The development of Mary Ann - updated continuously

Week 23:
Mary Ann is making ready to lift her head. Mentally she is acting her age but her body is not as ready. She is interested in her surroundings. She likes looking at our faces and loves when our faces look funny and make sounds. She is happy and giggling. Mary Ann smiles often and seams at ease. She has quite a temper though when something is not suiting her. She “asks” for entertainment but also shows that she wants to be left alone again. Often it is after 20-30 minutes she wants a nap again. We play music, sing and make “gymnastics”. Then she waves around with her limbs and makes bobbles with her mouth. Suddenly she has a lot of things she wants to tell us. Then she “talks” and “talks”. You can see her eagerness in telling us everything she has on her mind.
She doesn’t like to lie on her sides. Therefore we train that. She has a tendency to hold her head downwards one side. In that case we fixate her differently.
She is much more awake now and she eats more often and a bigger quantity. She doesn’t want her dummy but now fancy her baby soother.
One year old:
She just got her first tooth on 131108. She started eating normal food already in April with small steps, but it is not before now she mainly eats food. She still has a bottle once in a while - especially during night time. She started rolling over in July/August. Now she can sit on her own for about 5-10 minutes before she falls over. She loves to lie on her tummy playing with toys. Her favorite is everything with sounds. She has a lot of rhythm. As soon as the melody goes on she starts jumping and waving with arms and legs. She is joyful, harmonic and easy going. Her strong will she helping her in her development. That will bring her closer to the average skills of her age. This still needs some. She is eager to learn new things. When she is introduced to exercises which is a challenge to her body she get a bit annoyed but continues. We
She loves going the day nursery. We are more challenged as parents now in the weekends to keep her occupied. In the same time things can get a little too much for her. She is good to letting us know she wants some peace again. We have learnt to pack all our things right away so we are ready to hurry home, when she asks us to.
She can now sit a special chair with us at the dinner table. That makes life easier. She can also be placed in a shopping trolley – that is even better. She finds it more interesting to go shopping now. Particularly in these days with all the Christmas decorations, lights and big red balls!
Wonder what she says about all the Christmas presents or should I say Christmas light and ribbons?


(updated 24/03/2008)

Week 22 - UK

Why is it that I feel like having a ice cream when I see one? But I don’t feel like having a baby just because of seeing one. So many other women have that sudden desire of having a little baby. Again we met a lot of other women who were totally taken by Mary Ann. They got the craving to get another baby now. I really don’t get it. Mary Ann took it nicely though with all those people who came and looked at her at Cecilie’s school party. I don’t like people to stir at her like that. So I hung a little blanket up in front of Mary Ann at her pram to give her some private time. I don’t think Mary Ann liked that, because she started screaming every time I tried to cover her a bit.

I went for curse in how to make family trees. I have started to make a very nice one for Mary Ann’s wall. When we got married I also made one for Cecilie, which she often looks at. I hope Mary Ann as well will be joyful knowing to belongs to this big and special family.

Sunday was Mary Ann’s first time on her own with a babysitter or actually two babysitters. Stinne and her sister took care of her while Neil and I played lovers. We went to the most fantastic Riverdance show! Mary Ann was so easy to take care of we were told, when we got back after 2-3 hours. Even I took it nicely. I just had to look at my mobile phone to check if they had called 4-5 times. Of curse I thought of Mary Ann all through the show but I still able to enjoy it to the fullest. It was nice to try a night on our own. I have already planned the next “Neil Tina Day” in April.

Mary Ann has a cold again like the rest of us. We just got rid of one. Urrgh. At least it’s not as poor as last time for any of us. But this time even Neil is having a bad throat.

Mary Ann went for a heart scan again. One of the two holes is totally closed now. The one that is left is almost closed. The doctor expects it to close by it self shortly. He wants to see her again in 6 months.

She has turned five months now. The Easter is on its way and time fly.

Slideshow: MAC five months old
Video: MAC snores