Monday 30 June 2014

Sophie's diaries: 7 weeks +

Sophie has had quite a few visitors the past two weeks, including Godma Rachel, Uncle James, Aunty XW.... and in a week's time, Aunty Zoey will come to stay.

I love it that she's totally herself when put in the limelight - no masks or pretenses (haha), sleeps as she pleases, howls as she pleases, poops and pees as she pleases, kicks, punches the air, stretches, sucks her fingers.. and is never bothered about what people think about her gulping down her food (milk) passionately... noises, facial expressions and all. In addition,  she's got a new trick in her bag to charm her fans - smiling with her eyes fixed upon the beholder, when least expected. I love it even more that she is now able to grin when she catches sight of me and when I call her name. As long as she is in a good mood, of course!

Sophie's a lot more sociable these days... even while she still sleeps a lot.

Her 'chats' with us produce much delight. Words in her baby vocabulary include "aaaah", "ee-ell", "oh", "cow" (don't ask) and "hmmm" (uttered with the sweetest, gentlest, most empathic tone). We do all we can to make her feel that her words are treasured and taken seriously - she loves it when we do.

We have begun to pull her up to a sitting position, as she wraps her long fingers around our thumbs in a tight grip. She is able to hold her head up steady for some seconds, so we let her, before lowering her down slowly to supine again. Her "aerobics" sessions also include cycling (we cycle her legs midair), tummy time (we lay her prone on the mattress and she works very hard to lift her head up till she grows frustrated and cries, pleading us to stop our game... poor baby) and some other random physical activities. Her daddy allows her to "swim" supported in her little bathtub at the end of bathtime - as a reward for her exertions (and oh, I am so proud that she is so happy and well behaved during bath times). It is so sweet to see her enjoying herself, even as she tries to trust daddy to keep her from drowning! We hope to introduce her to the swimming pool in a few months' time.

I have been trying to incorporate evening walks around our block into Sophie's daily routine for a week or so now (when it is not hazy outside). I think she does appreciate being shown around our world - since she's all quiet, bright-eyed and thoughtful-looking while I carry her to places, greet the sun, identify the things we see, sit on benches and swings, watch the neighbourhood children play and stuff.

Well then, I look forward to Sophie turning two months old in a week's time. How time flies.

Loving you, baby princess.



No comments: