"Goochie, goochie gooooo! How 'bout a smiley-wiley?"

Since K-T has been able to hold her head steady, I've been putting her in the baby carrier facing outwards so that she can see the world.

I'm sure you've seen some moms walking around with these carriers on. They're the ones where the baby is strapped to the moms chest. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, please refer to K-T's post from Sept. 15th 2006. There's a pic of me with her in the carrier before she could hold her head up.

It's been about a month and a half and she absolutely loves it.

We walk around and she's all like, "OOOOooooo. Oooo. Oo."

And I'm like, "Do you see the trees, K-T? The trees are green. The trees are tall. Taller than Mommy. Do you hear the doggie barking? Boy, he is a loud doggie" or "Okay K-T, time to get the milk. The milk is cold. Brrrrrrr. Okay. Now, we can't forget Mommy's yogurt!"

I must sound like a complete tool.

Anyways, when we are walking around the grocery store or at the mall, it is just about guaranteed that someone is going to approach us and start talking directly to K-T. It's the funniest thing. They completely ignore me and start jabbering nonsense to her. They ALWAYS try to get her to smile.

Which leads me to my point. K-T doesn't smile at strangers.

No matter how ridiculous a face they make, no matter how high and squeaky their voices get, she just stares at them as if she is thinking to herself, "What IS this idiot DOING?"

They're always let down. You can see it in their faces. They expect her to smile and when she doesn't, it's almost like it ruins their day.

Then these people always say something like, "Hmph. ALL babies smile at me" or, "Ohhhh. No smile for me, baby?"

Translation: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR BABY?

I don't know. I don't know why she doesn't smile at you. She smiles plenty at home.

It always leaves me feeling bad that she won't smile for them.

So, I tell them that she is "soaking it all in". That there is so much to see that she just can't focus on them to smile. That she might be overwhelmed.

I really don't think this is true. But, the people buy it because then they keep talking to her.

"Awwwwww. Poor baybee. That's okaaaaaay. It's all too much for you, huh? Oh look! The wittle baybee is wooking at da buttons! Are you gonna help Mommy push da buttons? I bet you are! Push! Push! Push! Aren't you the cutest wittle baybee? Yeeeeeees. Soooooo keeeeeyyyyyuuuuute!"

Sigh.