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.

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.

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

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].

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