The New Shoes

Checking them out, not quite used to the shoes yet...

Finally feeling a little more comfortable wearing shoes and socks...

Now we've come full circle and Harrison, in the new shoes, is making another break for the escalator!

I have gone back and forth on the issue of whether or not Harrison needs shoes. No, he walks great barefoot and seems so cute/like such a baby cruising around on his toes. Yes, he is walking on really uncomfortable surfaces, not to mention bashing his little toes all over the place. No, yes, I don't know...so we finally took the plunge and decided to go for Harrison's first pair of real shoes (Robeez and Crocs don't really count apparently).

All along I had this vision that we'd go to a cute little kids specialty shoe store or even a Stride Rite and an older, wise expert in kids shoes would measure H's feet, watch him walk around, help us through the process and at the end of it, he'd have light little first walking shoes and maybe a balloon. Not so much. After Papa Jim called every single shoe store listed in the Santa Barbara phone book, we found out that Nordstrom was it in SB - if we wanted shoes, that's where we'd have to get them (I guess kids shoe stores are also victims of online retail and pushy bigger shops like Nordstrom carrying the specialty brands that only they used to have). On to Nordstrom, where our very nice but not exactly experienced (was she maybe 17?) salesperson helped us make the best choice: Size 6 (yes, that is correct, size 6 aka huuuge) Stride Rite Owen Oxfords.

The pictures don't quite capture how seriously awkward the shoes on H's feet were but after a few minutes, he adapted and was soon running around the store. But honestly, it was hilarious to see him try to walk with these clunkers on, after being so accustomed to nothing! He now looks like he is about 5 and stomps all around in his shoes. Who would have guessed that one silly accessory makes him look and feel like a completely older big boy? This was one little milestone that definitely affected me and made me realize that he really isn't a baby anymore.