We're having fun but when do we sleep?

Now that everyone is feeling much healthier, we've been enjoying playing games and going outside to explore nature a little bit. Leo is fascinated by plants - especially leaves and twigs - and for some reason he finds the dustbuster scarier than the lawnmower. Inside, lately, we've been "chasing" leading to his attempts to hide, as in the photos above. It's one of the ways we can get him to laugh heartily, which is music to our ears. He is sleeping pretty well at night but still struggles against the afternoon nap. He is an Olympiac and seems to enjoy watching figure-skating almost as much as I do. He especially likes the music, and sways back and forth to it. Natural rhythm!

Because motherhood is so time and energy-consuming, I haven't had a lot of opportunities to sit back and really reflect and absorb that Leo is here and the journey of parenthood is in full swing. It's more like, okay - we gotta make breakfast, then play, then diaper, bottle, nap, walk outside, plan dinner, etc. So much to do! I try to think of each care-taking moment (feeding him a meal, changing a diaper) as an opportunity to bond and play and love and laugh. I have to say, though, that I'm very tired and have had a headache for the last 4 days. I think some of those musical toys are making me a little bonkers :) I'm even singing the tunes in my sleep - not good.

Anyway, this week we took Leo out to eat and while he got very upset at first in the restaurant, he soon relaxed. When meeting new people (including children) he is tentative, serious, sometimes scared and sometimes curious, and doesn't like to be touched right away. He looks to us for attention and reassurance. Once he's with someone for a while who he can see we trust, he allows himself to play, explore, and engage. Everyday, he reveals more of his personality to us, and I'm reminded how smart and clever he is, whether it's him figuring out how to manipulate a toy he was frustrated by the previous day, or him imitating a sound or gesture I make. When he smiles at me, my heart sings and sings.