The nearly departed

I hate packing at the best of times, but the prospect of leaving for the next several months adds extra melancholy to my mood. It shouldn't really. I'll be back for regular weekend visits over the next few months, so it's not as if I'll be completely absent, but it did kick in yesterday as I was sitting on the sofa with my four month old niece sleeping in my arms. It's been remarkable watching her progress over the last few months. Her increasing awareness of the world - those tiny eyes which were once so tightly closed now seem to see everything - as well as her ability to interact with it. Her favourite trick at the moment is grabbing things and then immediately trying to fit them in her mouth. Fingers are a notable target.

After watching her progress so closely I feel sad that I'll be missing so much more of it.