The Sweet Pea Chronicles

One the most useful things we found this year at local garage sales was a little kids swing.

Sadly, we lack a good place to hang it outside … so we’ve improvised and hung it inside, between the kitchen and dining room. As it just hangs from metal hooks, we can let Camille look outside as she swings or into the kitchen.

Camille loves to swing, she often gets quite vocal and babbles to herself. Best of all, kitchen productivity has gone up significantly. She babbles happily away, all while I can get the dishes done or make my own lunch. I do have to keep pushing every few swings to keep her going, but get 15 free seconds after only a couple pushes. I have a feeling that I am teaching Camille `How to Make Lunch in only 23 Easy Steps!’, but it’s wonderful to unload the dishwashes and have Camille right there at the same time.

When she was only months old, when we would take her out in the stroller she would often get into this quiet, watchful, and quick-to-smile state [that I called Buddha Baby] - a variety of her quiet-alert stage. Her quiet demeanor, relaxed disposition, slow watchful look to her eyes, and her quick return of a smile reminded me of a Buddhist monk for some reason - and the term seemed to fit. As she’s gotten older, these distinct stages have generally disappeared - she’s moving closer to moods. Buddha Baby Camille is still seen when we swing, ride in the backpack carrier, and sometimes in the stroller … when she’s free on her own locomotion, I don’t think she ever stops long enough to be contemplative and quiet.

And sometimes she will take short naps in the swing, when we’re lucky - like these pictures.

Camille really loves her Mommy. From the moment she gets home at night, to waving goodbye from the garage as she drives to work every morning … Camille can’t seem to get enough.

Sometimes it can get a little much, as she doesn’t seem to want Kris to do anything but have Camille time … but it’s always so sweet to hear the door open, and see Camille hear it and start to wave as she quickly gets up and walks towards the kitchen.

And for the most part, she leaves her hair alone.

Camille walking has really eaten my time up - when she’s awake she’s constantly going. While she’s remarkable at how independent she can be [playing or reading by herself, making cute happy noises], it’s been hard to keep up on photos.

Anyway … I’m working at playing catch up with photos + you should see more regular posts for a short bit.

Since starting to crawl well, Camille has been a source of non-stop action. While it makes me fear the day when she can run [or at least my knees fear it] … she keeps herself busy. She’s remarkable at how she will play by herself, but it keeps me busy.

She’s watching everything I do, like a hawk - and a while ago realized that the mouse is an important and often used tool of Daddy’s. Given she’s tall enough to reach things on the table [up to 6" from edge if she wants to grab without looking] - it means I get enough time to check the radar or front page of my aggregated web-news before I’ve got her grabbing at the mouse.

These two - her non-stop movement and ability to seize the mouse - have made getting blog posts hard to achieve. I do admit to taking my fair share of naps with her, as I’m worn out now versus the sleepy I was with her when she was little [and non-mobile].

I’m looking forward to her walking, and going to the park all summer long - something we’ve starting doing recently, as she’s quite a fan of the swing [seen here first].

Camille really enjoys playing with my newspapers when I’m done with them in the morning.

Sometimes she likes what she reads

Sometimes she gets more irate than I do about what she reads

Sometimes she seems read to send a letter to the editor

And sometimes she just plays

Often the news of late leaves her a little melancholy

By the time she’s done, she’s forgotten all about what made her so sad, mad, and glad … and is ready for some fun