At five months and a week or two, Vibble is turning out to be a seriously easy going baby. Things that make her happy include:

[1] breathin’

Well, really that covers it. She lights up when people talk to her in chirpy voices, lights up for her mom and dad, grins with pride when she rolls on the floor, grins and laughs in her doorway jumper. The only thing that makes her unhappy seems to be sleepiness. Ninety-nine percent of the times she fusses, we find we can calm her with a Nuk and a swaddle, which ease her into sleep.

She had more shots today and weighs not quite 15 pounds. The doctor says she’s growing well.

She’s smack in the middle of the slimy phase, the one where babies put everything in their mouths. We’re somewhat skeezed by this, but mostly proud to see her progress in the realm of coordination; for so long, she could yank out the Nuk but couldn’t do much in the way of putting it back except wham it at her face with frustration (and, I’m sure, a little pain). Now she can return the little cork to the bottle. THANK GOODNESS. I know pacifiers can be controversial, and there are arguments both for their use and for their avoidance. With Vibb there’s no question. MUST! HAVE! NUK! Our collection grows and shrinks as we purchase and purchase and lose the things all over town.

In addition to having pacifiers on hand at all times, we must also have the new interest: TOYS. She’s into the bright, shiny, squishy, rubbery little baby toys we’ve been amassing for months. It seems every piece of gear comes with some little toys, and she slime-soaks and chucks them all. Here there is constant washing of Nuks, smiley-faced rattles, soft-books, and teethers.

The final item we must have with us now at all times, without fail, is a well-stocked diaper bag. Poop, poop, and more poop, and at least 50 percent of the time, a new outfit is required. For each of us.

Yesterday Violet participated as a research subject at the UCLA Baby Lab. This entailed watching a short video in which her eye movements were tracked by a cool computer within the screen. Afterwards, the researcher showed me a graphic of the movements her eyes had made during the viewing. She was a trying subject, wouldn’t sit still. But it was an interesting experience.

I know I am behind on putting together videos, but I’m working on it. Meanwhile, here are a couple of short ones to tide you over. I recommend you click on “watch in high quality”:

Boing Boing

Slurp Splash Slurp

Violet’s first time with a non-family babysitter tomorrow. She will be fine, I might not. It’s just for two hours, mostly for my own easing into the process. Steve and I will go out to dinner. Maybe on the front stoop.