the same time, something that had never happened very often.
"You are so smart! But no more until Daddy gets home, okay?"
Just then, Gil entered.
"Hello, lad—What's going on?"
Sara half-ran over to Gil; She couldn't wait another minute to tell him.
"She walked! Liz walked! She really did! Oh you should have seen it, she was crying and crying so I called the doctor and I looked over and she was standing up. Then she held my fingers and she walked! Let's so Daddy, Liz!" Sara shared excitedly, all in one breath.
Gil smiled proudly.
"I always knew she was smart. Will you show me, Liz?"
She clapped happily as Sara put her down on the floor.
Once again, she steadied herself with the couch and in an instant she was standing up.
Sara beamed as she knelt down and offered her index fingers; Liz blew a raspberry so hard she almost knocked herself over.
"Liz, you need my fingers to walk, remember?"
As the words left Sara's mouth, Liz took one step, then two, then five.
Her foot hit the floor on her last step and she sneezed, instantly making her fall on her behind.
"Did you see that!"
"Oh my God! First she stands up be herself then she walked! I can't breathe," Sara choked out, picking Liz up and hugging her tightly.
Gil sat on the barstool, eyes wide in amazement and mouth slightly open.
"She… she walked," He stuttered.
Sara nodded joyfully.
"I think we should celebrate!"
She handed Liz to Gil with a smile; He touched Liz's nose as he accepted her into his arms.
"You're amazing. You are the smartest baby in the world," He cooed.
"How does the diner sound?" Sara asked, drying her eyes on her sleeves.
She couldn't believe Liz had walked; It really came as a shock to her. Liz was only nine months old! That seemed far to young to be walking, Sara thought.
"Great. I'll get her dressed while you calm down," He laughed.
Sara nodded as he carried Liz back to the bedroom.
"She really is growing up," She sniffled, "And I'm not ready for it."