Waking and sleeping

It's 11pm and I'm starting a blog post.

Tara, why aren't you blogging more?

Anyway.

I wanted to check in because at this point I think you were given more regular photos of Olaiya as a baby at this age and back then I didn't have a blog or Facebook.

So here's the girl, Matilda Dean, at 5.5 months.

Slightly sober here 'cause she was overdue for a nap, but it's her very first stroller ride sans infant carrier! Yeah, that's vintage 2004 light blue plaid you see, the Olaiya model. But hey, even if it was in there, you wouldn't recognize her car seat. Nope. It's a far hipper, red and brown with silver body, 2009 model!

But hey, wasn't she using the matching car seat just at Christmas? Like in this photo here?

Yes. Yes she was. But she no longer fits in that car seat. She outgrew it. Totally maxed out. The straps would lengthen no more. So our friends, who have baby boy twins about to turn two, loaned us one of their big and tall infant carriers. It's awesome. When we first put her in it I was all, "Awww, she's small again!" So thankful to still be able to cart her around on the go. And yes, there's a whole lot less lugging that's happening since this carrier is bigger, but get this - sweet new car seat still drops into my stroller! And latches!! It's a miracle. So baby girl can be taking one of her naps in the car (we often do naps birdcage style - the blanket goes over top, dolly is in, and she goes to sleep) and boom - I lift it up and out and into the stroller. Still sleepin'. Serious lifestyle saver.

The baby girl when we're not on the go with Douglas (so says his tag, plus we have a Homestar Runner soft spot for the name Douglas, so it sticks), her crib sleep lovey. The back of his neck is the absolutely perfect shape for her little arms to clutch! Well chosen, Gramma!

And now, a coordinating video of waking Matilda! (Yeah, I'm probably going to do that a lot. Any action verb as a gerund preceding her name. It's just too tempting. Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda...) Who records the waking of a baby? Haven't you heard that you never wake a sleeping baby? Her nap needed to be over. It's okay.

Waking Matilda from Tara Lewis on Vimeo.

Can you stand the baby eye rubs?! I can't get enough of them. They just seem like such a coordinated, adult maneuver for a baby to execute. I love them. And my absolute favorite, which I'm kicking myself for not knowing if I ever captured infant Matilda doing it, the make-your-body-in-the-shape-of-a-C, wake up stretch? With the fists out, the neck back and the back arched? When I picked her up from sleeping as a newborn, my hands under her arms, her head would nearly touch her heels. And I've found that I do it too! Just a much less flexible and endearing, standing, adult version.

I do know that I have two other, older, growing and thriving children. I'll be sure to give them some play soon...promise.