You have been rolling from your belly to your back for many months. I think you first did this around two months, and it was quite startling at the time (for both of us)! I wasn’t expecting it, and clearly neither were you. That first time you rolled over so fast that your little head bumped the floor and you became upset. I hadn’t seen it coming and therefore wasn’t prepared to slow you down or protect your head. But from that moment on I knew to be prepared for you to roll and to be extra vigilant so that I could intercept you in the middle of the roll and slow you down before your head met the floor.

So over the months you’ve been rolling and rolling, always front to back, and then you’ve been quite content hanging out on your back after a roll. About four weeks ago you were clearly working on rolling back to front. You’d bring your legs in to your chest, then roll to your side, then straighten them in an attempt to roll over. You’d do this over and over, although you didn’t seem frustrated that you hadn’t yet succeeded. Until one day, you did. And then it was a constant repetition of you rolling from your back to your belly, then you’d get frustrated and seemingly forget that you knew how to roll to your back again, you’d start crying out and we’d roll you back to your back. Then you’d roll over again. And again and again and again this process repeats itself.

The problem is, you are doing this all day and all night long. We’ve learned that we cannot ever leave you on the changing table, even strapped in, because you wiggle around and roll over and have nearly fallen off. We’ve learned that when you’re in a fitful sleep you wiggle and roll, ending up on your belly which then wakes you up and makes you upset. But when we place you on your back again, you almost instantly roll over to your belly. I’m unsure why this is your natural reaction to being placed on your back, especially when it is clearly so frustrating to you to end up on your belly. And I wonder why you don’t just roll back over to your back, when you’ve had this skill for months. It is so fun and interesting, amazing and simultaneously perplexing, to watch you advance through the various steps of learning a new skill.

You got a stuffy nose and have had a little cough and sneezes since last Thursday. Since you were supposed to return the nanny with Isla today, and since you’ve never had anything like this before, we decided to play it extra safe and we went to the doctor yesterday. It was your first visit that was NOT a well-baby exam, and it sure is hard knowing that you’re not feeling well. But the doctor checked you out and wasn’t too concerned, saying you probably picked up a little cold from the recirculated air in the plane. She just said we needed to clear your little nose with a syringe, and she sent us on your way. I sure hope you feel better soon!

Tonight we had so much fun meeting the little girls of some of my cousins. Cale and Dorothy have Logan, who is a little over one year old, and although they live in Denver we only just met Logan for the first time tonight. She is so cute and big, walking around with the support of her parents and feeding herself. Then we met Ian and Sarah’s little girl, Francesca. She was born almost two months after you, and they all live in California, so this was also the first time we met her. Sarah and I had lots of communications with each other commiserating about the pregnancy experience while we were waiting for you two to arrive. And since neither of us found out the sex of the baby ahead of time, we had lots of fun wondering and sharing the anticipation together. So it was really special to meet everyone tonight.

Sarah has an old picture of the moms of the three cousins (me, Cale, and Ian) holding all of us when we are probably about the same age as you are now. It is such a cute picture, with Cale crying in one and Aunt Donna looking startled, then with Ian looking so happy and me looking around curiously. It’s the first baby picture of myself that I’ve seen since you’ve been born, and I do see a lot of resemblance to you.

Anyway, Sarah wanted to recreate the picture. So all the moms sat down, in the same order as that original, 35-year old or so picture, and held our little ones and took many pictures. Everyone was pretty content in the pictures, but in many of them you are reaching out towards Francesca. You are displaying the curiosity and outgoing personality that is so representative of you. I love that this picture captures you perfectly, and I wonder if someday you’ll recreate it.

Today was your baptism, and it was so special to have family and friends there to support you. You wore a baptism gown that is at least 70 years old; your papa wore it as did your Uncle Kyle, cousin Kyle and myself. Uncle Brett didn’t get to wear it because he was born while papa was in Vietnam, and by the time papa got back, Brett no longer fit in it. It is a very special gown and I was so happy you fit in it and were able to wear it. You also wore a cute handkerchief bonnet and you were just so cute. You did pretty good at the beginning of the service, and luckily the baptism was scheduled early on. I was wondering how you’d react to the pastor pouring the water on your head, but you didn’t really respond at all to it. After the baptism you got fussy (the organ was really loud, so I blame it at least partially on that) so you and I left and went to the nursery. You had fun playing in there for a bit, then your aunt Jen came and got you. She of course worked her baby whisperer magic and you fell right asleep. After the service we took lots of pictures; you slept through it all.

Afterward Brett and Jen hosted a wonderful reception for you at their house. The food and drinks were great and it was so nice to be able to hang out with all of our family and friends; it just felt so neat to have everyone there to show their love and support for you. You received lots of nice books and such a beautiful, handmade quilt from Jen. It is something you will have and cherish forever.

This morning your grandpa and grandma were busy getting ready for the Marla Bay BBQ, but your grandma wanted to introduce you to some of her friends while everyone was outdoors getting ready for the event. So she took you for about an hour which enabled your dad and I to get packed up and ready for the day. Then we headed to Reno where we ran some errands to get items for your baptism party tomorrow and then went and hung out with uncle Brett and cousin Kyle. We played outside for a bit but it quickly got too hot and we all retreated inside. Soon your aunt Jen and nana got home too and we all chatted. You got tired and we put you down on the bed. After awhile your dad and I needed to leave to meet Chris and Christina for dinner, and Jen offered to keep an eye on you since you were still sleeping. We were excited for a night out, and for you to be sleeping so well, and Jen was more than happy to get to watch you. At dinner we kept checking our phones thinking that Jen would be calling to tell us you were awake, but you slept through the entire dinner – sleepy baby.

Today we spent another nice day on the beach. Your uncle Kyle and Joy drove up to join us, and we all had a relaxing day playing on the kayaks and resting with you on the beach.

Your dad cooked a nice dinner for everyone, and we all enjoyed hanging out on the deck. Your uncle Kyle had lots of fun playing with you, and you had lots of fun trying to get your head into his wine glass.

But shortly thereafter you got really fussy (maybe you were still upset about not being able to conquer the wine glass?). Yesterday and today your nose has been a bit congested and you’ve had a little bit of a cough and some sneezes. We’re not sure if it’s allergies or if you’re getting a cold, but you’ve never had these symptoms before. We hope you’re not getting sick. We walked you around the neighborhood for a bit and that did the trick and you fell asleep. I hope you feel better tomorrow!

Today we had a nice day relaxing on the beach. Your dad and I got to sail a bit, but mostly we just enjoyed lounging around with you.

This afternoon we headed down to the Carson Valley, where your dad grew up. We ate at the JT, a fun Basque restaurant and bar known for its good food, strong Picon drinks, and interesting characters and decor. Your dad’s grandpa even has his cowboy hat hung on the wall there! You fit right in; you had no clothes on! When we were at the lake we gave you a bath and you got really fussy while we were getting you dressed, so we decided to give up on the task for the time being and we stuck you in your carseat and headed down to the valley. We figured you’d wake up before dinner and we’d get you dressed then. But you didn’t wake up! Finally we decided we needed to head to dinner before it got to late, and you slept through the entire dinner.

After dinner, once you finally woke up and had some clothes on, you played on a little rocking horse at your grandparent’s house. Your dad had to hold you, but someday soon it’ll be just the right size for it. You seemed mildly interested in it and I think you were mostly trying to keep your balance while it was moving back and forth.

Today is your five month birthday, and you welcomed the day by sleeping eight hours straight! Your dad and I couldn’t believe it; this is the most consecutive sleep we’ve had in exactly five months. We’re literally astonished at how great you’re sleeping here. We did a lot of research trying to figure out where to put you to sleep at night. A lot of people recommend a pack-n-play, but we just couldn’t fathom bringing one camping. We ended up buying a Phil and Ted’s travel nest and putting it between us, and it was perfect. Your dad and I have been joking that maybe we need to set up the tent at home and start sleeping in it.

We also struggled with what to dress you in at night since the temperatures were going to be in the forties. We put a onesie on you, then a footed onesie over that, and finally put you in a fleece sleep sack. We topped it all off with a little cotton cap on your head. Apparently it was the perfect ensemble.

Today we packed up and headed out of the camp. I boated out and your dad hiked out with you and met me at Baldwin Beach. Then we headed over to your grandma and grandpa Stephan’s cabin in Marla Bay. We put you in your patriotic swimsuit and walked down to the beach. You were irresistibly, impossibly cute. People couldn’t contain their amusement at seeing you in your outfit, and so we had lots of people stopping to chat and look at you.

We came back to the cabin and your father helped me with the requisite ‘birthday’ photo shoot. You were holding a little flag and you had a tutu on, and seemed to be having the time of your life rolling around and waving the flag.

Tonight I was tired from the kayak trip out and the day in the sun, and I thought going to bed early sounded infinitely better than watching fireworks, so I stayed with you and we went to bed. Your first firework viewing will have to wait for next year.

You had another great night of sleep last night and today we hiked to Vikingsholm. Everyone went and toured the house but we opted to hike around the area since we toured it just last year. We hiked for an hour and you seemed to enjoy it, constantly looking around taking in the sites and sounds. We’re so happy that you’re loving the outdoors like we do.

We had a little bit of trepidation about camping with you. We wondered how’d you do outdoors for days on end, if it’d be too cold at night, how you’d sleep, and whether it’d just be too hard getting all of your gear in to the campsite. Before we went we did a lot of research about camping with a little one and we even tried to solicit advice from others who had camped. People seemed to fall into two camps (ha!): either they camped with a little one and it went well and they’ve been camping as a family ever since, or they wouldn’t even consider trying camping with a small child. The latter group of people had so many fears about camping and such strong opinions against it that they made me question our decision to camp with you. But I’m so glad we gave it a go!

You did great last night. You haven’t had a very predictable or good sleep routine ever since we’ve been back from HI, and you haven’t been sleeping that consistently recently. But last night you did great. You went down easily, woke once in the middle of the night for a feeding, and went right back to sleep. You woke in the morning for a feeding at your normal time, then we all snuggled and went back to sleep for another hour. It was wonderful and I’m so excited that we’re able to introduce you to this experience so early.

Today we boated (you did not) and lounged on the beach.

There’s no shortage of hands wanting to hold you.

Aunt Jen held you and dipped your tiny feet into Lake Tahoe. You seemed curious and interested, picking up and moving your feet about. After a couple of minutes you expressed your displeasure at the activity, letting us know you’d had enough of the cold water. You lasted longer than I thought you would. The water is COLD this year. Last year your uncles and I (and you in my belly!) swam out to the island every day. We all did it today and I think it is the coldest I’ve ever been in water. Brett said it was 55 degrees out. It was craziness. I won’t be doing that swim any more this week.

And we discovered that your aunt has a special touch with you; she is great at calming you down and getting you to sleep. We’ve started calling her the baby whisperer, and our never-ending quest to get them to move to CO has just increased in urgency.