Lydia Log: Day 48

Six weeks minus a day, and we've established something of a routine - not that were naive enough to believe that this will last for any length of time. In fact, we're currently bracing ourselves for the rumoured six-week growth spurt, which - if anything like the previous two-week growth spurt - will leave me tired, and Terri totally sleepless and drained (literally).

A typical day now works something like this: I get up and sneak off to work while everyone else sleeps. While I'm at work, slugging coffee and otherwise struggling through the day, Terri and Lydia are at home, beaming with cuteness and petting unicorns, doing yoga and tai-chi, singing songs, spotting elves and gnomes and pixies, floating at the ceiling, training the cats to do laundry, and all kinds of other wondrous and magical Mary Poppins-y things that I could only imagine (and do). I call home at least twice a day and they pretend like nothing is happening. By the time I arrive home in the evening, they are exhausted from all of the goings on, but still maintain that nothing interesting happened that day. "We went for a walk, then I read to her and we had a nap." Right.

Recently, Lydia's fussy spells have been happening in the late evening, right around supper time. Our strategy for calming an unhappy (dry and fed) baby is to dim the lights, turn on some music, and gently bounce around the kitchen (see "Infant Dance Party"). When this works, it's kinda fun and relaxing for both baby and parent, when it doesn't - it is an unholy cacophony of noise. Backup plans involve collapsing in the rocking chair and shushing like a maniac.

As one would expect, she is becoming much more aware as she grows. Her eyes are open more often and she seems to be able to follow your hand across her face. She can also smile a little now, but I'm still not convinced this isn't gas-related. It is cute until she farts, then it's still kind of cute I guess. Oh, and she's a champion grunter - forcing her digestive system into action through sheer will and fist-clenched determination. This is cute during the day, but not so much when you're listening to it at 5:00 in the morning. And I'm sure she'll just love to hear these stories when she gets older.

The photo documentation continues. As does the parental confusion. As does the baby cuteness and neck strength and laundry demands. Stay tuned.