Today was a Big Day. We went to the park, and Claire rode the bucket swing at the playground. She was thrilled. She grinned and flirted and giggled. She stared at the trees swaying in the wind. She watched other children run around. And then, I decided to see if she was big enough to sit in the stroller without being in the infant seat. And she was! So instead of facing me and looking up at the world, she faced away from me and got a whole new perspective.

I’m really pleased for her. It’s odd; I felt a little lonely pushing the stroller. Up until that point, I could always smile, coo, talk and sing, and she’d be engaged with me. The new position engaged her with the world. It’s a small reminder of the eventual direction her life will take, and it was poignant.

However, she isn’t through with me yet. I held her for two naps in the chair, and she fell asleep within three minutes each time. (I love watching her sink into sleep. She smacks her lips a little and turns her head toward me.) Then around 5 p.m. she got whiny; I pulled out the Moby wrap and she brightened. I put her in it and danced slowly to lullabies with her, and then she fell asleep against my chest.