Out of sight, out of mind...

Most babies develop a new skill around 6 months called object permanence. Prior to this out of sight literally meant out of mind. Now they can remember people and things exist, even when they can’t see them. This is closely linked with separation anxiety which occurs because now a child actually remembers that you exist when you aren’t physically present. For the first time they are capable of missing you. It also means that unfortunately they are now capable of remembering that you were there when they fell asleep but are missing when they wake up.

So this is another new 6 month skill for our supreme being. The downside of this is that our once deep sleeping beauty has suddenly decided that she will happily let us know every time she wakes up that we aren't there. This generally involves entirely waking herself (and us) up, and taking an hour to get back to sleep again. Oh wonderous sleep - where did you go? And why didn't we teach her to put herself to sleep before now? I just hope the Ancient Greeks were right and that "nothing is permanent"...

On the plus side however, we've now been able to start playing peep-o, which is giving us all great delight (in between craving more sleep). I had been trying for weeks but this was being met with blank looks, and it was only when her own good feminist attitude to discovery kicked in that it seemed to entertain. Who needs men eh?

Video clip: Like a true tomboy, thank goodness she had trousers on underneath...

And so the 6 month firsts just keep on coming... She now faces outwards in her pushchair and takes great delight in interacting with the world. She's also strong enough to be tossed around and sit on Daddy's shoulders - which gives me great delight. Can't wait to see what else there is in store in the coming weeks....just hope that sleep finds it way back to this voyage of discovery.