Stage 8: First Steps

First time standing

             None of us remember our first steps. Yes, we have home videos and pictures, but our parents or those that were around us at the time that we took those first remarkable steps will remember that feeling of accomplishment for us. On Monday, March 26, 2012, I witnessed the love of my life take his first steps for the second time. At first, my eyes started tear up when I saw him stand and start walking, but then I started to laugh. I swear to God that I love Joe with all my heart, but he looked just like Bambi when he started to walk. His legs were wobbly and his steps were small then big, big then small. Even though I couldn’t help but laugh, that was truly one of the proudest moments in my life. All the heartache, confusion, days of waiting, and seeing him go through so much pain in those first few weeks seemed to just fade in my memory.   

            Joe doesn’t show his emotions often, but I could see in his face that at that very moment that he stood and walked that he was the happiest he has been in a couple months. He was glowing. Everything about his posture showed how happy he was. I hadn’t seen him that happy since October when we saw each other for the first time in over two years.    Since then, he has been more loving and affectionate towards me, which of course I absolutely love! I think that milestone really affected everything about out daily living; we wake up happier, we kiss each other in public; we eat dinner sitting by each other rather than far apart.

First Steps

            My birthday is the 27^th of March, the day after his first steps. I wasn’t expecting much from him in terms of gifts, he hasn’t left base and we both didn't have much time to really think about my birthday. His sister and her friend came down for the week to celebrate with us. It was so nice to see them and have them here to be part of his first steps and my 21^st birthday. I did get the greatest gift from Joe though, his gift was those Bambi-like first steps and on the afternoon of my birthday, we were sitting and having a conversation with Cory in the hallway about our lives here at Walter Reed. It was a random spot, but it was a great time. Towards the end, we started to stand up and get ready to head back to our rooms. Joe pulled me over and put both his hands on my cheeks, which is something that he usually does because I have huge cheeks. This time it was different though, he looked deep into my eyes. He was looking so deep that I could feel him looking for my thoughts within my mind. Then he kissed me on the cheek, nothing more, just a simple kiss on the cheek. It was the perfect moment.

            

Stage 8 in the Journey of Unexpecting the Unexpected