Tristin and Isabella: Getting outside

In the last 4 months I have to say, I've been very bad about taking T out for walks, drives, visits to the mall, etc. Unlike other infants who love their car seats and enjoy being out, T is actually the opposite. He's an angel at home - sleeps, eats and plays well. Out -- he's less than an angel. Unless the car is moving, he starts to cry and about less than an hour into our time out, he usually starts to fuss. I don't know if its the external stimulation or the movement but in the hours that he's out, he does not sleep a wink -- he'll keep his eyes wide open until he's so exhausted, he's uncontrollably unhappy. When he was younger, C and I would resort to a pacifier to last us through a fast lunch or a quick visit to the mall. These days, C and I have resorted to keeping him at home. Prioritizing T's naps, C and I would take turns watching him.

A few weeks ago, I made a belated new year's resolution to take T out more often -- for walks, visits to the park, car rides, etc. Mommy has to learn to shed her fears and insecurities of taking T out and T has to learn to behave better -- less crying and more sleeping. So, last weekend when the weather was sunny and beautiful, C and I decided to take T out for a walk to the park. It wasn't a long walk but it was a beautiful one. And it wasn't by myself (I cheated) but it was nevertheless -- out. T behaved pretty well and on a whole, it wasn't too bad. T hardly cried and mommy and daddy were so happy we finally got him out. I can't say it was easy but it went much better than I expected. And by the end, T was exhausted from the sun, the stimulation. Baby steps. A 20-minute walk outside today....a 2-hour visit to the mall tomorrow...by myself? Hmmm. Perhaps wishful thinking..

Here are some shots of little T out and about.