Babies eyes develop much later than their sense of smell (which is finely attuned already in utero!). At birth, they can only focus about 8 to 10 inches away, and are best at seeing sharp contrasts. That’s why babies love black and white.

Veronika goes nuts when I position her in front of a black and white image. She’ll stare transfixed for a good fifteen minutes, an eternity in infant-time.

You can show a graphic image from a book.

Or check your local library for board books deliberately written for this purpose. I highly recommend Black on White and White on Black, both by Tana Hoban. She also makes a fold-out version that’s perfect for tummy time.

Or placed around the bassinet. Either way, let your little one get looking!

Veronika has been home for ten days now, but today was the first time I took her on an official “tour” of the place!

Walking about the house is a great way to engage your newborn when he or she has an alert moment. Carry them slightly upright, and you can gently move them up high to see some things, and then gently swing them down low to see others. Make sure you are supporting baby’s neck and head firmly, and that they feel safe even with the movement.

Obviously this was another blog for which it was hard to get pictures (sorry for the slightly sideways pic at top!). But I loved talking Veronika through the house – things in the kitchen like fridges and sinks; pictures to look at on the walls in the bedrooms.

A very cute activity during our quiet morning together.

Baby’s receive lots of new visitors, and here’s a fun tradition we started this time around!

Before Veronika was born, I purchased a pretty jar and a little notebook, with the idea that each visitor would drop in a penny (almost like in a wishing will) and jot down a note or two of well wishes.

Big brother Travis loved the idea so much he wanted to give her some pennies to start her collection! We cracked open his piggy bank and sorted the pennies from the other coins, starting her off with a full dollar.

When we have visitors, it’s big brother’s very important job to tell them about the wish jar. We love reading what visitors have to say, and this will be a great keepsake to look back on!

Today, Veronika and I kept things as simple as possible, with the focus on making the most of our one-on-one time.

Oddly, I remember feeling with both children that solo time with the baby was never in ample supply. With Travis, we had a constant flow of visitors wanting to meet the baby, even though we were “nesting” and barely left the apartment for the first month. With Veronika, it’s a matter of having an older sibling who is almost always around!

But I love being able to carve out solo moments with her, and the key is to be deeply present.

Don’t forget, you don’t need to be doing anything spectacular with your newborn at this point. Diapering, feeding, dressing him or her, talking, and cuddling, are what the baby needs. Bathing is another great way to bond, as per our sponge bath tonight (no tub baths until the stump falls off!).

Whether you’re breast feeding or bottle feeding, try to tune out distractions in these moments. Today as I nursed, taking time to make eye contact with Veronika, I worked my way up from my toes to my head, briefly tensing each muscle and then releasing. This is a great way to relax into the moment.

Finally, just make eye contact and talk! Your baby will get to know you. As you sit together quietly, envision what you want your bond to look like over the years ahead, and what kind of parent you want to be. Here we are in her alert moment, deep in “conversation”!

Happy bonding!

I love little nursery rhymes for babies – the words will bring a smile, or just a look of contentment. And of course many rhymes have actions that go along with the words, to engage multiple senses (think: This Little Piggie Went to Market or Hickory Dickory Dock).

Here was a new one Veronika and I played today! While your child is in your lap, walk your fingers up one arm, over the head, and down the other arm, saying this cute rhyme:

Tippy tippy tiptoe, off we go

Tippy tippy tiptoe, to and fro

Tippy tippy tiptoe, through the house

Tippy tippy tiptoe, quiet as a mouse.

We continued the game all day as I carried Veronika from place to place, tip-toeing as I moved. The words seem to demand a hushed whisper, and Veronika seemed to love hearing this very soft tone.

Older siblings may enjoy getting in on the tip-toe play, too!

Fresh air is so good for babies (just dress them in one more layer than you yourself are wearing), and it was so nice today to have a quiet moment just with Veronika to walk our neighborhood.

Buckle your baby in a carrier, and head out there! This was my chance to break out the carrier after 4 years, and remember how all the buckles attached!

As we walked, I talked to Veronika about the things we could see – dogs out for a stroll, buildings, blue sky. It was hard to take pictures, so here is our shadow stopping to look at flowers:

And fountains:

Chances are, your baby will be so comfy they’ll nod off along the way – Veronika did! But that’s okay, I just kept walking and enjoying the moment with my baby girl.

One of the biggest differences between baby one and baby two is that I can’t always be there for Veronika as I was for Travis – school drop-off, Halloween events, you name it. Even in one week, I’ve learned that I can’t be in two places at once.

Fact is, whether your newborn is your first or your fourth, you’re going to be away from them eventually. But you can leave a little bit of yourself behind – your scent that is. Newborns have a remarkably attuned sense of smell (able to distinguish their mother’s milk from another mom’s milk, for example), which is their most developed sense at birth.

If you’re like me, then you have a burp cloth draped around you pretty constantly. I especially have one on my shoulder while nursing Veronika, so it’s covered in my scent (And in leaked milk!). And this makes it the perfect item to leave behind.

Case in point, today while I went grocery shopping with Travis, the burp cloth was left behind to bring comfort.

You don’t want to leave the cloth with a baby who is unattended (nothing in the crib until a year old, remember!) but under supervision, the scent may just help a crying baby settle down.