The recent time change means it gets lighter earlier in the morning which means Kate wakes up earlier. That, combined with her getting older, means that she now wakes up anywhere between 6:30 and 7:30…vs her previous ‘like clockwork’ awakenings at 8:30.

Twice now I’ve been woken up – just 15 minutes or so before my alarm goes off – to Kate on the baby monitor going “DAD.” Then I fall back asleep and 20 seconds later – “DADA.” Then I fall asleep again and “DAD.” 20 more seconds of silence – “DAD!” Then as the sleep wears away she starts to get a little more urgent. “DA-DAAAA” If I wait too long she gets a little cryey too.

So I drag myself out of bed, skip breakfast, and walk into her room to find her smiling her big baby smile with her arms up in the air for me to pick her up. Tammy gets a precious 30 more minutes of sleep while I change Kate’s diaper and take her downstairs to start her day.

It is both a happy and a frustrating way for me to wake up.