Early Intervention service screening

We were visited by our Early Interventionist and a physiotherapist yesterday. The appointment was for a screening assessment to see what EI services Emilia would be eligible for because our CCAC physiotherapist had recently discharged her. The first reaction from the EI and PT was a big wow in amazement that Emilia was so chubby and in good complexion. It made me so proud when they said she didn't look like a preemie born 15 weeks early.

The PT assessed her and said Emilia was at where she should be as a 6 month old baby. She was not concerned about her progress and informed me that we didn't need any service except the EI itself, which would continue to follow Emilia on a regular basis. I wasn't sure whether I should be happy that Emilia is doing well or upset that we didn't qualify for the "free" program. All in all, I knew it was great news that Emilia was doing well: sitting and playing with toys by herself for an extended period of time, strong grips, good muscle tones, etc.

So, one less thing in my calendar that used to be filled with all these appointments with various health care providers: physiotherapist, home nurse, respiratory clinic, RSV clinic, etc. etc. Now all of these are done with! For now, at least.

Emilia rolled over from tummy to back

After all these months, Emilia finally rolled over from tummy to back, THREE times today. I don't know if they were just accidents or she was actually experimenting. Her PT told me not to worry about rolling from tummy to back since she was already rolling from back to tummy, which is supposed to be harder, and is now sitting. Once she starts to crawl, he said, she won't even roll any more. But "I" need her to master this new skill because now she rolls over in the crib before falling asleep or after waking up and when she gets tired on her tummy, she plants her face and falls asleep... or she spits up, plants her face in her spit-up, and then wails. I am hoping that she will be able to get out of the tummy position without my rescue each time.

Any way, she did finally roll over from tummy to back, whether accidentally or not. Maybe she will "get it" in the next few days. How exciting!

Emilia's reaction to steamed pear

No, I am not talking about an allergic reaction here.
This is the first time I have ever seen her making a funny face and refusing to eat. So, after all, there is something even Emilia doesn't want to eat and it's steamed pear.




I tasted it myself and I found it sweet at first but a teeny tiny bit of sour taste at the end, and Emilia must have felt really strange tasting something sour for the first time.

Emilia visits Niagara Falls!

We went to Niagara Falls on Sunday because the weather was so warm and sunny. But when we got to the falls, it was so windy and cool. I also did some shopping at OshKosh outlet... and we went to a restaurant with Emilia for the first time (and decided that we would not go to a restaurant with her again until she was at least 1 year old).

Emilia is 6 months old, adjusted

Emilia is 6 months old, adjusted, today. In chronological age, she is a little bit over 9 months. Yesterday I took her to work to say hi to all my colleagues and oh yeah, I had fun explaining her age every time somebody popped the question "how old is she?". When strangers ask, I always answer she is 6 months old because to me, that is what she is. However her pediatrician, of all people, goes by her actual age. I guess because immunization has to go by chronological age.

I think she just went through a growth spurt this past month. I had to empty her wardrobe and fill it with bigger clothes. When I first received clothes gifts from family and friends, I wondered if Emilia would ever grow big enough to fit into those clothes, but oh boy, babies do grow fast. Accoding to her ped doctor, Emilia has caught up with babies her actual age and we don't need to adjust her age on the growth chart any more.

So, some of her stats:
Weight: 8.16kg (almost 18 pounds)
Length: 67cm (26.3 inches)
Head Circumference: 44cm (17.3 inches)

Developmentally, she might not be exactly at where she is supposed to be but she's now rolling over effortlessly (but still only from back to tummy) and she is sitting up for few minutes at a time. She clasps her hands, grabs at things, babbles, laughs and smiles. Eventually things will come along and hopefully there won't be a need to adjust her age any more... I know that's still far far away - they say usually after age 2, their age won't need to be adjusted.

Here are some photos I took of her for her 6 month milestone: