Finger Food

I introduced Emilia some finger foods to encourage self-feeding. So far she's been quite successful. Some of the best finger foods she had: English muffin (strips), Baby Mum-Mums, Nutrios, and steamed carrot strips. I tried pear, banana, avocado, and some other veggies but they were not good. Not that she didn't want to eat but either they were too mushy and slippery for her to hold or they kind of went limp (bent) or broke in pieces so she had a hard time putting them into her mouth.

Lots of food end up being on the floor but I am trying to not worry about it. The baby is supposed to learn it that way, I read. Sigh.

8 months corrected

Emilia is 8 months corrected and 11 months and a week old actual. Yup it has been almost a year since the bitter sweet day she was born.
We went to the 8-month follow up clinic on May 3 and got to visit the NICU to say hello.Luckily one of her primary nurses was on duty this time. She was holding Emilia and pinching her chubby cheeks.

There was a family of a 25 weeker whose birth weight was about the same as Emilia's. They came to peek at Emilia and were amazed to see a "normal" looking baby. I once was in their shoes. I remember seeing a former 24 weeker being discharged and he was HUGE compared to all the babies around us. That gave us some hope in knowing that ours would one day grow and come home too.

The follow-up clinic told us Emilia needs to work on her ab muscles. Strengthening those muscles will better enable her to crawl. Emilia does not get onto her knees when reaching over while seated. She just bends her back, which doesn't help her to get into a crawling position. Other than that she was progressing nicely.

I need to work on transitional poses/movements: sitting up from the lying down, lying down from sitting, side sitting to crawling, etc.  We had a visit by Early Intervention this morning and the EI does not think there is any sign that warrants physiotherapy right now. She was very content with Emilia's progress. I don't know if I should be content also or push for physio. We will have to watch how she develops in the next month so that we can resume the therapy before she falls too far behind.

Emilia, on the piano

Few days ago when we visited her grandparents (my parents) she saw a piano for the first time. I let her play on it and she was amazed that it was making sound every time she hit it, and then finally this is what she ended up doing.

I don't own a piano, as I don't know how to play (I can play very very basic songs as I took lessons when I was in Gr. 2 or 3). I always wanted Emilia to take music lessons - likely piano or guitar, so I am now considering buying a digital piano. I know it's still early for her to learn but I just want her to have fun and get familiar with it.

Just an update

Emilia is becoming more and more active... and mischievous. Each day I can see that she is growing, not just physically but also in her inteliigence.

#1.I honestly looked away just for 2 seconds and this is what she did with her snack.

She was licking the bowl when I saw her. I guess she couldn't wait for me to spoon it into her mouth.


#2. Now she wants to take her bath sitting up. She used to love lying down in the tub and kicking her feet in the water but now she likes sitting and playing with the duckies.

#3. She has mastered using a sippy cup. She's been using the sippy cup for a while now. Using a straw cup seems a bit harder, although I haven't tried giving it to her recently. I should teach her to drink from a straw now.

This is her after tasting apple juice for the first time. Obviously she didn't quite like it.


  #4. I made a tutu for her yesterday and today I took some pictures. Here is one of them.

#5. Her birthday is about a month away (May 31) and we decided to host her first birthday party at a restaurant (in a little banquet room). I've started planning things and sent out invitations. I don't think we will have too many guests but my house is too small for 12-15 people any way.

#6. She rarely falls/topples when she's sitting now. I stopped laying the pillows around her when she's sitting. I actually make her sit on top of a cushion as her PT suggested before he discharged her.

Any way, a few days ago, she fell and when she did, she happened to land her head on some 1" cube wooden blocks that were scattered around her. She now has a scratch on her scalp -it's so visible because she's got so little hair. Well...Mommy learned her lesson, and she's now good at tidying up the toys after play.

Sleep regression is back

Since the last time I posted, I've been really tied up with Emilia. She has been very difficult to put down for sleep. Good naps are very rare now and just to make her go to sleep takes a long 30-40 minutes sometimes. She hasn't acted like this since 6 months. It could be due to her teething. I don't see any other teeth breaking out just yet but she's been gnawing at things a lot and of course there is lots of drooling. She becomes a monster when it's her nap time and bedtime. She screams like she has never done before.... it is so loud that I can feel my eardrums vibrate. Also she definitely prefers our bed in the master bedroom over her crib. When she throws crying fits, I sometimes move her to the middle of our Queen size bed with a pillow on each side of her head. She quickly becomes peaceful and falls asleep within minutes. I don't know what the deal is. Does she want a larger bed already? Does she like the scent of mommy on the bedding? I know it's not about co-sleeping because I don't have to lie down next to her to make her sleep. She doesn't even need me there; she just likes our bed. Hopefully this sleep regression too will pass like the last one at 4 months.